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UV-B radiation alleviated detrimental effects of polymethyl methacrylate microplastics on marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana
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Researchers found that UV-B radiation at natural intensity levels actually helped counteract the harmful effects of polymethyl methacrylate microplastics on a marine diatom species. The UV-B exposure alleviated the microplastics' suppression of photosynthesis by activating protective gene pathways in the algae. The study suggests that interactions between sunlight and microplastics in ocean environments are more complex than previously assumed, with UV-B potentially offering some protective effects.
Microplastics (MPs) in marine environments simultaneously affect microalgae with UV-B radiation, while their joint effecting mechanisms remain largely unknown. To fill this research gap, the joint effects of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) MPs and UV-B radiation (natural environments intensity) on the model marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana were investigated. Antagonism was found between the two factors with regards to population growth. Furthermore, we found more inhibited population growth and photosynthetic parameters when pre-treated with PMMA MPs compared to pre-treated with UV-B radiation before joint-treated by the two factors. Transcriptional analysis elucidated that UV-B radiation could alleviate the down-regulation of photosynthetic (PSII, cyt b6/f complex and photosynthetic electron transport) and chlorophyll biosynthesis genes caused by PMMA MPs. Besides, the genes encoding carbon fixation and metabolisms was up-regulated under UV-B radiation, which could provide extra energy for the enhanced anti-oxidative activities and DNA replication-repair processes. These consequences showed that the toxicity of PMMA MPs was comprehensively alleviated when T. pseudonana was jointed treated by UV-B radiation. Our results reveled the underlying molecular mechanisms of antagonistic effects between PMMA MPs and UV-B radiation. This study provides important information that environmental factors like UV-B radiation should be considered when accessing the ecological risks of MPs on marine organisms.
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UV-B radiation reduced the susceptibility of Brachionus plicatilis to microplastics by decreasing their toxic effects and bioaccumulation
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Researchers investigated how UV-B radiation affects the toxicity and bioaccumulation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microplastics in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Counterintuitively, UV-B pre-exposure reduced microplastic uptake and toxicity in rotifers, suggesting radiation-induced physiological changes can modulate MP vulnerability.
Evaluating the Single and Combined Effects of BMDM and PS Microplastics on Chlorella sp.: Physiological and Transcriptomic Insights
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Researchers exposed the alga Chlorella sp. to a UV-absorber chemical (BMDM) and polystyrene microplastics individually and in combination, finding that combined exposure produced an antagonistic effect—less total cellular and gene expression disruption than either stressor alone.
Polystyrene Microplastics Induce Photosynthetic Impairment in Navicula sp. at Physiological and Transcriptomic Levels
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Researchers exposed freshwater diatom algae to polystyrene microplastics and found significant damage to their photosynthetic capacity within 24 to 48 hours. The microplastics reduced chlorophyll content, damaged cell membranes, and triggered oxidative stress responses, with gene analysis revealing disruption of key pathways related to photosynthesis and carbon fixation. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in freshwater environments could impair the ability of algae to produce oxygen and support aquatic food webs.
Impact of polystyrene microplastics on the growth and photosynthetic efficiency of diatom Chaetoceros neogracile
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics significantly reduced the growth and photosynthetic ability of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile, an important part of the ocean food web. Higher concentrations of microplastics caused more damage, decreasing the algae's ability to produce energy from light. Since diatoms are a foundational food source in the ocean, this disruption could ripple through the food chain and ultimately affect the quality of seafood that reaches people's plates.
The comparative effects of visible light and UV-A radiation on the combined toxicity of P25 TiO2 nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics on Chlorella sp.
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Scientists studied how titanium dioxide nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics together affect green algae under visible light versus UV-A radiation. UV-A light made titanium dioxide more toxic on its own, but when combined with microplastics, the mixture actually reduced toxicity because the plastics absorbed some of the reactive chemicals generated by UV exposure. The findings suggest that light conditions significantly change how multiple pollutants interact in marine environments.
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