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Hazard of polystyrene micro-and nanospheres to selected aquatic and terrestrial organisms
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Researchers reviewed 294 studies on the toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanospheres to various organisms including microorganisms, invertebrates, fish, and plants. The study found that aquatic invertebrates were the most studied group, nanosized particles received more attention than microsized ones, and roughly 40% of the data showed no observable effects on organisms.
Plastics contamination in the environment is a major concern. Risk assessment of micro- and nanoplastics (MPL and NPL) poses significant challenges due to MPL and NPL heterogeneity regarding compositional polymers, particle sizes and morphologies in the environment. Yet, there exists considerable toxicological literature on commercial polystyrene (PS) micro- and nanospheres. Although such particles do not directly represent the environmental MPL and NPL, their toxicity data should be used to advance the hazard assessment of plastics. Here, toxicity data of PS micro- and nanospheres for microorganisms, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, fish, and higher plants was collected and analyzed. The evaluation of 294 papers revealed that aquatic invertebrates were the most studied organisms, nanosized PS was studied more often than microsized PS, acute exposures prevailed over chronic exposures, the toxicity of PS suspension additives was rarely addressed, and ∼40 % of data indicated no organismal effects of PS. Toxicity mechanisms were mainly studied in fish and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, providing guidance for relevant studies in higher organisms. Future studies should focus on environmentally relevant plastics concentrations, wide range of organisms, co-exposures with other pollutants, and method development for plastics identification and quantification to fill the gap of bioaccumulation assessment of plastics.
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Researchers reviewed ecotoxicological studies on manufactured polystyrene nanoparticles and their effects on aquatic organisms. They found that many studies used insufficiently characterized particles and short-term exposure conditions that may not reflect real environmental scenarios. The review recommends improved particle characterization, proper purification before testing, and longer-term exposure studies to generate more environmentally relevant toxicity data.
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This comprehensive review analyzed 615 studies on the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics across different polymer types, sizes, and organisms. A major finding is that over 90% of nanoplastic research uses only polystyrene, leaving huge gaps in our understanding of other common plastics at the nanoscale. The review highlights that smaller particles are generally more toxic and that more research is urgently needed on the nanoplastics people are most likely to encounter in everyday life.
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This review provides an extensive look at how polystyrene microplastics affect aquatic ecosystems, with a particular focus on their toxic effects on fish and microalgae. Researchers found alarming levels of polystyrene in surface waters and sediments across urban, coastal, and rural areas. Evidence indicates that polystyrene particles can impair growth, reproduction, and immune function in aquatic organisms, raising concerns about cascading effects through marine food chains.
Microplastic Pollution Across Living Systems: Toxicological Effects, Knowledge Gaps, and Sustainable Remediation Strategies
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This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics affect aquatic animals, humans, plants and other organisms. It found that polystyrene is the most studied type, smaller nanoplastics remain poorly studied despite possibly being more harmful, and most studies are short-term, lasting no more than 84 days. The review also discusses methods for removing microplastics from the environment.
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