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Interactions between micro(nano)plastics and natural organic matter: implications for toxicity mitigation in aquatic species
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This review examines how natural organic matter found in water can reduce the harmful effects of micro- and nanoplastics on aquatic species. Researchers found that natural organic matter forms a coating called an eco-corona on plastic particles, which can decrease their toxicity to organisms like fish and water fleas. The findings suggest that the natural composition of waterways plays an important role in moderating the ecological impact of plastic pollution.
Plastics have significantly contributed to modern conveniences owing to their ease of use, stability, and adaptability. However, the fragmentation of plastics into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) poses significant environmental risks. These micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) can adsorb various pollutants and pathogens, potentially posing significant ecological risks. This review critically examines the natural organic matter (NOM) in mitigating the toxicity of MNPs in both marine and freshwater species. Evidence suggests that NOM facilitates the formation of an eco-corona (EC) on MNPs, thereby reducing toxicity. Reduced toxicity attributed to EC formation has been observed in various freshwater species, such as Danio rerio and Daphnia magna, as well as marine species, including sea urchins, European sea bass, and marine algae. The presence of natural organic matter (NOM), particularly fulvic acid (FA) and humic acid (HA), significantly mitigates the toxic effects of MNPs, with HA exhibiting a strong protective effect. The interactions between MNPs and NOM, including the formation of the EC, which encompasses a protein corona component, are pivotal in understanding toxicity mitigation in aquatic environments. This review highlights the need for further research to elucidate the interactions between MNPs and NOM, and their role in mitigating toxicity across marine and freshwater ecosystems.
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Interplay between micro-nanoplastics and dissolved organic matter in aquatic ecosystems: From eco-corona dynamics to microalgal adaptive resilience
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This review paper looks at what happens when tiny plastic particles (microplastics) mix with natural organic matter in lakes, rivers, and oceans — and finds that this organic matter can actually coat the plastics and reduce their toxic effects on algae, the tiny organisms that form the base of aquatic food chains. This matters because algae health affects everything up the food chain, including the fish and seafood we eat, so understanding what makes microplastics more or less harmful in nature could help us better predict their real-world risks to ecosystems and, ultimately, human food supplies.
The interaction of micro/nano plastics and the environment: Effects of ecological corona on the toxicity to aquatic organisms.
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This review examines how the ecological corona — the layer of organic matter, proteins, and microbes that form on micro- and nanoplastic surfaces in water — affects their toxicity to aquatic organisms. The ecological corona can either increase or decrease toxicity depending on its composition, making real-world plastic hazard assessment more complex than laboratory tests with clean particles suggest.
Eco-corona formation and associated ecotoxicological impacts of nanoplastics in the environment
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This review examines how nanoplastics interact with natural organic matter in the environment to form an 'eco-corona,' a coating of biomolecules on the particle surface that changes their behavior and toxicity. Researchers found that eco-corona formation alters nanoplastic stability, transport, and biological interactions in ways that can either increase or decrease their harmful effects on organisms. The study highlights the importance of considering these surface transformations when assessing the real-world environmental risks of nanoplastic pollution.
Effects of dissolved organic matter and ecocorona formation on the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastic particles to Daphnia - A meta-analysis
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This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to investigate how natural organic matter affects the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastic particles to water fleas. The findings show that environmental conditions change how dangerous these particles are, which is important for accurately assessing the real-world risks of microplastic pollution in freshwater systems.
Influence of nanoplastic surface charge on eco-corona formation, aggregation and toxicity to freshwater zooplankton
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Researchers examined how surface charge and natural organic matter influence the stability and toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to freshwater zooplankton. They found that positively charged nanoplastics were significantly more toxic than negatively charged ones, and that natural organic matter formed an eco-corona on the particles that reduced their toxicity. The study highlights that both particle surface properties and environmental conditions play critical roles in determining nanoplastic impacts on aquatic organisms.
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