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Reducing Gut Dissolution of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Secondary Microplastics with Consequent Impacts on Barnacle Larvae
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This study examined how microplastics interact with zinc oxide nanoparticles from sunscreen and affect barnacle larvae development. Sun-weathered (secondary) microplastics reduced the toxic effects of zinc oxide by limiting how much zinc dissolved in the gut, while fresh microplastics had little effect. The research shows that interactions between microplastics and other common pollutants in the ocean can change their combined impact on marine life in complex ways.
The environmental impact of sunscreen is a growing concern, yet the combined effects of its components on marine animals are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of sunscreen-extracted zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) and microplastics (MPs) on the development of barnacle larvae, focusing on the different roles played by primary microplastics (PMPs) and secondary microplastics (SMPs) generated through the phototransformation of PMPs. Our findings revealed that a lower concentration of nZnO (50 μg/L) enhanced molting and eye development in barnacle larvae, while a higher concentration (500 μg/L) inhibited larval growth. Co-exposure to PMPs had no significant effect on larval development, whereas SMPs mitigated the impact of nZnO by restricting the in vivo transformation to ionic Zn. Accumulated SMPs reduced gut dissolution of nZnO by up to 40%, lowering gut acidity by 85% and buffering the in vivo dissolution of nZnO. We further identified a rough-surfaced Si-5 fragment in SMPs that damaged larval guts, resulting in decreased acidity. Another Si-32 resisted phototransformation and had no discernible effects. Our study presented compelling evidence of the impacts of SMPs on the bioeffect of nZnO, highlighting the complex interactions between sunscreen components and their combined effects on marine organisms.
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Effects of photoaged polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics on the extracellular aggregation and intracellular accumulation of ZnO nanoparticles to algae
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When microplastics weather in the environment under UV sunlight, they become more chemically reactive and change how they interact with other pollutants. This study found that photoaged polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics had a stronger ability to bind zinc oxide nanoparticles than fresh plastic, and that this enhanced binding altered how the zinc nanoparticles affected green algae — generally reducing zinc uptake into algal cells but increasing overall ecological risk. The findings highlight that the environmental "aging" of microplastics is not merely cosmetic — it fundamentally changes their behavior as carriers of other toxic substances in aquatic ecosystems.
Micro-polyethylene particles reduce the toxicity of nano zinc oxide in marine microalgae by adsorption
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Researchers discovered that polyethylene microplastic particles reduced the toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles to marine microalgae by adsorbing the nanoparticles onto their surface, revealing that microplastics can modify the bioavailability of co-occurring contaminants.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles dissolution and toxicity enhancement by polystyrene microplastics under sunlight irradiation
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics dramatically increased the sunlight-induced dissolution of zinc oxide nanoparticles, enhancing the release of toxic zinc ions and reactive oxygen species in aquatic environments.
UV-Aged Nanoplastics Increase Mercury Toxicity in a Marine Copepod under Multigenerational Exposure: A Carrier Role
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Researchers found that UV-aged nanoplastics were much better at carrying mercury into the bodies of marine copepods than fresh nanoplastics, increasing mercury accumulation by over 50% across multiple generations. The combination of aged nanoplastics and mercury significantly reduced survival rates in offspring. Since most nanoplastics in the ocean have been weathered by sunlight, this study suggests the real-world risks of nanoplastic-metal combinations to marine food chains may be greater than lab studies with fresh plastics indicate.
Size-dependent toxicity of nano- and microplastics with zinc oxide nanoparticles in the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus
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Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles with nano- and microplastics on marine rotifers. They found that the presence of plastic particles increased the toxicity of zinc oxide, with nanoplastics causing more harm than microplastics, and the combined exposure reduced reproduction and population growth. The study demonstrates that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of other environmental contaminants on small marine organisms.
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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.