We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Nanoplastics increase algal absorption and toxicity of Cd through alterations in cell wall structure and composition
AI summary Read the abstract
Lab experiments showed that polystyrene nanoplastics made freshwater algae more vulnerable to cadmium (a toxic heavy metal) by altering the structure of their cell walls, allowing more cadmium to enter the cells. This matters for human health because nanoplastics in waterways may increase how much toxic metal accumulates in aquatic food chains that eventually reach our plates.
Nanoplastics (NPs) may act as carriers of heavy metals and cause complex toxicity to aquatic organisms, while the exact role of NPs in the joint toxicity remains unclear. Here, we investigated the joint toxicity of polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) and Cd to freshwater algae (Chlorella vulgaris). It was found that PS-NPs (1 mg L) could hardly enter algal cells and slightly inhibit algal growth (p < 0.01). The effect of PS-NPs as carriers on the joint toxicity of PS-NPs and heavy metals could be neglected because of the limited adsorption of Cd by PS-NPs, while the PS-NPs altered the cell wall structure and composition, which resulted in the increased algal absorption and toxicity of Cd. Compared to the low dose Cd (0.4 mg L) treatment alone, the extracellular and intracellular Cd contents in the cotreatment were significantly increased by 27.3 % and 18.0 %, respectively, due to the increased contents of cell wall polysaccharides (pectin and hemicellulose in particular) by the PS-NPs. Furthermore, after the high dose Cd (2 mg L) exposure, the inhibited polysaccharide biosynthesis and the loosen cell wall structure weakened the tolerance of cell wall to abiotic stress, facilitating the entry of PS-NPs into the algal cells and inducing the higher toxicity. These results elucidate the mechanism by which NPs enhance heavy metal toxicity to algae, providing a novel insight into environmental risks of NPs.
More Papers Like This
Polystyrene nanoplastics alter cadmium toxicity outcomes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Physiological responses and multi-omics insights.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied freshwater algae exposed to both cadmium and polystyrene nanoplastics in the lab. Combined exposure caused more growth problems, oxidative damage and cell structure disruption than cadmium alone, even though cells did not accumulate more cadmium, with gene and metabolite changes pointing to disrupted metal handling, membranes and nutrient processing.
Investigation of the Migration Patterns for Nanoplastics With Different Sizes in Chlorella vulgaris and Their Effects on Heavy Metal Adsorption by the Microalgae
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can get absorbed by algae, with smaller particles entering the algae cells while larger ones stick to the surface. These plastic particles change how the algae absorb toxic heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and lead from water. This matters because it could affect how these dangerous metals move through the food chain and potentially reach humans who eat seafood or use algae-based products.
Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbate cadmium-induced bioenergetic impairment and oxidized phospholipid accumulation in the mussel Mytilus coruscus
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can act like a "delivery truck" for the toxic heavy metal cadmium, helping it build up in shellfish tissue and causing more cell damage than cadmium alone. This matters because it shows how plastic pollution and heavy metals in our oceans can team up to harm marine life more severely than either would separately, and since mussels and other seafood are part of the human food chain, this combined contamination could eventually affect the food we eat.
Polystyrene nanoplastics distinctly impact cadmium uptake and toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana
AI summary Read the abstract
In a study using the model plant Arabidopsis, polystyrene nanoplastics increased the uptake and accumulation of the toxic heavy metal cadmium in plant roots. The combined stress of nanoplastics and cadmium caused worse oxidative damage and growth problems than either pollutant alone. This is concerning because it means microplastics in agricultural soil could help toxic metals get into crops more easily, potentially increasing human exposure through food.
Toxicity effects of microplastics and nanoplastics with cadmium on the alga Microcystis aeruginosa
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
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.