We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Synthetical effect of microplastics and chiral drug amphetamine on a primary food source algae Chlorella pyrenoids
Summary
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics increased the toxicity of the illicit drug amphetamine to freshwater algae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa), impairing cell growth and photosynthetic pigment content beyond the effects of the drug alone. Microplastics reduced cell counts through agglomeration and shading effects and also altered the enantioselective fate of the chiral drug.
The biological effects and fate of the chiral illicit drug amphetamine in the presence and absence of microplastics on freshwater algae (Chlorella pyrenoids), including acute toxicity, growth inhibition, photosynthetic pigment content, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and enantioselective fate were assessed. An agglomeration and the shading effects of microplastics in algae suspension were also determined. Microplastics were observed to increase the toxicity of amphetamine to algae and reduce algae cell growth. Exposed Chlorella pyrenoids exhibited a reduced algae cell counts in an agglomeration test, wherein algae cells decreased between 18% and 56% among treatment groups exposed to 5-50 mg L of microplastics. The agglomeration test suggested that microplastics might significantly increase the adverse effect on algae. Furthermore, our experiments demonstrated enantioselective degradation of amphetamine in algae, and demonstrated that the S-enantiomer was preferably degraded by algae cells. Adding microplastics to the algae suspension significantly reduced the enantioselectivity, with an EF value of 0.41 compared with amphetamine-alone group (0.34) after 21 d exposure. These results demonstrated the first evidence of microplastics acting as a vehicle to enhance amphetamine toxicity to Chlorella pyrenoids, as well as provided new insights into the co-effect of microplastics and organic contaminants on food source.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
How microplastics affect chiral illicit drug methamphetamine in aquatic food chain? From green alga (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) to freshwater snail (Cipangopaludian cathayensis)
Researchers examined how microplastics affect the toxicity and behavior of the illicit drug methamphetamine through an aquatic food chain from algae to freshwater snails. The presence of microplastics significantly increased the acute toxicity of methamphetamine to both species and amplified oxidative damage and apoptosis. The study found that microplastics also altered how methamphetamine accumulated and transferred through the food chain.
The influence of nanoplastics on the toxic effects, bioaccumulation, biodegradation and enantioselectivity of ibuprofen in freshwater algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa
Researchers co-exposed the freshwater alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa to polystyrene nanoplastics and ibuprofen and found that nanoplastics paradoxically reduced ibuprofen toxicity by adsorbing the drug, while also decreasing its bioaccumulation and accelerating its degradation, with enantioselective effects showing S-ibuprofen was more toxic and R-ibuprofen preferentially accumulated.
The combined toxicity influence of microplastics and nonylphenol on microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa
Researchers examined the combined toxicity of nonylphenol and several types of microplastics on the freshwater microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa. The study found that microplastics of different polymer types and sizes interacted with nonylphenol in complex ways, affecting algal growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and antioxidant enzyme activity, demonstrating that co-exposure to microplastics and organic pollutants can produce combined toxic effects.
Effects of different concentrations and particle sizes of microplastics on the full life history of freshwater Chlorella
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different concentrations and particle sizes affect the complete life cycle of freshwater Chlorella algae. The study found that microplastics can inhibit algal growth by up to 68%, while also altering chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, indicating that microplastic pollution may pose significant risks to the base of aquatic food webs.
Concentration dependent toxicity of microplastics to marine microalgae
Researchers exposed the marine microalga Chlorella sp. to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L, finding that even low concentrations inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis, while higher concentrations caused more pronounced oxidative stress.