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A comparison between the effects of polylactic acid and polystyrene microplastics on Daphnia magna
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This study compared the effects of polylactic acid (a biodegradable plastic) versus polystyrene microplastics on Daphnia magna water fleas, finding differences in toxicity that are important for understanding whether "biodegradable" plastics pose lower ecological risks than conventional plastics.
The effects of microplastics on zooplankton are an increasing environmental concern. Both primary microplastics that are produced as constituents of cosmetic products, as well as secondary micropla ...
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Chronic toxicity of biodegradable microplastic (Polylactic acid) to Daphnia magna: A comparison with polyethylene terephthalate
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Scientists compared the toxicity of biodegradable PLA microplastics with conventional PET microplastics on water fleas and found that PLA was actually more harmful. At higher concentrations, PLA microplastics killed nearly half the organisms, reduced reproduction, and increased birth defects more than PET particles did. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safer for the environment, suggesting they may pose similar or even greater ecological risks than conventional plastics.
Ecotoxicity of polylactic acid microplastic fragments to Daphnia magna and the effect of ultraviolet weathering
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Scientists compared the toxicity of biodegradable PLA (polylactic acid) microplastics with conventional polyethylene microplastics on water fleas, a key species in aquatic food chains. The biodegradable PLA microplastics were actually more acutely toxic than conventional ones, partly because their higher density led to greater accumulation in the organisms. UV weathering further increased the toxicity of PLA microplastics, challenging the assumption that biodegradable plastics are automatically safer for the environment.
Toxicity comparison of polylactic acid and polyethylene microplastics co-exposed with methylmercury on Daphnia magna
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Researchers compared the toxicity of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics with conventional polyethylene microplastics, both alone and in combination with methylmercury, on water fleas. The biodegradable microplastics caused greater harm, significantly reducing survival and reproduction while also increasing mercury accumulation in the organisms. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment, suggesting they may actually enhance the toxicity of co-occurring pollutants.
Multi-level toxicity assessment of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics on the cladoceran Daphnia magna
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Researchers tested the toxicity of microplastics made from polylactic acid (PLA), a common bioplastic marketed as an eco-friendly alternative, on water fleas over 21 days. The PLA microplastics caused oxidative stress, depleted energy reserves, and reduced reproduction, though effects were generally milder than those reported for conventional plastics. This study challenges the assumption that bioplastics are harmless once they break down in the environment.
RETRACTED: Biomicroplastics versus conventional microplastics: An insight on the toxicity of these polymers in dragonfly larvae
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Dragonfly larvae exposed to conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations (6 mg/L) for 48 hours showed biochemical toxicity effects in both groups, suggesting that biodegradable plastics are not inherently safer than conventional MPs.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.