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Nanoplastics increase the adverse impacts of lead on the growth, morphological structure and photosynthesis of marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica
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Combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and lead was found to have greater adverse effects on marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica growth, morphology, and photosynthesis than lead alone, indicating nanoplastics can amplify heavy metal toxicity in marine primary producers.
Nanoplastics and heavy metals are common pollutants in coastal environments with high concerns, but their joint ecological risk to marine primary productivity remains unclear. In this study, the effects of 7, 70, 700 μg/L lead (Pb) single exposure and in combination with 200 μg/L polystyrene nanoplastics (NPs, 70 nm) on marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica were investigated. Pb single exposure induced a dose-dependent inhibition on the growth of P. helgolandica, which was associated with the reduced photosynthetic efficiency and nutrient accumulation. Compared to Pb single exposure, the addition of NPs significantly reduced the photosynthetic efficiency and aggravated the damage to cell structure. Reduced esterase activity and increased membrane permeability also indicated that NPs exacerbated the adverse effects of Pb on P. helgolandica. Thus, co-exposure to NPs and Pb induced more severe impacts on marine microalgae, suggesting that the joint ecological risk of NPs and heavy metals to marine primary productivity merits more attention.
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Combined toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and lead on Chlorella vulgaris growth, membrane lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, and morphological alterations
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Researchers found that amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics and lead act synergistically to inhibit the growth of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, with combined exposure producing greater reductions in chlorophyll, biomass, and cell size than either pollutant alone.
Single and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis: Perspectives from growth inhibition, chlorophyll content and oxidative stress
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Researchers investigated the single and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on the marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica. The study found that copper alone inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner, while nanoplastics modified copper's bioavailability and altered the combined toxic response. The results suggest that the interaction between nanoplastics and heavy metals can produce complex toxicity patterns that differ from individual exposures.
Roles of polystyrene micro/nano-plastics as carriers on the toxicity of Pb2+ to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
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Researchers found that nano-sized polystyrene plastics intensified lead toxicity to green algae by facilitating internalization of absorbed lead, while micro-sized plastics reduced lead bioavailability through competitive adsorption, revealing size-dependent carrier effects.
Polystyrene nanoplastics cause growth inhibition, morphological damage and physiological disturbance in the marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica
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Researchers exposed marine green microalgae to polystyrene nanoplastics and found significant growth inhibition, increased membrane permeability, disrupted photosynthesis, and visible morphological damage — including surface fragmentation and cellular rupture — at concentrations as low as 200 µg/L.
Nanoplastic exposure inhibits growth, photosynthetic pigment synthesis and oxidative enzymes in microalgae: A new threat to primary producers in aquatic environment
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can seriously harm microalgae, the tiny plants that form the base of the ocean's food chain, by slowing their growth by up to 42%, reducing their ability to photosynthesize, and triggering stress damage inside their cells. Since these algae are eaten by small creatures that are eaten by bigger fish (eventually including the seafood we eat), this damage could ripple up the food chain and disrupt entire aquatic ecosystems. While this study looked at algae rather than humans directly, it adds to growing evidence that nanoplastic pollution, now found
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