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Size-dependent toxic effects of polystyrene microplastic exposure on Microcystis aeruginosa growth and microcystin production

The Science of The Total Environment 2020 152 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Di Wu, Di Wu, Ting Wang, Di Wu, Ting Wang, Hongyan Guo Lijuan Jiang, Di Wu, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Jing Wang, Ting Wang, Ting Wang, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Lijuan Jiang, Di Wu, Ying Yin, Di Wu, Lijuan Jiang, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Lijuan Jiang, Ying Yin, Ying Yin, Ying Yin, Ying Yin, Lijuan Jiang, Hongyan Guo Ying Yin, Di Wu, Ying Yin, Di Wu, Ying Yin, Ying Yin, Di Wu, Hongyan Guo Hongyan Guo Hongyan Guo Jing Wang, Hongyan Guo Di Wu, Hongyan Guo Hongyan Guo

Summary

Researchers exposed the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene microplastics of two sizes and found that particle size significantly influenced the effects. The larger 1-micrometer particles promoted algal growth while aggregating on cell surfaces and inhibiting photosynthesis, whereas 100-nanometer particles stimulated toxin production. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwater may have complex, size-dependent effects on harmful algal blooms and their toxin output.

Polymers

Study Type Environmental

Due to increasingly severe microplastic pollution in freshwaters, the interaction between these contaminants and cyanobacteria warrants study. In this study, we expose the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to different sizes (1 μm and 100 nm) of polystyrene (PS) microplastics of 5 mg/L. Results indicate 1 μm microplastics promote algal growth (12.42% ± 0.94%) at 96 h, and have greater potential to aggregate on algal cell surfaces and inhibit photosynthesis. But no significance was observed in 100 nm microplastics treatment on algal growth and photosynthetic activity after 96 h exposure. Especially, 1 μm microplastics increased the content of intracellular microcystins (MCs) (18.42% ±0.33%) after 72 h and inhibit MCs release (23.87% ±8.79%) at 72 h, while 100 nm PS microplastics promote MCs production only at 48 h (14.83% ± 7.07%). Results indicate that smaller size does not necessarily mean greater toxicity, 1 μm microplastics showing more adverse effects than 100 nm microplastics to M. aeruginosa, improving understanding of the toxicity of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, and challenging the conventionally held belief that smaller microplastics are more toxic.

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