We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Single but Not Combined In Vitro Exposure to Bisphenol A and Nanoplastics Affects the Cholinergic Function of the Ascidian Ciona robusta
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested the individual and combined effects of bisphenol A and polystyrene nanoplastics on a marine sea squirt species. They found that bisphenol A alone inhibited nerve-related enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner, but nanoplastics did not cause additional harm when combined with the chemical. The study suggests that not all pollutant combinations produce amplified toxic effects, though individual contaminants like bisphenol A remain a concern for marine organisms.
Nanoplastics are known to represent a threat to marine ecosystems. Their combination with other contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) may amplify ecotoxic effects, with unknown impacts on marine biodiversity. This study investigates the effects, single and combined, of bisphenol A (BPA)-one of the most hazardous CECs-and polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs)-as a proxy for nanoplastics, being among the most commonly found asmarine debris-on cholinesterase (ChE) activities of the ascidian Ciona robusta. ChE activity was first measured in the siphons, tunic, and viscera of wild-caught adult specimens and exposed in vitro to BPA (0.01, 0.21, 0.69 mM) and PS NPs (0.0096-0.096 mM; 8.096 × 109-1010 particles, respectively) alone and combined for 15 min of incubation. PS NPs' behavior in milliQ water and in the ChE assay reaction buffer was characterized alone, combined with BPA, and analyzed through ζ-potential measurements via Dynamic Light Scattering. The results revealed that ChE activity was predominant in the viscera and siphons of C. robusta; PS NPs did not affect the ChE activity alone or combined, while BPA caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of ChE activity in the viscera. No changes in ζ-potential were observed for PS NPs alone or combined with BPA in the ChE buffer, suggesting no interaction. Further investigations are needed to understand the potential neurotoxic consequences for C. robusta and ecological risk scenarios due to exposure to BPA and nanoplastics in marine coastal waters.
More Papers Like This
Short-Term Exposure to Nanoplastics Does Not Affect Bisphenol A Embryotoxicity to Marine Ascidian Ciona robusta
AI summary Read the abstract
Short-term exposure of marine ascidian Ciona robusta embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics (less than 1 micrometer) did not significantly alter the embryotoxicity of bisphenol A on sensory organ development. The results suggest that nanoplastics may not always act as carriers that amplify pollutant toxicity, at least for these particle sizes and exposure conditions.
Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastic and copper oxide nanoparticle in Artemia salina: Single and combined effects on stress responses
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested polystyrene nanoplastics and copper oxide nanoparticles individually and in combination in brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and found synergistic toxicity — the combined exposure caused greater growth inhibition, oxidative stress, and cholinesterase disruption than either contaminant alone.
Immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity of bisphenol A and microplastics alone or in combination to a bivalve species, Tegillarca granosa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity of bisphenol A and microplastics, both alone and in combination, on the blood clam Tegillarca granosa. The study found that co-exposure to both pollutants produced significant impacts on immune and neural biomarkers, suggesting that the combined presence of microplastics and chemical contaminants may pose greater risks to marine invertebrates.
Particulate matter and nanoplastics: synergistic impact on Artemia salina
AI summary Read the abstract
Combining nanoplastics with particulate matter (airborne or aquatic fine particles) produces worse outcomes for the brine shrimp Artemia salina than either pollutant alone, reducing survival and vitality. This synergistic toxicity is important because in real environments, nanoplastics rarely exist in isolation — they co-occur with other pollutants, making risk assessments based on single-contaminant studies likely to underestimate harm.
Single and joint exposure to nanoplastics and bisphenols: a comparative assessment of in vitro hazards
AI summary Read the abstract
This study compared the individual and combined toxicity of nanoplastics and bisphenol compounds in biological test systems, finding synergistic effects at certain exposure combinations. The results indicate that co-exposure to these two common plastic-associated contaminants may be more harmful than either alone.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.