Probing the nanoplastics adsorbed by microalgae in water using polarized light scattering

Effects of Microplastic on the Growth and Nutrient Absorption of Microalgae

A brief overview of the interaction between micro/nanoplastics and algae

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This review synthesizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics harm algae — disrupting growth, pigmentation, photosynthesis, and oxidative balance — while also exploring algae as a promising eco-friendly method to remove plastic particles from water. Because algae anchor aquatic food webs as primary producers, MNP-driven algal stress cascades upward through trophic levels, ultimately threatening ecosystem health and human seafood safety.

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.

Algae-microplastics interactions and their significance in combating aquatic plastic pollution

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Researchers review how algae interact with microplastics in aquatic environments, examining both the harmful effects on algae and the potential to harness algal biological properties for eco-friendly microplastic removal, toxicity mitigation, and repurposing of plastic particles.

Nanoscale Insights into the Impacts of Microplastics on Marine Phytoplankton

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Researchers used atomic force microscopy, physiological measurements, and chemical analysis to reveal how microplastics damage marine phytoplankton at the nanoscale — denting smooth-walled algae, trapping within diatom frustules, and reducing mechanical strength — with silicon limitation amplifying vulnerability by producing weaker, more adhesive cell walls that adsorb more particles.