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Leaching behavior of fluorescent additives from microplastics and the toxicity of leachate to Chlorella vulgaris
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Researchers studied how fluorescent chemical additives leach from polyurethane sponge microplastics into different water environments. They found that the amount of additives released increased with higher pH and longer leaching times, with basic and saline waters extracting the most chemicals. The leachate reduced photosynthetic efficiency in the green alga Chlorella vulgaris, suggesting that chemicals leaching from microplastics may pose ecological risks to aquatic organisms.
Chemical additives leaching from microplastics and their effects on physiology of microalgae are of environmental significance. So far, these issues remain unclear. Here, the leaching behavior of fluorescent additives from polyurethane sponge microplastics in simulated (acidic, saline, and basic water) and natural waters (river, lake, wetland, and sea water) was investigated. Release amount of additives increased with increasing solution pH and leaching time. The maximum release amount was reached at the leaching time of 12-24 h and the 3,3'-diaminobenzidine-like substances were identified in the leachate. The leached concentrations of fluorescent additives in simulated and natural waters followed the order of basic water > saline water > seawater > West Lake > River > Wetland. Effects of leachate and microplastics on growth and photosynthesis of Chlorella vulgaris were further evaluated. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (F/F) decreased with increasing leachate concentrations. Only high content (1.6 g L) of microplastics exerted significant inhibitory influence on cell photosynthesis when microalgae were exposed to microplastics alone. Retention of algal cells inside the porous sponge microplastics did not change their photosynthetic efficiency. These findings indicate that leaching process of additives from microplastics depends mainly on water environments and the leached chemicals may pose ecological risks to aquatic organisms.
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Microplastics leachate may play a more important role than microplastics in inhibiting microalga Chlorella vulgaris growth at cellular and molecular levels
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Researchers found that chemical compounds leaching from aged microplastics may be more harmful to algae than the microplastic particles themselves. UV-weathered polyethylene and PVC released substances that inhibited algae growth, caused oxidative stress, and altered gene expression more severely than direct particle exposure. The study suggests that the chemicals released by degrading microplastics deserve more attention as a source of aquatic toxicity.
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Researchers tested chemical leachates from five types of common plastic and car tire rubber microplastics for their effects on algae and mussels. Car tire rubber and PVC produced the most toxic leachates, containing compounds like benzothiazole and zinc that significantly inhibited algal growth. The study reveals that the chemical additives leaching from degrading plastics may pose a greater immediate risk to aquatic organisms than the physical particles themselves.
pH-Responsive leaching profiles from photodegradation of microplastics
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Researchers systematically examined how UV photodegradation of microplastics triggers pH-dependent release of chemical additives, non-intentionally added substances, and oligomers under controlled degradation conditions, characterising leaching profiles across a range of plastic polymer types. The study identified that pH strongly governs which hazardous compounds leach from degrading plastics and at what concentrations, revealing a mechanism by which environmental conditions modulate chemical risk from microplastic pollution.
Aqueous phase leachates from pure and commercial microplastics differentially affect the physiology and metabolism of Chlorella sp. MM3
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When plastics break down in water, they leak chemical additives, and this study found that the type of plastic matters a lot: chemicals leaching from PET (common in bottles) and PVC harmed algae more than those from polystyrene, damaging cells and disrupting their metabolism. Since algae are the base of aquatic food chains, this matters because the plastics we use every day may be releasing harmful chemical cocktails into water systems that could ripple up through the food web, though more research is needed to know exactly how this affects human health.
Effects of leachates from UV-weathered microplastic on the microalgae Scenedesmus vacuolatus
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Researchers studied the effects of chemical leachates from UV-weathered microplastics on the green algae Scenedesmus vacuolatus. The study found that leachates from additive-containing electronic waste plastics caused severe effects, while virgin polymer leachates generally did not, except for polyethylene, whose degradation products reduced algae growth and photosynthetic activity.
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