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Effects of primary leachates of conventional and alternative plastics in Cyprinodon variegatus fish larvae: Endocrine disruption and toxicological responses
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Researchers exposed marine fish larvae to chemical leachates from both conventional and so-called eco-friendly plastics and measured the biological effects. They found that leachates from two alternative bioplastics caused complete larval mortality, while bag leachates from all tested materials disrupted hormonal and metabolic defense pathways. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for marine life than conventional ones.
The inclusion of hazardous substances in the formulation of plastics raises significant concerns, particularly, if those substances are released as primary leachates during plastic degradation and/or fragmentation. In this sense, the production of degradable plastics holding deleterious additives can increase the release of harmful substances into the environment. Additionally, the effects of primary leachates of "eco-friendly" materials remain unexplored. To address this, we performed exposures to primary leachates of alternative polymers, and commercial bags to verify possible responses associated with endocrine disruption and/or activation of the detoxification pathway in larvae of the marine fish model Cyprinodon variegatus. The chemical characterization evidenced a great number of additives in the formulation of the materials analyzed in this study. Those include, except for the PLA sample, relevant levels of the hazardous phthalates DEHP and DiBP. Regarding the effects on marine fish larvae, exposure to leachates from alternative polymers (10 g/L) PHB and PHBV produced remarkable mortality (100%). While the exposure to bag leachates of all tested materials (1 and 10 g/L) produced alterations in biomarkers for steroidogenic and detoxification pathways. To a lesser extent (10 g/L), three materials produced significant alterations in estrogenic biomarkers (Home-compostable bag 1, LDPE and Recycled PE bags). Although the alterations in gene expression were not directly correlated to the amount of DEHP or DiBP, we can conclude that primary leachates of "eco-friendly" bags are harmful to marine vertebrates.
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Comparative assessment of the acute toxicity of commercial bio-based polymer leachates on marine plankton
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Researchers tested the toxicity of chemicals leaching from biodegradable plastics — including polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate-covalerate (PHBv) — on five marine species, finding that PHBv leachates were up to 10 times more toxic than conventional polypropylene. The results show that labeling a plastic as "biodegradable" does not guarantee it is safe for marine ecosystems.
Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on juvenile Lates calcarifer: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant response, microbiome, and proteome alteration
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Researchers found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics from plastic bags caused bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, microbiome disruption, and proteome alterations in juvenile barramundi, indicating that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for marine organisms.
How harmless are alternative bioplastics? A review of their toxicological outcomes in aquatic organisms.
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"Bioplastics" and "biodegradable plastics" are often marketed as eco-friendly swaps for regular plastic, but this review of existing research found they can harm aquatic animals just as much, or even more, than traditional plastics, causing problems like organ damage, reproductive issues, and cellular stress in fish and other water-dwelling creatures. This matters because these materials are increasingly common in packaging and consumer goods, yet scientists still don't know enough about how they affect human health, so "green" labeling doesn't necessarily mean "safe." More research is urgently needed before we assume these alternatives are truly better for us
A systematic review of biodegradable microplastics-induced toxicity in fish: Toxic effects, mechanisms, and ecological implications
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"Biodegradable" plastics sound eco-friendly, but this review of 27 studies shows they don't fully break down in water and can actually harm fish, damaging their gut, liver, brain, and reproductive systems, sometimes just as much or more than regular plastics, especially after the particles have aged in the environment. Since these tiny plastic fragments build up in fish that end up on our plates, this research is an early warning sign that swapping to "biodegradable" plastics may not be the safer fix we hoped for, more research on human exposure is still needed.
Distinct toxicity profiles of conventional and biodegradable fishing nets’ leachates after artificial aging
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Researchers compared the toxicity of chemical leachates released by conventional and biodegradable fishing nets after simulated aging. They found that biodegradable nets made from PBS-PBAT released compounds that were significantly more toxic to marine bacteria and disrupted fish larval behavior more than conventional net leachates. The study suggests that biodegradable fishing gear, while intended to reduce plastic waste, may pose its own environmental risks as it breaks down.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.