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Nanoplastics induce more severe multigenerational life-history trait changes and metabolic responses in marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis: Comparison with microplastics
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Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics versus microplastics on marine rotifers across multiple generations. They found that smaller nanoplastics (70 nm) caused significantly more severe harm to population growth, lifespan, and reproduction than larger particles, with negative effects persisting across generations. The study suggests that nanoplastics may pose a greater long-term threat to marine organisms than microplastics due to their ability to disrupt metabolism and nutrient accumulation.
Micro/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) have attracted global attention for their potential adverse impacts on marine ecosystems. This study investigated the impacts of MPs/NPs (70 nm, 500 nm, and 2 µm) on population growth and life-history traits of marine rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis), and further explored the differences from the aspects of nutrient accumulation and metabolomic profiles. The results showed that 200 and 2000 µg/L 70 nm NPs significantly suppressed population growth, and negatively affected life span, the first spawning and breeding time, and fecundity in F0-F2 generation rotifers. Whereas 500 nm NPs and 2 µm MPs showed no effect on population growth 200 µg/L and only changed the life-history traits at the highest concentration. Moreover, 70 nm NPs were more easily accumulated in the rotifers and reduced food ingestion and nutrient accumulation, which caused more severe disruption on purine-pyrimidine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and protein synthesis pathway compared to 500 nm NPs. Thus, the smaller the size of the plastic particles, the stronger the toxicity to the rotifers. This study provided new insights into the toxicity of MPs/NPs on marine zooplankton and proposed that metabolomics was powerful to explore the toxicity mechanisms of MPs/NPs.
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Researchers found that nanoplastics caused stronger reproductive and population growth inhibition in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis than microplastics, with transcriptomic analysis revealing distinct size-dependent toxicity pathways involving metabolism deficiency and oxidative stress.
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Researchers examined how microplastic exposure affects the population dynamics of a freshwater rotifer species across two successive generations. They found that microplastics reduced reproduction rates and lifespan, with effects carrying over into the second generation even when exposure was removed. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may have lasting population-level consequences for small aquatic organisms.
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This study found that the shape of microplastic particles matters more than their size when it comes to toxicity. Small, jagged fragments caused more harm to tiny marine animals called rotifers than smooth round beads, reducing their ability to reproduce and shortening their lifespan across multiple generations. The findings suggest that irregularly shaped microplastics, which are the most common type found in the environment, may be more dangerous than the smooth spheres typically used in lab studies.
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In a food chain study, researchers found that the smallest nanoplastics (70 nm) accumulated in fish at nearly double the rate of larger microplastics when passed through a prey organism first. Long-term exposure through the food chain caused liver inflammation, disrupted fat and energy metabolism, and impaired reproduction in the fish. This shows how tiny plastics can build up and cause harm as they move through the food web, which is relevant to humans who eat seafood.
Size-dependent toxicity of nano- and microplastics with zinc oxide nanoparticles in the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus
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Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles with nano- and microplastics on marine rotifers. They found that the presence of plastic particles increased the toxicity of zinc oxide, with nanoplastics causing more harm than microplastics, and the combined exposure reduced reproduction and population growth. The study demonstrates that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of other environmental contaminants on small marine organisms.
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