We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Generation, characterization and toxicity analysis of secondary nanoplastics and byproducts from recycled LDPE on daphnia magna and spirodela polyrhiza
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers generated and characterized secondary nanoplastics from recycled plastics and tested their toxicity alongside associated chemical byproducts. The study found that recycled plastic materials can produce nanoplastic particles that retain toxic properties, raising concerns about recycling as a complete solution.
The rise in recycled plastics usage offers a potential solution to reduce the environmental accumulation of plastic waste. However, it is currently unknown whether these plastics generate particles in the nano-range and whether these nanoplastics (but also byproducts, including associated chemicals and oligomers) may trigger a potential threat to the environment. This study focuses on the generation and characterization of secondary nanoplastics and byproducts derived from recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics, and assesses their toxicological effects on representative organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Two model organisms were selected: the water flea Daphnia magna and the freshwater plant Spirodela polyrhiza. Secondary nanoplastics and byproducts were obtained through mechanical fragmentation of LDPE microplastics. A comprehensive physicochemical characterization has been conducted to verify the presence of secondary nanoplastics through several techniques such as dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The selected organisms were exposed to increasing concentrations of generated materials to evaluate the biological effects of secondary nanoplastics and released byproducts. Results showed that acute exposure to both secondary nanoplastics and LDPE-byproducts had a significant effect on Daphnia magna, with 40 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559399/document
More Papers Like This
Generation, characterization and toxicity analysis of secondary nanoplastics and byproducts from recycled LDPE on daphnia magna and spirodela polyrhiza
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether recycled plastics generate nanoplastic particles and whether those particles and associated chemical byproducts are toxic. Results showed recycled plastics can produce nanoscale particles along with chemical leachates, raising questions about the safety of recycled plastic materials compared to virgin alternatives.
Size fractionation of high-density polyethylene breakdown nanoplastics reveals different toxic response in Daphnia magna
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that mechanical breakdown of high-density polyethylene produces oxidized nanoplastics around 110 nm in diameter that are non-toxic to Daphnia magna at tested concentrations, but that an ultra-small fraction below approximately 3 nm is toxic, suggesting particle size is a critical determinant of nanoplastic toxicity.
Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of Nanoplastics in Daphnia magna are Polymer-Type Dependent
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how four common types of plastic nanoparticles (found in everything from PVC pipes to plastic eyewear) affect a tiny water flea used to study environmental toxicity, and found that not all plastics are equally harmful, polystyrene was the most toxic, while polycarbonate was over 25 times less toxic. This matters because most plastic pollution research has focused narrowly on polystyrene, so this study suggests we may need different safety guidelines for different plastic types rather than treating "nanoplastics" as one uniform threat, a distinction that could eventually matter for understanding how these particles affect human health too.
Primary and Secondary Plastic Particles Exhibit Limited Acute Toxicity but Chronic Effects on Daphnia magna
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the chronic effects of both primary nanoplastics (polystyrene nanospheres) and secondary micro- and nanoplastics from weathered single-use plastics on Daphnia magna across multiple generations. The study found that nanoplastics accumulated in the intestine and brood chamber, transferred to offspring, and reduced reproduction and physiological function, with effects persisting across generations even after exposure ended.
Production, characterization, and toxicology of environmentally relevant nanoplastics: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the production, characterization, and toxicity of environmentally relevant nanoplastics, noting that most existing studies rely on synthetic nanospheres that poorly represent the diverse composition, size, and shape of real-world nanoplastic particles. The review covers mechanical and physicochemical production methods, internalization in human cell lines, and bioaccumulation and systemic effects in model organisms.
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.