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Papers
54 resultsShowing papers from Örebro University
ClearCyanobacteria Harmful Algae Blooms: Causes, Impacts, and Risk Management
This review covers harmful algal blooms caused by cyanobacteria, which release toxins that threaten fish, pets, livestock, and human health through contaminated water. The blooms are worsened by agricultural runoff and industrial pollution, and the authors call for better monitoring tools and standardized methods to detect and manage these toxic events.
The triple exposure nexus of microplastic particles, plastic-associated chemicals, and environmental pollutants from a human health perspective
This review introduces the idea of a "triple exposure" from microplastics: the physical plastic particles themselves, the chemicals built into the plastic during manufacturing, and environmental pollutants that stick to plastic surfaces. All three exposure types can enter the human body through food, water, and air, and may have combined health effects that are worse than any single exposure alone. The authors argue that health risk assessments need to account for all three factors together.
Microplastics and nanoplastics co-exposure modulates chromium bioaccumulation and physiological responses in rats
Rats exposed to a mix of microplastics and nanoplastics along with hexavalent chromium, a toxic heavy metal, accumulated significantly more chromium in their liver, heart, brain, and skin than rats exposed to chromium alone. This shows that plastic particles can act as carriers that increase the amount of toxic metals absorbed by the body, potentially amplifying the health risks of metal pollution.
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.
Immunotoxic, genotoxic, and endocrine disrupting impacts of polyamide microplastic particles and chemicals
Researchers tested polyamide (nylon) microplastics used in 3D printing and found that reusing the material created smaller particles in the 1-5 micrometer range, which are small enough for human cells to absorb. While these particles did not cause immediate inflammation, prolonged exposure of human immune cells revealed steady changes in immune metabolism, and associated chemicals showed potential for DNA damage and hormone disruption.
Cocktail effects of tire wear particles leachates on diverse biological models: A multilevel analysis
Tire wear particles, a major but underappreciated source of microplastic pollution, leached chemicals into seawater that inhibited algae growth, caused developmental problems in zebrafish embryos, and showed hormone-disrupting effects in cell tests. The study found that water-soluble organic compounds from tires -- not just heavy metals like zinc -- were the primary drivers of toxicity, underscoring the need for better regulation of tire additives.
Quality of drinking water in the United Arab Emirates: a systematic review
A review of 14 studies found that tap water in the United Arab Emirates contains unhealthy levels of chemicals, metals (including cancer-causing substances), and bacteria, while bottled water had fewer problems but still contained some concerning chemicals. Many people in the UAE drink bottled water instead of tap water, but this creates environmental problems like plastic waste and microplastic pollution. The researchers say the government needs to take action to improve tap water quality so people can have safe drinking water without harming the environment.
NLRP3 inflammasome as a sensor of micro- and nanoplastics immunotoxicity
This review examines how micro and nanoplastics may trigger the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key part of the human immune system that activates inflammatory responses when it detects harmful particles. Evidence suggests that plastic particles can penetrate tissue barriers and set off inflammation cascades similar to those caused by other known toxic particulates. Understanding this immune pathway is important for assessing the potential health effects of microplastic exposure in people.
New insights into the impact of leachates from in-field collected plastics on aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates
Researchers tested chemical leachates from different types of beach-collected plastics on a range of marine organisms and found that fishing nets, hard plastic containers, and trawling rubber were the most toxic. The plastics released over 30 chemical additives, with some causing death or developmental problems in crustaceans, sea urchins, jellyfish, and fish larvae. This study highlights that microplastic pollution harms marine life not just through physical ingestion but also through the toxic chemicals plastics release into the water.
Toxicity of tire particle leachates on early life stages of keystone sea urchin species
Chemical leachates from tire particles caused developmental abnormalities, stunted growth, and death in the larvae of three species of sea urchins, which are important species in marine ecosystems. The toxic effects were strongly dose-dependent, and zinc along with other metals and organic chemicals were identified as likely culprits. Since tire particles are one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution, this study highlights how the chemicals they release can harm marine life at the base of the food web.
Occurrence of microplastics in bottled water from Croatia: a Raman spectroscopy approach
Researchers analyzed six brands of bottled water sold in Croatia and found microplastics in all of them, with particles as small as 1 micrometer detected using Raman spectroscopy. The most commonly found plastics were PET and polyethylene, and interestingly, bottles made from virgin PET contained more microplastics than those made from recycled PET. The study adds to growing evidence that bottled water is a significant source of human microplastic exposure.
Nanoplastics drive toxicity under co-exposure with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid in human intestinal cells
Researchers exposed human intestinal cells to nanoplastics, the industrial chemical PFOS, and their combination, and found that co-exposure caused more severe cellular disruption than either substance alone. Nanoplastics primarily damaged mitochondria while PFOS affected cell membranes and internal structures, and their combination triggered broader metabolic changes including disrupted amino acid and lipid metabolism. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and common environmental chemicals may pose compounding risks to gut health.
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) adsorbed to polyethylene microplastics: Accumulation and ecotoxicological effects in the clam Scrobicularia plana
Researchers exposed clams to polyethylene microplastics of two sizes, with and without adsorbed PFOS, over 14 days to assess accumulation and toxicity. The study found that microplastic ingestion and PFOS accumulation were size-dependent, with both types of microplastics generating reactive oxygen species and disrupting antioxidant systems in gill and digestive gland tissues, confirming that microplastics can act as vectors for persistent chemical pollutants in marine bivalves.
Organic contaminants sorbed to microplastics affect marine medaka fish early life stages development
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics carrying adsorbed environmental contaminants affect the early life stages of marine medaka fish. The study found that while virgin microplastics alone showed no significant effects, microplastics spiked with benzo(a)pyrene, PFOS, or benzophenone-3 caused developmental impacts in embryos and larvae, demonstrating that microplastics can act as carriers that deliver toxic chemicals to developing fish.
Environmental microplastics disrupt swimming activity in acute exposure in Danio rerio larvae and reduce growth and reproduction success in chronic exposure in D. rerio and Oryzias melastigma
Researchers exposed zebrafish and marine medaka to environmental microplastics collected from Caribbean beaches and found that acute exposure disrupted swimming behavior in larvae, while chronic dietary exposure reduced growth and reproduction by up to 70%. The study suggests that environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations can cause cross-generational effects, with offspring of exposed fish showing premature mortality.
Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish
Researchers fed zebrafish and marine medaka environmentally relevant concentrations of virgin and chemically spiked polyethylene and PVC microplastics over four months. While classical biomarkers showed no changes, significant decreases in growth and disruptions to reproduction, gut integrity, and liver function were observed. The findings suggest that chronic dietary exposure to microplastics can disrupt essential biological functions in fish even without triggering traditional toxicity markers.
Sorption and desorption kinetics of PFOS to pristine microplastic
Researchers investigated how the persistent pollutant PFOS sorbs onto polyethylene microplastic particles of different sizes over six months. They found that smaller microplastic particles adsorbed more PFOS due to their greater surface area, and that PFOS could be released from the microplastics under simulated fish gut conditions. The findings suggest that microplastics may act as carriers of chemical pollutants into the digestive systems of aquatic organisms.
Immunotoxicological effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid on European seabass are reduced by polyethylene microplastics
Researchers fed European seabass diets containing the industrial chemical PFOS, polyethylene microplastics, or both combined, and measured immune system effects. Surprisingly, they found that when PFOS was adsorbed onto microplastics, its toxic effects on the fish immune system were actually reduced compared to PFOS exposure alone. The study suggests that microplastics may sometimes limit the bioavailability of certain chemical pollutants, though the overall environmental implications remain complex.
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.
Environmentally relevant microplastic exposure affects sediment-dwelling bivalves
Researchers exposed two species of sediment-dwelling bivalves to polyethylene microplastics at three concentrations and three size classes for four weeks. The study found species-specific responses including reduced body condition and altered burrowing behavior, suggesting that even at environmentally relevant concentrations, microplastics can affect the physiology and behavior of benthic bivalves.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Chemical Contaminants Adsorbed to Microplastics in the Clam Scrobicularia plana
Researchers exposed clams to low-density polyethylene microplastics that had been pre-contaminated with persistent organic pollutants and measured ecotoxicological effects including oxidative stress and genotoxicity. The study found that microplastics carrying adsorbed chemical contaminants caused greater biological damage than clean microplastics alone, suggesting that the pollutant-carrier role of microplastics amplifies their environmental impact on bivalves.
Microplastics as Vehicles of Environmental PAHs to Marine Organisms: Combined Chemical and Physical Hazards to the Mediterranean Mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis
Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to microplastics that had adsorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated harbor water and observed both physical and chemical hazard effects. The study found that microplastics acted as vehicles delivering PAHs to mussel tissues, causing cellular stress responses, immune modulation, and genotoxicity beyond what clean microplastics produced alone.
The upcoming European Soil Monitoring Law: An effective instrument for the protection of terrestrial ecosystems?
This analysis examines whether the upcoming European Soil Monitoring Law will effectively protect terrestrial ecosystems. The study suggests that while the regulation represents important progress, it needs to close gaps between existing chemical regulations and fully align with current European strategies for environmental protection and sustainability.
Effects of the UV filter, oxybenzone, adsorbed to microplastics in the clam Scrobicularia plana
Scientists exposed the clam Scrobicularia plana to oxybenzone (a UV filter in sunscreens) adsorbed to microplastics and found greater bioaccumulation and oxidative damage than with oxybenzone alone, demonstrating that microplastics enhance the bioavailability of adsorbed organic contaminants.