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Inflammatory and oxidative responses to PET nanoplastics in the leech Hirudo verbana : a comparative analysis of acute and chronic exposure
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This study exposed the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana to PET nanoplastics under acute and chronic conditions, examining inflammatory and oxidative stress responses to characterize how nanoplastic exposure affects immune regulation in aquatic invertebrates.
Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging environmental contaminants with the potential to induce cellular stress and immune dysregulation in aquatic organisms.
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Hirudo verbana as a freshwater invertebrate model to assess the effects of polypropylene micro and nanoplastics dispersion in freshwater
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Researchers used the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana as a freshwater model organism to assess the effects of polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics, finding tissue accumulation and inflammatory responses that validate leeches as bioindicators for plastic pollution.
Assessing the Effect of Polyethylene Microplastics in the Freshwater Leech Erpobdella johanssoni (Annelida, Hirudinida) Through Integrated Biomarkers and Histopathological Analysis
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Researchers exposed freshwater leeches to polyethylene microplastics at concentrations found in the environment and observed signs of oxidative damage and tissue injury even at the lowest doses tested. The leeches showed increased levels of stress-related enzymes and structural damage to muscle, reproductive, and body wall tissues in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may be harming freshwater invertebrates more broadly than previously recognized.
The Exposure to Polypropylene Micro- and Nanoplastics Impairs Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration in the Leech Hirudo verbana
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Researchers studied how polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics affect wound healing and tissue regeneration in the freshwater leech Hirudo verbana. They found that plastic exposure induced fibrosis, disrupted tissue reorganization, delayed wound repair, and activated innate immune and oxidative stress responses. The study provides the first evidence that polypropylene particles can impair tissue regeneration processes in living organisms.
Nanoplastic-Induced Biological Effects In Vivo and In Vitro: An Overview
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Researchers reviewed how nanoplastics accumulate in and harm living organisms, finding that particle size, surface charge, exposure dose, and duration all influence toxicity — with smaller, charged particles penetrating cells more readily and chemical additives amplifying harm beyond the plastics themselves.
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