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Phthalocyanine blue leaching and exposure effects on Microcystis aeruginosa (cyanobacteria) of photoaged microplastics
Summary
Researchers studied how a common blue pigment additive (phthalocyanine blue) in microplastics affects freshwater algae, especially after the plastics have been aged by sunlight. The pigment-containing microplastics caused more cell death, greater oxidative stress, and more damage to cell membranes and genetic processes than plain microplastics alone. The findings show that chemical additives in plastics can increase the toxicity of microplastics in waterways, with potential knock-on effects through the aquatic food chain.
Light-stabilizing additives may contribute to the overall pollution load of microplastics (MPs) and potentially enter the food chain, severely threatening aquatic life and human health. This study investigated the variation between polystyrene (PS) MPs and phthalocyanine blue (CuPC)-containing MPs before and after photoaging, as well as their effects on Microcystis aeruginosa. The presence of PS-MPs increased cell mortality, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the variation in extracellular components, while the presence of CuPC exacerbated these variations. CuPC-containing MPs caused different increasing trends in superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde activities due to electron transfer across the membrane. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the MPs and CuPC affected various cellular processes, with the greatest impact being on cell membranes. Compared with MPs, CuPC negatively affected ribosome and polysaccharide formation. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular response to MPs and their associated light-stabilizer pollution and imply the necessity for mitigating the pollution of both MPs and light-stabilizers.