Comparative toxicity of polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene nanoplastics on Artemia franciscana nauplii: a multidimensional assessment

Summary

Researchers compared the toxic effects of three common plastic types — polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene — in nanoplastic form on brine shrimp larvae. They found that all three types caused harm, but polystyrene nanoplastics were the most toxic across multiple biological measures. The study provides the first direct comparison showing that the chemical composition of nanoplastics significantly influences their toxicity to aquatic organisms.