Chronic C-S-Fe defense dominance over nutrient removal in nanoplastics-exposed constructed wetlands: persistent feoA as the core biomarker

Toxic effects of nanoplastics on biological nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands: Evidence from iron utilization and metabolism

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Researchers found that nanoplastics in wastewater disrupt biological nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands by interfering with intracellular iron homeostasis, which cripples the key enzymes and electron transport chains that microbes use for nitrogen metabolism, reducing nitrogen removal efficiency by about 30%.

The response of microbial metacommunity to long-term exposure of nanoplastics and microcystin-LR in freshwater mesocosm

Nanoplastics occurrence, detection methods, and impact on the nitrogen cycle: a review

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Researchers reviewing nanoplastic contamination find these particles are widespread across ecosystems but true concentrations remain unknown due to detection limitations, and laboratory studies show nanoplastics disrupt microbial membranes, induce oxidative stress, and significantly inhibit nitrogen cycling.

Microplastics can Alter the Nitrogen Cycle in Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands

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Both conventional PVC and biodegradable PLA microplastics disrupted nitrogen cycling in constructed wetlands, with PVC causing ammonium accumulation and PLA acting as a carbon source, while both enhanced biofilm formation and enzyme activities at higher concentrations. These polymer-specific effects on nitrogen dynamics reveal that microplastic contamination poses distinct and complex threats to the water treatment functions of natural and engineered wetlands.

Nanoplastics Penetrate Biological Barriers and Pose Risks to Aquatic Productivity

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This study examined how nanoplastics penetrate biological barriers at the sub-micrometer scale, posing threats to aquatic productivity through cellular uptake and toxicity pathways. Understanding nanoplastic behavior is critical because their small size enables systemic infiltration into organisms across the food chain, including species consumed by humans.