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Insights into the effects of aging on the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and chlordane against Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers studied how environmental aging of polystyrene nanoplastics changes their combined toxicity with the pesticide chlordane in roundworms. They found that photo-aging altered the physical and chemical properties of the nanoplastics, which in turn modified how the two contaminants interacted and their joint toxic effects. The study highlights that the environmental weathering of plastic particles can significantly change how they interact with other pollutants.
Nanoplastics are emerging contaminants that may co-exist with organochlorine pesticides and adversely affect invertebrates in the environment. However, the impact of environmental aging on the combined toxicity of nanoplastics and organochlorine pesticides remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of aging on the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) and chlordane against Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that photo-aging altered the physicochemical properties of PS NPs and promoted the combined toxicity of PS NPs and chlordane to nematodes by reducing survival rate, body length and enhancing germline apoptosis. Additionally, combined exposure of nematodes to aged PS NPs and chlordane significantly increased reactive oxygen species production and intestinal permeability, suggesting that aging enhances combined toxicity through oxidative stress and intestinal damage. Moreover, aging increased chlordane contents in nematodes without promoting PS NPs accumulation, potentially leading to increased combined toxicity of PS NPs and chlordane. Notably, aging significantly increased the accumulation of PS NPs in the posterior intestine of the nematode during co-exposure, which may be responsible for the most sensitive and highest degree of change in germline apoptosis. These observations emphasize the significance of accounting for environmental aging as well as the accumulation and distribution of nanoplastics in organisms when assessing the combined effects of nanoplastics and coexisting pollutants.
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Photoaged polystyrene nanoplastics exposure results in reproductive toxicity due to oxidative damage in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers exposed the roundworm C. elegans to polystyrene nanoplastics that had been aged by sunlight, simulating real-world environmental conditions. The study found that these weathered nanoplastics caused more severe reproductive harm than pristine particles, primarily through increased oxidative stress, suggesting that aging makes plastic particles more toxic to living organisms.
Joint toxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles and organochlorine pesticides (chlordane and hexachlorocyclohexane) on Caenorhabditis elegans
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Joint exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and organochlorine pesticides (chlordane and HCH) in the roundworm C. elegans caused greater toxicity than either pollutant alone, suggesting synergistic interactions. These findings highlight the importance of studying combined pollutant effects rather than individual chemicals in isolation.
Photoaging enhances combined toxicity of microplastics and tetrabromobisphenol A by inducing intestinal damage and oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers found that UV-aged microplastics combined with the flame retardant TBBPA caused greater harm to roundworms than either contaminant alone. The photoaged microplastics had increased capacity to absorb the chemical and enhanced its toxic effects, including reduced growth, impaired reproduction, and intestinal damage. The study suggests that weathered microplastics in the environment may amplify the dangers of co-occurring chemical pollutants.
UV-aged nanoplastics induced stronger biotoxicity to earthworms: Differential effects and the underlying mechanisms of pristine and aged polystyrene nanoplastics
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Researchers compared the toxicity of pristine versus UV-aged polystyrene nanoplastics on earthworms and found that aged nanoplastics caused significantly stronger harmful effects. At higher concentrations, aged nanoplastics increased earthworm mortality by 11.1% and reduced reproduction, with the enhanced toxicity attributed to changes in surface properties that occur during environmental UV weathering.
Aging amplifies the combined toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and norfloxacin on human intestinal cells
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Researchers investigated how environmental aging of polystyrene nanoplastics affects their combined toxicity with the antibiotic norfloxacin on human intestinal cells. They found that aged nanoplastics were taken up more readily by cells and significantly amplified the harmful effects of the antibiotic, including increased cell damage. The study suggests that weathered nanoplastics in the environment may pose greater health risks than fresh particles, especially when combined with other contaminants.
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