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Long-term community effects of nano- and microplastics on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates
AI summary
This research examined the colloidal stability and aggregation behavior of nanoplastic particles in estuarine water across salinity gradients, finding rapid aggregation and sedimentation at marine salinities. The transition from freshwater to saltwater conditions in estuaries represents a critical zone for nanoplastic removal from the water column through salinity-driven coagulation.
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Microplastics in Freshwater Environments: Sources, Behaviour, and Ecotoxicity
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Researchers reviewed sources, transport behavior, and ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, finding that rivers and lakes are both pathways and sinks for plastic particles and that biological effects on freshwater organisms remain poorly characterized compared to marine systems.
Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems
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Researchers reviewed the widespread presence of microplastics in freshwater environments — including remote lakes and rivers — finding that microfibers from textiles are the most commonly detected type. Since freshwater is a source of drinking water and food, its contamination with microplastics has direct implications for human health.
Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems
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Researchers reviewed the evidence for microplastic contamination across freshwater environments, finding these particles in virtually all rivers and lakes studied — including remote wilderness areas. Microfibers from synthetic textiles are consistently the most common type found, suggesting laundry runoff is a major and underappreciated source.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environments: Challenges and Threats to Aquatic Organisms
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Micro- and nanoplastics have been detected across a wide range of aquatic organisms from microalgae to fish, disrupting metabolic, physiological, and behavioral processes at both cellular and ecosystem levels. Their persistence and increasing abundance in oceans make them a growing food safety threat as plastic contamination moves up the aquatic food chain toward human consumption.
Micro/nanoplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: An Integrated Review of Occurrence, Toxicological Implications, Case Studies, Methodologies, and Future Recommendations
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This integrated review covers the occurrence, toxicology, and detection of micro- and nanoplastics across freshwater, marine, and estuarine ecosystems, using case studies to illustrate biomagnification through aquatic food webs and the compounding risk from co-occurring chemical contaminants. The review calls for stronger international collaboration and policy frameworks grounded in scientific evidence, recognizing that the pervasive nature of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic systems poses escalating risks to both ecosystem integrity and human health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.