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Papers
122 resultsShowing papers from Universidade de Vigo
ClearHarnessing photosynthetic microorganisms for enhanced bioremediation of microplastics: A comprehensive review
This review examines how photosynthetic microorganisms like algae and cyanobacteria can break down microplastics using sunlight as their energy source. These organisms naturally colonize plastic surfaces and some can produce enzymes that degrade common plastics like PET. The research highlights a promising biological approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution in water and soil, which could ultimately reduce the amount of plastic entering the food chain and human bodies.
Comparative assessment of the acute toxicity of commercial bio-based polymer leachates on marine plankton
Researchers tested the toxicity of chemicals leaching from biodegradable plastics — including polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate-covalerate (PHBv) — on five marine species, finding that PHBv leachates were up to 10 times more toxic than conventional polypropylene. The results show that labeling a plastic as "biodegradable" does not guarantee it is safe for marine ecosystems.
Polystyrene microplastic particles in the food chain: Characteristics and toxicity - A review
This review covers how polystyrene microplastics move through the food chain, from water and soil into animals and ultimately humans. Accumulation in organs leads to a range of harmful effects including weight loss, lung disease, brain toxicity, and oxidative stress. The paper highlights that these tiny plastic particles are particularly dangerous because they can cross biological barriers and carry other toxic chemicals with them.
The forgotten impacts of plastic contamination on terrestrial micro- and mesofauna: A call for research
This review highlights the overlooked impact of microplastics on tiny soil organisms like mites, springtails, and nematodes that play critical roles in keeping soil ecosystems healthy. Ingesting microplastics can harm their development and reproduction, which disrupts nutrient cycling and soil food webs. Since these organisms help maintain the soil that grows our food, their decline from plastic pollution could have cascading effects on agriculture and human nutrition.
Short- and medium-term effects of biodegradable microplastics (PLA and PHB) on earthworm development and reproduction
Researchers tested whether biodegradable plastics (PLA and PHB) are truly safer for soil organisms than conventional polyethylene by exposing earthworms to all three types of microplastics. While none caused immediate harm or death, both PLA and conventional polyethylene reduced earthworm reproduction over medium-term exposure, producing fewer cocoons and offspring. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are environmentally harmless and suggests they may pose similar risks to soil ecosystems as conventional plastics.
Histopathological and molecular effects of microplastics in Eisenia andrei Bouché
Researchers exposed earthworms to polyethylene microplastics in soil and examined the effects on their tissues and gene expression. They found that microplastic exposure caused visible damage to the earthworms' gut lining and skin, and altered the activity of genes involved in stress response and immune function. The study provides some of the first evidence that microplastics can harm soil organisms at both the tissue and molecular level.
Effects of military training, warfare and civilian ammunition debris on the soil organisms: an ecotoxicological review
This review examines how ammunition debris from military training and warfare contaminates soil and affects soil organisms, from bacteria to earthworms. While focused on heavy metals and explosives rather than microplastics directly, it highlights how multiple persistent pollutants accumulate in soil ecosystems. The research is relevant because microplastics in soil can interact with these same heavy metal contaminants, potentially making both types of pollution more dangerous to ecosystems and food safety.
A protocol for lixiviation of micronized plastics for aquatic toxicity testing
Researchers developed a standardized protocol for creating plastic leachate solutions to test the toxicity of chemicals that microplastics release into water. Different types of microplastics released varying amounts of harmful additives, and the resulting leachates were toxic to marine organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. Having a consistent testing method is important because it allows scientists to compare results across studies and better assess real-world risks.
A global synthesis of ecosystem services provided and disrupted by freshwater bivalve molluscs
Researchers conducted a global synthesis of ecosystem services provided by freshwater bivalve mollusks, compiling over 900 records from 69 countries. These species contribute important benefits including water filtration, food provisioning, and serving as biological indicators of water quality. The study also documented cases where invasive bivalve species disrupt ecosystem services, highlighting the complex role these organisms play in freshwater environments worldwide.
Potential Environmental and Human Health Risks Caused by Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (ARB), Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) and Emerging Contaminants (ECs) from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill
This review examines how landfills contribute to environmental contamination through leachate that carries antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resistance genes, and emerging contaminants including microplastics. Researchers found that these pollutants can spread from landfills into surrounding soil, groundwater, and agricultural areas, creating potential risks for both environmental and human health. The study calls for development of better waste management strategies, particularly in developing nations where open dumping remains common.
Role of UV radiation and oxidation on polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics: impacts on cadmium sorption, bioaccumulation, and toxicity in fish intestinal cells
This study examined how UV aging and oxidation change the way polyethylene micro and nanoplastics interact with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in fish gut cells. While the plastics actually reduced cadmium absorption and toxicity in the cells, UV aging changed the particles' surface chemistry and caused them to clump together differently. The results suggest that the interaction between microplastics and heavy metals in the environment is complex and depends on how weathered the plastic is.
Virgin and Photoaged Polyethylene Microplastics Have Different Effects on Collembola and Enchytraeids
Researchers compared how virgin and UV-aged polyethylene microplastics affect two types of small soil organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. They found contrasting responses between species: one type showed reduced survival but increased reproduction with aged particles, while another showed the opposite pattern. The study highlights that microplastic aging and species differences both matter when assessing the ecological impact of plastic pollution in soils.
A stable isotope assay with 13C-labeled polyethylene to investigate plastic mineralization mediated by Rhodococcus ruber
Researchers developed a novel method using carbon-13-labeled polyethylene to precisely measure microbial plastic degradation rates. Using the bacterium Rhodococcus ruber as a model organism, they demonstrated mineralization rates of up to 1.2 percent per year for UV-treated polyethylene particles. The study establishes stable isotope tracing as a valuable tool for unambiguously proving and quantifying microbial plastic degradation.
Weathering increases the acute toxicity of plastic pellets leachates to sea-urchin larvae—a case study with environmental samples
Researchers tested whether weathered plastic pellets collected at increasing distances from a production facility are more toxic to sea urchin larvae than fresher pellets. They found that pellets collected farther from the source, which had undergone more environmental weathering, were significantly more toxic to developing larvae. The study suggests that as plastic pellets age in the environment, they may become increasingly harmful to marine life.
Plastic photodegradation under simulated marine conditions
Researchers measured the photodegradation rates of different plastic types under simulated marine conditions and found that UV radiation caused all plastics to release dissolved organic carbon and greenhouse gases including methane. The degradation rates translated to 1.7-2.3% per year for particles in subtropical surface ocean conditions. Modeling suggests that solar UV radiation may have already degraded 7 to 22% of all floating plastic ever released into the sea.
Occurrence and size distribution study of microplastics in household water from different cities in continental Spain and the Canary Islands
Researchers sampled tap water from 24 locations across mainland Spain and the Canary Islands to measure microplastic contamination in household drinking water. They found an average of about 12.5 microplastic particles per cubic meter of tap water, with synthetic fibers being the most common type detected. The study provides one of the first standardized comparisons of drinking water microplastic levels across multiple cities within a single country.
Cytotoxicity Assessment of Nanoplastics and Plasticizers Exposure in In Vitro Lung Cell Culture Systems—A Systematic Review
This systematic review evaluates how nanoplastics and plasticizers affect lung cells in laboratory studies. The research found that these tiny plastic particles and their chemical additives can damage respiratory tissue at the cellular level, triggering inflammation and cell death. These findings suggest that breathing in nanoplastics could pose real risks to lung health, though more research is needed to confirm effects in living humans.
Ingestion and contact with polyethylene microplastics does not cause acute toxicity on marine zooplankton
Researchers tested polyethylene microplastics, including particles spiked with the UV filter benzophenone-3, on a range of marine zooplankton and found no acute toxicity at the concentrations tested. The study suggests that short-term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of virgin polyethylene microplastics may not cause immediate lethal effects on marine zooplankton, though chronic and sub-lethal impacts were not assessed.
Development of a New Aggregation Method to Remove Nanoplastics from the Ocean: Proof of Concept Using Mussel Exposure Tests
Researchers developed a new chemical method to aggregate and remove nanoplastics from seawater, then tested whether the treatment was safe for marine organisms using mussels. The aggregation approach successfully clumped tiny plastic particles together for easier removal, and mussels exposed to the treated water showed no significant negative effects compared to controls. The proof-of-concept study offers a potential strategy for cleaning nanoplastic contamination from marine environments without harming sea life.
Leachates of micronized plastic toys provoke embryotoxic effects upon sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus
Researchers tested the toxicity of micronized PVC from colored plastic toys on sea urchin embryos. They found that while virgin PVC polymer was not toxic, the chemicals leaching from colored plastic products caused developmental arrest and morphological abnormalities in the embryos. Different colored plastics showed different levels of toxicity, likely due to varying heavy metal content in the coloring agents, highlighting that plastic additives rather than the polymer itself drive toxicity.
Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in River Ecosystems: Effect of Land Use and Biotic Indices
Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in Spanish river ecosystems and found that concentrations in both water and sediment were strongly linked to surrounding urban land use. They discovered that traditional water quality assessments based on biological indicators do not capture microplastic contamination effectively. The study suggests that new monitoring approaches are needed to account for this emerging pollutant in river health evaluations.
Assessment of Toxicity and Biodegradability of Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Based Materials in Marine Water
Researchers assessed the biodegradability and toxicity of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based materials in marine water, testing both pure PVA and glycerol-containing variants. They found that PVA biodegradation under marine conditions was negligible, with only 5-8% degradation after 28 days, and that adding glycerol slightly increased both degradation and toxicity. The findings suggest that PVA-based alternatives to conventional plastics still require significant development before they can be considered truly marine-degradable.
Anthocyanins as Immunomodulatory Dietary Supplements: A Nutraceutical Perspective and Micro-/Nano-Strategies for Enhanced Bioavailability
This review examines anthocyanins, the natural pigments found in berries, grapes, and other colorful fruits, as potential immune-supporting dietary supplements. Researchers found that anthocyanins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can influence immune cell activity and promote healthy gut bacteria. The study also explores how nano-delivery systems like micro-encapsulation could improve the absorption of anthocyanins, which are otherwise poorly absorbed in the digestive tract.
Effects of primary leachates of conventional and alternative plastics in Cyprinodon variegatus fish larvae: Endocrine disruption and toxicological responses
Researchers exposed marine fish larvae to chemical leachates from both conventional and so-called eco-friendly plastics and measured the biological effects. They found that leachates from two alternative bioplastics caused complete larval mortality, while bag leachates from all tested materials disrupted hormonal and metabolic defense pathways. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for marine life than conventional ones.