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Papers
200 resultsShowing papers from University of Siena
ClearThe distribution of subsurface microplastics in the ocean
This study combined data from nearly 2,000 ocean sampling stations to map how microplastics are distributed at different depths. Smaller microplastics spread more evenly through the water column, while larger ones tend to concentrate near the surface. At deep ocean depths, microplastics make up an increasing share of total organic particles, suggesting they are becoming a significant part of the deep ocean environment.
MicroRaman spectroscopy detects the presence of microplastics in human urine and kidney tissue
Scientists confirmed for the first time that microplastics accumulate in human kidney tissue, finding 26 plastic particles in kidney and urine samples using advanced spectroscopy. The most common plastics found were polyethylene and polystyrene, with particles ranging from 1 to 29 micrometers in kidneys, providing the first direct evidence that microplastics can deposit in human kidneys.
Environmental contamination and climate change in Antarctic ecosystems: an updated overview
This review provides an updated overview of environmental contamination and climate change impacts on Antarctic ecosystems. While brief, the topic is relevant to microplastic research because Antarctica, once considered pristine, has been found to contain microplastics, highlighting just how far-reaching global plastic pollution has become.
Impact of microplastics on growth, photosynthesis and essential elements in Cucurbita pepo L.
Researchers grew squash plants in soil contaminated with four common types of microplastics and found that all four impaired plant growth, especially in the shoots and leaves. PVC was the most toxic, reducing leaf size, photosynthesis, and iron uptake more than the other plastic types. These findings raise concerns that microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could reduce crop yields and potentially introduce plastics into the food chain.
Microplastics and Kidneys: An Update on the Evidence for Deposition of Plastic Microparticles in Human Organs, Tissues and Fluids and Renal Toxicity Concern
This review summarizes the growing evidence that microplastics are found throughout the human body, including in the placenta, lungs, liver, heart, blood, and breast milk. While direct evidence for kidney damage in humans is still lacking, animal studies show that microplastics can cause kidney inflammation, cell death, and oxidative stress. The findings highlight that microplastics are accumulating in virtually every human organ, though the long-term health consequences remain unclear.
Ecological implications beyond the ecotoxicity of plastic debris on marine phytoplankton assemblage structure and functioning
PVC, polystyrene, and polyethylene microplastics and nanoplastics significantly reduced phytoplankton cell density, with polymer type being a key factor; given phytoplankton's role in atmospheric CO2 fixation, plastic pollution could potentially impact the marine carbon pump.
Nanoplastic-Induced Developmental Toxicity in Ascidians: Comparative Analysis of Chorionated and Dechorionated Phallusia mammillata Embryos
This study exposed sea squirt embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the tiny particles caused developmental problems including abnormal nervous system formation at lower doses and general toxic damage at higher doses. Embryos without their protective outer layer were twice as sensitive to the nanoplastics. These findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution in the ocean could harm the early development of marine organisms, potentially affecting ocean ecosystems and the seafood chain.
Biodiversity at risk in the SPAMI Pelagos Sanctuary: The impact of marine litter on biota
Researchers surveyed 23 species in the Mediterranean's Pelagos Sanctuary and found that marine litter, including microplastics, poses widespread risks to biodiversity from small invertebrates to whales. They detected microplastics and plastic additives in the tissues of stranded marine animals and commercially fished species. The study highlights how microplastic contamination in marine protected areas can affect seafood safety and the health of ecosystems that coastal communities depend on.
Accumulation and Embryotoxicity of Polystyrene Nanoparticles at Early Stage of Development of Sea Urchin Embryos <i>Paracentrotus lividus</i>
Researchers exposed sea urchin embryos to polystyrene nanoparticles with different surface charges and studied how the particles accumulated and affected development. They found that positively charged nanoparticles embedded in the embryos' outer membrane and caused significant developmental defects, while negatively charged particles were less harmful. The study suggests that the surface chemistry of nanoplastics plays a key role in determining their toxicity to developing marine organisms.
Dose-Dependent Effects of a Corn Starch-Based Bioplastic on Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): Implications for Growth, Biochemical Parameters, and Nutrient Content
Researchers tested how a corn starch-based bioplastic affects basil plants when mixed into soil at various concentrations. Higher bioplastic levels reduced plant growth and caused oxidative stress, while also changing the plants' antioxidant activity and altering nutrient uptake patterns. While bioplastics are promoted as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, this study suggests they can still stress plants and affect food crop quality when they accumulate in agricultural soil.
Intestinal alterations in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to microplastics: Preliminary results
Researchers fed European sea bass diets containing virgin and pollutant-contaminated PVC microplastic pellets for 90 days and examined the effects on their intestines. They found moderate tissue damage and increased mucus cell activity in fish exposed to both types of microplastics, with pollutant-laden particles causing the most pronounced changes. The study provides early evidence that chronic microplastic ingestion can alter gut health in commercially important fish species.
Characterization of nanoparticles-based vaccines for COVID-19
Researchers reviewed characterization strategies for nanoparticle-based COVID-19 vaccines, arguing that physicochemical, immunological, and toxicological assays must be combined to adequately assess nanovaccine safety and efficacy, and that rigorous characterization frameworks will be essential for navigating regulatory approval of current and future nanoparticle vaccine platforms.
Microplastic contamination of lettuces grown in urban vegetable gardens in Lisbon (Portugal)
Researchers found microplastics in all lettuce samples tested from urban vegetable gardens in Lisbon, with gardens near heavy traffic showing the highest levels. Lettuce from urban gardens contained about 70% more microplastics per year than lettuce bought in supermarkets, with concentrations up to 29 particles per gram. This means that growing your own vegetables in a city may actually increase your dietary microplastic intake compared to buying produce from stores.
Exposure to nanoplastics and nanomaterials either single and combined affects the gill-associated microbiome of the Antarctic soft-shelled clam Laternula elliptica
Researchers exposed the Antarctic soft-shell clam Laternula elliptica to polystyrene nanoparticles and nano-titanium dioxide — alone and combined — and found that both nanomaterials shift the gill-associated microbiome toward potentially harmful bacterial taxa, with combined exposure amplifying changes in metabolic functions related to nutrient and DNA processing.
Degradation of plastic materials in the marine environment: A mussel farm as a case study for the development of alternative mussel nets
This study tested how different plastic materials used in mussel farming degrade after being submerged in seawater for up to three years. Some plastics remained intact while others broke down quickly, potentially releasing microplastics into the marine environment where mussels grow. The research is relevant to seafood safety because degrading plastic nets in mussel farms could be a source of microplastic contamination in the shellfish that people eat.
Mercury Biogeochemistry and Biomagnification in the Mediterranean Sea: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects in the Context of Climate Change
This review examines mercury contamination in the Mediterranean Sea, where fish contain much higher mercury levels than Atlantic species, mainly due to environmental conditions that promote conversion of mercury into its most toxic form. Climate change is expected to worsen the problem by altering the marine food web in ways that increase mercury accumulation in predatory fish like tuna. While focused on mercury, the findings are relevant to microplastics research because microplastics can absorb and transport mercury and other heavy metals through aquatic food chains.
Coexposure to microplastic and Bisphenol A exhacerbates damage to human kidney proximal tubular cells
This study exposed human kidney cells to polyethylene microplastics and bisphenol A (BPA, a common plastic chemical) together and found the combination was significantly more damaging than either substance alone. The co-exposure reduced cell survival and increased both oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidney cells. Since both microplastics and BPA are commonly found in the human body, their combined effect on kidney health is a real concern.
Marine litter plastics and microplastics and their toxic chemicals components: the need for urgent preventive measures
This review discusses how persistent plastic debris breaks down into micro- and nanoplastics in marine environments and can carry harmful chemical additives, including endocrine disruptors, through the food chain. Researchers emphasize that while knowledge gaps remain, existing evidence is sufficient to warrant urgent preventive action. The study calls for applying the precautionary principle to reduce plastic pollution before its full impacts on marine ecosystems and human health are understood.
Exploring the interaction between polystyrene nanoplastics and Allium cepa during germination: Internalization in root cells, induction of toxicity and oxidative stress
Researchers germinated onion seeds in the presence of 50 nm polystyrene nanoparticles and found that even the lowest dose caused cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in root meristem cells — including micronuclei formation — while fluorescence and electron microscopy confirmed that nanoparticles physically enter root cells and can potentially move up the food chain via crops.
First evidence of presence of plastic debris in stomach of large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean Sea
Researchers examined stomach contents of large predatory fish including swordfish and bluefin tuna caught in the Mediterranean Sea and found plastic debris in about 18% of the specimens. The ingested plastics ranged from tiny microplastics to large fragments, and were primarily polyethylene and polyester. This is the first study documenting plastic ingestion in large pelagic Mediterranean fish, suggesting that even top ocean predators are exposed to plastic pollution.
Microplastics induce transcriptional changes, immune response and behavioral alterations in adult zebrafish
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics for twenty days and analyzed the effects at the genetic, tissue, and behavioral levels. They found significant changes in immune system genes, disrupted intestinal and gill tissue integrity, and increased presence of inflammatory cells. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may compromise fish defenses against pathogens by weakening the protective barriers of their mucosal tissues.
Assessment of the impact of microplastic ingestion in striped red mullets from an Eastern Mediterranean coastal area (Zakynthos Island, Ionian Sea)
Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in striped red mullet fish from the coast of Zakynthos, Greece, finding fewer microplastics in fish from the marine protected area compared to tourist-heavy coastal sites. However, the overall number of ingested microplastics was low, and no clear link was found between microplastic ingestion and biological damage markers or chemical contamination in the fish. This suggests that at current contamination levels in this area, microplastics may not yet be causing measurable harm to these fish.
Greenspaces can reduce the level of airborne microplastic contamination in urban environments: Evidence from a lichen biomonitoring study
Researchers used lichen transplants to monitor airborne microplastic levels in the city of Pisa, Italy, comparing parking lots, urban parks, and rural areas. They found that parking lots had roughly eight times more microplastics than rural sites, while urban parks showed intermediate levels, indicating that green spaces help buffer airborne plastic contamination. The study suggests that urban greenspaces can meaningfully reduce residents' exposure to airborne microplastics.
Comparison of Lichen and Moss Transplants for Monitoring the Deposition of Airborne Microfibers
Researchers compared lichen and moss transplants as tools for monitoring airborne microfiber pollution across urban sites in Italy. They found that lichens accumulated significantly more microfibers than mosses and were better at detecting differences between locations. The study suggests that lichen transplants offer a more effective and accessible biomonitoring approach for tracking airborne microplastic contamination in cities.