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Distinctive impact of polystyrene nano-spherules as an emergent pollutant toward the environment
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Researchers assessed polystyrene nanosphere toxicity to marine crustaceans and human blood cells, finding significant aggregation in seawater, lethal concentrations for brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and lymphocytes at microgram-per-milliliter levels, and evidence of genotoxicity and oxidative stress damage, establishing these particles as an emerging environmental and health hazard.
The increasing load of nanoplastic pollution in the environment has become a major concern toward human and environmental safety. The current investigation mainly focused on assessing the toxic behavior of nanoplastics (polystyrene nano-spheres (PNS)) toward blood cells and marine crustacean. The study also investigated the temporal stability of PNS under different water matrices and its size-dependent sedimentation behavior in the sea water dispersion. The nano-dispersion showed mean particle size of 561.4 ± 0.80 and 613.7 ± 0.11 nm for PNS 1 and 781.4 ± 0.80 and 913.7 ± 0.11 nm for PNS 2 in lake and seawater, respectively after 48-h incubation, which is ~ 8-fold increase from its original size. The LC50 value against Artemia salina and lymphocytes were found to be 4.82 and 8.79 μg/mL, and 75 μg/mL, respectively for PNS 1 and PNS 2. The genotoxic study reveals that around 50% of lymphocytes were affected by both PNS at 50 μg/mL concentration, whereas the cytotoxic studies on RBC and lymphocytes showed 50% toxicity only at 100 μg/mL concentration. The genotoxic study displayed numerous tri- and multi-nucleated cells. The biochemical profile of A. salina exposed to lethal concentration demonstrated a significant decrease in the total protein, reduced glutathione, and catalase activity and increase in lipid peroxidation activity as a result of PNS permeation to tissues. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the polystyrene nano-spheres are emerging pollutant in the environment and are hazardous to humans.
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Nanoplastics in the oceans: Theory, experimental evidence and real world
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Researchers critically review over 200 studies on nanoplastic pollution — focusing predominantly on polystyrene — synthesizing knowledge on how nanoplastics form from polymer degradation, accumulate in seawater, and affect organisms in controlled conditions, while identifying key methodological standards needed for reliable ecotoxicological assessments.
Time-dependent effects of polystyrene nanoparticles in brine shrimp Artemia franciscana at physiological, biochemical and molecular levels
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Researchers tracked short- and long-term effects of cationic polystyrene nanoplastics on brine shrimp Artemia, finding that even low concentrations impair growth, trigger cumulative oxidative stress leading to lipid peroxidation, inhibit neural and developmental enzymes including cholinesterase and carboxylesterase, and alter gene expression governing molting and cell protection.
Toxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on marine organisms
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Researchers exposed Pacific white shrimp to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and measured immune, antioxidant, and tissue responses after seven days. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune function, increased oxidative stress, and caused tissue damage, particularly in the hepatopancreas and gills. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics can harm the health of commercially important marine species.
Genotoxic and immunomodulatory effects in human white blood cells after ex vivo exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics
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Human white blood cells were exposed ex vivo to polystyrene nanoplastics and showed DNA strand breaks, chromosomal damage, and changes in immune cell activation markers, suggesting that nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations could cause genotoxic and immunomodulatory effects in people.
Evaluation of In Vitro Genotoxicity of Polystyrene Nanoparticles in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
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Researchers evaluated the genotoxic potential of polystyrene nanoparticles in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, finding evidence of DNA damage that raises concerns about the health effects of nanoplastic exposure in humans.
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