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Interactive Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics and Cadmium on Growth of Microcystis aeruginosa
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Researchers examined what happens when polyethylene microplastics and the heavy metal cadmium are both present in freshwater, focusing on their effects on a bloom-forming algae species. Evidence indicates that the combination caused greater stress on the algae than either pollutant alone, though microplastics partially reduced cadmium toxicity by adsorbing some of the metal.
Polyethylene (PE) is a common component of microplastic pollution, and cadmium (Cd) is a prevalent pollutant in contaminated freshwater bodies in China. Among cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) plays a crucial role in the formation of algal blooms in these water systems. However, there has been limited research on how microplastics and heavy metals affect cyanobacteria ecologically. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological effects of individual and combined exposure to Cd pollutants and microplastics on M. aeruginosa. The solutions containing 13 µm and 6.5 µm PE particles (100 mg/L) with Cd were used in the research. The results indicated that the combined treatment led to a significant inhibition of chlorophyll a content, dropping to zero by day 5. The treated groups exhibited higher microcystins (MCs) content compared to the control group, suggesting increased MCs release due to pollutant exposure. Interestingly, the adsorption of heavy metals by microplastics partially alleviated the toxicity of heavy metals on algal cells. Moreover, the combined treatment significantly suppressed catalase (CAT) activity compared to Cd treatment, indicating a synergistic effect that led to greater oxidative stress. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the impact of PE and Cd pollution on freshwater ecosystems, elucidates the physiological responses of cyanobacteria to these pollutants, and establishes a theoretical groundwork for addressing complex water pollution using cyanobacteria-based strategies.
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Toxicity Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics with Cadmium on the Alga Microcystis Aeruginosa
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This study tested how microplastics and nanoplastics interact with the heavy metal cadmium to affect the growth of a common freshwater algae, finding that combined exposure was more harmful than either contaminant alone. Nanoplastics adsorbed more cadmium per particle but their smaller size enabled them to penetrate algal cells more easily, with complex effects on cellular toxicity.
Toxicity effects of microplastics and nanoplastics with cadmium on the alga Microcystis aeruginosa
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Researchers examined the combined toxicity of microplastics, nanoplastics, and cadmium on the freshwater alga Microcystis aeruginosa. The study found that while cadmium alone was most toxic, the combination of plastics and cadmium produced synergistic harmful effects, with nanoplastics causing greater cadmium release and more severe disruption to algal cell membranes than microplastics.
Altered biotoxicity of cadmium to freshwater green algae by different concentrations of polystyrene
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Polystyrene microplastics at low concentrations partially reduced cadmium toxicity to freshwater green algae, while higher concentrations exacerbated it, demonstrating that combined pollution effects on algae are concentration-dependent.
Single and combined effects of microplastics and lead on the freshwater algae Microcystis aeruginosa
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Researchers tested the individual and combined effects of microplastics and lead (Pb) on the growth, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant responses of the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. They found that microplastics alone inhibited growth while low-dose Pb promoted it, but their combination altered toxicity outcomes in complex ways depending on concentration, indicating that co-exposure risks in freshwater cannot be predicted from single-contaminant studies.
Ecotoxicological Impacts of Microplastics and Cadmium Pollution on Wheat Seedlings
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Researchers investigated the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and cadmium on wheat seedlings and found that microplastics generally reduced the antioxidant enzyme response that cadmium alone would trigger. The study also found that microplastics altered cadmium bioaccumulation patterns, increasing cadmium uptake in roots at low concentrations but decreasing it at higher levels, suggesting complex interactions between these co-occurring pollutants.
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