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Toxicity of micro/nanoplastics in the environment: Roles of plastisphere and eco-corona
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This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics gain biological coatings in the environment: larger microplastics develop a "plastisphere" of microorganisms on their surface, while smaller nanoplastics get wrapped in proteins and organic matter forming an "eco-corona." Both coatings change how toxic the particles are to living organisms and humans. The review highlights that studying plastic particles without these coatings, as most lab experiments do, may underestimate or mischaracterize their real-world health risks.
Micro/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are a growing threat to environmental health as these particles are dispersed to remote locations. However, the migration process of NPs differs from MPs due to their differences in sizes and physicochemical properties, thereby inducing different environmental behaviours and fates. While MPs provide surfaces to host microorganisms to form a plastisphere, NPs are smaller than microorganisms, which are often encapsulated by protein or organic matter to form unique eco-corona. Both plastisphere and eco-corona alter the physiochemical property of MPs/NPs, thereby changing their environmental toxicity. To fully understand the toxicity of MPs/NPs after forming plastisphere or eco-corona, this review aims to evaluate the roles and toxicities of MPs/NPs in the environment. Specifically, this review discusses the formation of plastisphere on MPs and eco-corona on NPs, summarizes the biochemical mechanisms of toxicity of MPs/NPs, and assesses their potential health threats to humans. Finally, perspectives are provided to better manage plastic pollution to protect the environment and human health.
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This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics develop surface coatings called coronas when they interact with biological and environmental substances. These corona layers, formed from proteins, organic matter, and other materials, can significantly change how plastic particles behave in the body and environment, affecting their uptake, distribution, and toxicity. The study suggests that understanding these surface coatings is essential for accurately assessing the real-world risks of plastic particle exposure.
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