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Toxicity effects and mechanism of micro/nanoplastics and loaded conventional pollutants on zooplankton: An overview
Summary
This review summarizes how microplastics and nanoplastics harm zooplankton, the tiny animals at the base of aquatic food chains, through physical blockage, oxidative stress, gene disruption, and reproductive damage. The effects are worse when microplastics carry other pollutants like heavy metals or pesticides on their surfaces. Since zooplankton are eaten by fish that humans consume, damage to these organisms can transfer microplastic contamination up the food chain to people.
Micro/nanoplastics in aquatic environments is a noteworthy environmental problem. Zooplankton, an important biological group in aquatic ecosystems, readily absorb micro/nanoplastics and produce a range of toxic endpoints due to their small size. This review summarises relevant studies on the effects of micro/nanoplastics on zooplankton, including combined effects with conventional pollutants. Frequently reported adverse effects include acute/chronic lethal effects, oxidative stress, gene expression, energetic homeostasis, and growth and reproduction. Obstruction by plastic entanglement and blockage is the physical mechanism. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity are molecular mechanisms. Properties of micro/nanoplastics, octanol/water partition coefficients of conventional pollutants, species and intestinal environments are important factors influencing single and combined toxicity. Selecting a wider range of micro/nanoplastics, focusing on the aging process and conducting field studies, adopting diversified zooplankton models, and further advancing the study of mechanisms are the outstanding prospects for deeper understanding of impacts of micro/nanoplastics on aquatic ecosystem.
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