We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Micro- and nanoplastics as immunomodulatory vectors: synergistic interactions with pollutants and pathogens across aquatic food webs
Summary
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics act as immunomodulatory vectors by adsorbing persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pathogenic microorganisms onto their surfaces, transporting these hazardous agents through aquatic food webs and enhancing combined immune disruption in exposed organisms.
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems have become a major environmental concern due to their ability to transport harmful substances and microorganisms. These minute particles, ranging from sub-micrometer to several millimeters in size, have a substantial surface area that enables them to adsorb various toxic substances, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals. Additionally, their porous structure creates an ideal habitat for pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria and viruses to attach. Consequently, MPs and NPs serve as vehicles for the long-distance transport of these hazardous agents, increasing the exposure and accumulation of toxins in marine and terrestrial life. The combined effect of plastics, pollutants, and microorganisms can intensify the toxicity of contaminants and enhance the disease-causing potential of microorganisms. This interaction is particularly alarming in environmental health, as it may worsen pollution impacts, elevate the risk of disease spread, and pose significant threats to biodiversity and human well-being. Immune parameters are among the factors that MPs and NPs, in combination with pollutants and microorganisms, can affect, altering the immune system status in aquatic animals. This study aims to elucidate the interactive effects of micro- and nanoplastics with pollutants and microorganisms on immune responses in aquatic organisms. Gaining a deeper understanding of these intricate interactions is crucial for tackling the escalating environmental and public health challenges associated with plastic pollution.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Sorption, uptake, trophic transfer and immunotoxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics in the aquatic environment
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics are sorbed, taken up by organisms, transferred through food webs, and how they affect immune function in aquatic species. Researchers synthesize evidence showing these particles can accumulate across trophic levels and trigger immunotoxic effects, with implications for both wildlife and human health.
Micro(nano)plastics: Unignorable vectors for organisms
This review examines the role of micro- and nanoplastics as vectors for contaminants — including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens — in aquatic and terrestrial environments. It synthesizes evidence on how plastic particles can adsorb, transport, and release harmful substances, amplifying their ecological and health risks beyond the physical effects of the particles alone.
Microplastics as vectors of environmental contaminants: Interactions in the natural ecosystems
This review examines how microplastics act as vectors for pathogens, persistent organic pollutants, and heavy metals in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, summarising evidence that these particles damage cell membranes, tissues, and physiological processes in exposed organisms.
Potential Health Risks of Micro-Nanoplastics and Persistent Organic Pollutants: A Review of Exposure Pathways and Toxic Effects
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics can enhance the bioavailability of persistent organic pollutants through a Trojan horse effect, leading to combined inflammatory, cellular, and metabolic toxic effects that threaten human health beyond what either contaminant causes alone.
Interactive effects of micro/nanoplastics and nanomaterials/pharmaceuticals: Their ecotoxicological consequences in the aquatic systems
Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics interact with co-occurring nanomaterials and pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments, finding that plastics act as vectors that can either amplify or attenuate the bioavailability and toxicity of these contaminants depending on species, trophic level, and environmental conditions.