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Papers
59 resultsShowing papers from Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux
ClearComparative 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.
Toxicity assessment of DMSO extracts of environmental aged beached plastics using human cell lines
Researchers tested chemicals extracted from naturally aged beach plastics on human intestinal and liver cells in the lab and found they caused cell damage, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Some plastic extracts also showed estrogen-like hormonal activity, which could disrupt the body's endocrine system. This study suggests that chemicals leaching from weathered microplastics in seafood could pose real risks to human health.
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.
Distinct toxicity profiles of conventional and biodegradable fishing nets’ leachates after artificial aging
Researchers compared the toxicity of chemical leachates released by conventional and biodegradable fishing nets after simulated aging. They found that biodegradable nets made from PBS-PBAT released compounds that were significantly more toxic to marine bacteria and disrupted fish larval behavior more than conventional net leachates. The study suggests that biodegradable fishing gear, while intended to reduce plastic waste, may pose its own environmental risks as it breaks down.
Life cycle assessment of different strawberry production methods in Germany with a particular focus on plastic emissions
Researchers conducted a life cycle assessment comparing different strawberry farming methods in Germany, specifically examining the environmental impact of using plastic mulches, tunnels, and covers. They found that while plasticulture improved yields and reduced some environmental impacts per kilogram of fruit, the accidental release of plastic fragments into the soil added a previously unaccounted-for pollution burden. The study demonstrates that including plastic emissions in agricultural environmental assessments can meaningfully change the overall sustainability picture.
A wave-resolving two-dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0
Researchers developed a wave-resolving model to simulate how microplastics move through nearshore waters, accounting for processes like resuspension from the seabed and turbulence-driven transport. The model successfully reproduced laboratory experiments showing different behavior for floating versus sinking microplastics. This tool could help predict where microplastics accumulate along coastlines and improve understanding of how shoreline environments act as sources or sinks of plastic pollution.
Juveniles at risk: behaviour and colour changes in sole juveniles (Solea solea) after exposure to estuarine ragworms (Hediste diversicolor) contaminated with microplastics
Researchers exposed juvenile sole fish to ragworms contaminated with microplastics to study effects on behavior and body coloration in estuarine conditions. The study found that microplastic exposure through the food chain caused observable changes in the fish juveniles, suggesting that trophic transfer of microplastics can affect the development and behavior of young fish in estuarine nursery habitats.
Life cycle inventory of plastics losses from seafood supply chains: Methodology and application to French fish products
Researchers developed a life cycle inventory methodology for quantifying plastic losses from seafood supply chains, applying it to French fish products to identify key stages where plastic enters the environment from fishing through retail.
Heart rate and behavioral responses in three phylogenetically distant aquatic model organisms exposed to environmental concentrations of carbaryl and fenitrothion
Researchers exposed zebrafish, Japanese medaka, and water fleas (Daphnia magna) to very low concentrations of two common insecticides — carbaryl and fenitrothion — that are considered "safe" by current standards. Despite being below established safety thresholds, both chemicals increased heart rate and disrupted normal swimming behavior across all three species, raising concerns that current safety standards may underestimate real-world risks to aquatic life.
TORPP - Turtles, One Health Research & Plastic Pollution: A multidisciplinary consortium to evaluate the environmental and health impact of Micro/NanoPlastics (MNPs) pollution
Researchers launched TORPP, a 16-discipline research consortium focused on micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) pollution as a "One Health" issue — meaning it threatens humans, animals, and ecosystems together. The group aims to combine marine ecology's expertise in detecting plastics with human medicine's understanding of disease mechanisms to better evaluate how MNPs harm living organisms.
Transport of microplastic debris in estuaries
Origin, exposure routes and xenobiotics impart nanoplastics with toxic effects on freshwater bivalves
Researchers found that nanoplastics collected from a natural river caused more gene expression disruption in freshwater bivalves than pristine polystyrene nanoplastics, with neurotoxic effects and synergistic interactions with aluminum that persisted even after depuration.
Chemical and toxicological fingerprints of polyethylene primary microplastics deployed along nine European rivers
Researchers deployed polyethylene pellets along nine European river-to-sea pathways for one month to measure contaminant adsorption and toxicity. They found that the pellets accumulated a diverse array of organic pollutants, including plastic additives, pesticides, and PFAS, with trace metal concentrations varying by location along the waterways. The study demonstrates that caging plastic pellets could serve as effective passive sensors for monitoring environmental contamination across river-to-sea gradients.
Confounding factors affect hemocyte responses of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis upon foodborne exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics of three sizes
Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were fed polystyrene nanoplastics at three sizes (50, 200, 1000 nm) and two doses for 7 days, revealing size- and dose-dependent effects on hemocyte immune function, with smaller particles causing greater cellular disruption.
How scientific networks can help advancing both scientific knowledge and public policies: the case study of the “Plastics, Environment and Health” network
This paper describes the French interdisciplinary research network on plastics, environment, and health, which was established in 2019 to coordinate research across ecotoxicology, chemistry, physics, and social science. The network has facilitated collaborations, standardized methods, and produced policy-relevant findings on plastic pollution across soil, air, water, and human health impacts.
Microplastic exposure and effect on loggerhead turtle health
This study characterized microplastic exposure and health effects in loggerhead sea turtles, examining how plastic ingestion relates to blood biomarkers and tissue condition. Turtles with higher microplastic loads showed elevated inflammatory markers and reduced body condition scores, indicating measurable health impacts from plastic ingestion in the wild.
Modelling microplastic dynamics in estuaries: a comprehensive review, challenges, and recommendations
This review examined process-based numerical models used to simulate microplastic transport and fate in estuaries, identifying key challenges including particle diversity, tidal dynamics, and limited field validation data. The authors highlight how models complement observational studies and outline priorities for improving predictive accuracy in these dynamic coastal environments.
Assessment of microplastic pollution in Atlantic Ocean based on Science and Sailing collaboration
Researchers from Ifremer and the University of Bordeaux collaborated with sailing teams to collect microplastic samples across the Atlantic Ocean, analyzing particles smaller than 100 µm for the first time at these offshore locations. They found microplastics throughout the sampling transect, with higher concentrations near coastal shipping lanes and in the North Atlantic gyre.
Microplastics (10 µm-5 mm) in European Atlantic Coastal Waters
A survey of microplastic concentrations (10 µm–5 mm) in European Atlantic coastal waters found particles at 5–1,603 MPs per cubic meter, with estuaries and wastewater effluents identified as hotspots and median abundance nearly three times lower than global marine medians.
Numerical modelling of surface roughness effect on the fatigue behavior of Ti-6Al-4V obtained by additive manufacturing
Temporal distribution of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in four marine species from the Atlantic coast (France)
Researchers examined how microplastic and other anthropogenic particle abundances in lake sediments have changed over time using sediment cores, linking increases to historical industrialization and urbanization. The temporal record provides context for understanding how plastic pollution has accelerated in recent decades.
Spatial distribution of anthropogenic particles and microplastics in a meso-tidal lagoon (Arcachon Bay, France): A multi-compartment approach
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination across multiple compartments (surface water, water column, sediments, and oysters) in the Arcachon Bay, a meso-tidal Atlantic lagoon in France, mapping spatial distribution and finding widespread contamination throughout the system.