Biochemical Alteration of Microalgae Under Multiple Environmental Stressors: Insight into Interactions between Nanoplastics and Aquatic Chemical Factors

Nanoplastic exposure inhibits growth, photosynthetic pigment synthesis and oxidative enzymes in microalgae: A new threat to primary producers in aquatic environment

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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can seriously harm microalgae, the tiny plants that form the base of the ocean's food chain, by slowing their growth by up to 42%, reducing their ability to photosynthesize, and triggering stress damage inside their cells. Since these algae are eaten by small creatures that are eaten by bigger fish (eventually including the seafood we eat), this damage could ripple up the food chain and disrupt entire aquatic ecosystems. While this study looked at algae rather than humans directly, it adds to growing evidence that nanoplastic pollution, now found

Effects of Microplastic on the Growth and Nutrient Absorption of Microalgae

Evidence that microplastics at environmentally relevant concentration and size interfere with energy metabolism of microalgal community

New evidence reveals microplastics interfere with energy metabolism of microalgae

Persistent Microplastics in Ecosystem: The Role of Microalgae-Microplastic Interactions

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This review examines interactions between microalgae and microplastics in aquatic environments, focusing on how algae can adsorb, ingest, and respond to plastic particles, and how these interactions affect microplastic persistence and transport. Microalgae form the base of aquatic food webs, so their uptake of microplastics initiates the trophic transfer chain that ultimately delivers plastic particles and associated chemical contaminants to human consumers through seafood.