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Influence of synthetic and natural microfibers on the growth, substance exchange, energy accumulation, and oxidative stress of field-collected microalgae compared with microplastic fragment
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Researchers tested how synthetic microfibers from plastics like PET and polypropylene affect freshwater algae compared to natural fibers like cotton and wool. The synthetic fibers inhibited algae growth more than natural fibers and caused oxidative damage to the cells, with fiber-shaped particles being more harmful than fragments of the same material. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains, damage to them from microplastic fibers could ripple through ecosystems and affect the fish and water that humans depend on.
Synthetic microfibers (MFs), which are Microplastics (MPs), have not received attention commensurate with their abundance in the environment. Currently, limited studies on MFs have focused on their effects on marine organisms. It is therefore necessary to conduct exposure experiments of MFs on freshwater organisms to provide reference data for the ecological risk assessment of MFs. As a primary producer in freshwater ecosystems, microalgae have an ecological niche that is highly overlapping with that of MFs. In this study, we examined the effects of MFs on the growth of Chlorella and indicators of oxidative stress to examine their potential risk on the microalgae population. The results showed that inhibition rate of microalgae increased with MF concentration in the range of 0.01-100 mg/L. Compared with natural fibers such as cotton and wool, PET and PP fibers showed significant growth inhibition, but less so when in fragment form with the same material and concentration. PP and PET particles, whether fibers or fragments, increased the total antioxidant capacity of microalgal cells and caused oxidative damage. To determine the influence of MFs on the interaction of cells in the environment, the exchanged substances and accumulated energy of microalgae cells were also detected. The results indicated that PP and PET fibers, as well as fragments, increased the diameter and membrane permeability of microalgae cell, thus interfering with the cell division and substance exchange processes. PET fibers and fragments showed different interactions at the level of individual cells and populations. This suggests that the evaluation of MPs should consider examinations from cells to population and even community levels in the future.
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A meta-analysis of 52 studies found that microplastics inhibit microalgal growth and photosynthesis and induce oxidative damage, though microalgae can recover over time. Cyanobacteria are more vulnerable than green algae, and the relative size of microplastics to algal cells governs the mechanism of impact, while aged versus pristine microplastics have opposite effects on extracellular polymeric substance and microcystin production.
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Researchers investigated how polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae and found that both types reduced chlorophyll content and impaired photosynthetic efficiency. The damage was concentration-dependent and worsened over the growth period. The study highlights that microplastic pollution in freshwater can harm algae, which form the base of aquatic food chains.
Ecological responses of phytoplankton community from the Río de la Plata estuary to polyester fiber exposure
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Scientists exposed tiny algae from an estuary (the base of the aquatic food chain) to polyester microfibers, the kind that shed from clothes during washing, and found that while overall algae growth wasn't affected, certain algae species grew more than others when fibers were present. This matters because if microplastics can quietly shift which algae species thrive, it could ripple up the food chain to fish and other seafood, potentially affecting both ecosystem health and the food humans eventually eat. The findings are early evidence from a lab study, so more research is needed to understand real-world impacts.
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Researchers exposed early life stages of estuarine fish and invertebrates to natural cotton and synthetic polyester and polypropylene microfibers commonly found in coastal waters. Both natural and synthetic fibers affected growth and behavior, though synthetic fibers tended to cause more pronounced effects. The study suggests that microfiber pollution in coastal environments poses risks to young marine organisms during their most vulnerable developmental stages.
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