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Dose-dependent proteomic profiling uncovers toxicity transformation of nanoplastics induced by simulated fenton oxidation in urban wastewater treatment
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Researchers simulated wastewater treatment of polystyrene nanoplastics using Fenton oxidation and found that treated particles became smaller and more dispersible, shifting their toxicity profile — causing greater oxidative stress and impairing locomotion and reproduction in C. elegans compared to untreated particles.
Nanoplastics can escape conventional wastewater treatment and undergo further transformation during advanced oxidation processes in wastewater treatment plants. However, this transformation and toxicity alterations remain poorly recognized and lack systematic investigation. This study simulated the environmental transformation of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) via Fenton treatment to mimic wastewater processing and compared the physicochemical properties and toxicological effects of Virgin and Fenton-treated PS-NPs. Fenton-treated PS-NPs showed increased surface roughness, reduced size, and more negative zeta potential, indicating enhanced dispersibility. In vitro, Virgin PS-NPs more strongly reduced neuronal viability, while Fenton-treated PS-NPs induced higher ROS levels. In Caenorhabditis elegans, Fenton-treated PS-NPs significantly impaired locomotion, development, and aging-related phenotypes. Dose-effect relationship analysis at the proteomic level revealed disruptions in ribosome function, carbon metabolism, and reproductive pathways. These findings highlight the complex toxicity mechanisms of transformed microplastics during wastewater treatment and provide insights for ecological risk assessment of microplastics in wastewater treatment processes.
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Nanoplastics significantly reduced survival, behavior, and reproduction of fish and aquatic invertebrates by 56%, 24%, and 36% respectively, while increasing oxidative stress by 72% and decreasing antioxidant defenses by 24%, with effects influenced by particle size, functional groups, and concentration.
Seawater Accelerated the Aging of Polystyrene and Enhanced Its Toxic Effects on Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers simulated the aging of polystyrene microplastics in seawater and found that the marine environment accelerated surface erosion, releasing smaller aged particles. When tested on the nematode C. elegans, the aged polystyrene caused greater reductions in movement, vitality, and reproduction compared to virgin particles, driven by increased oxidative stress. The findings suggest that microplastics become more toxic as they weather in ocean conditions.
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