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Papers
147 resultsShowing papers from Université 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.
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.
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.
Environmental samples of microplastics induce significant toxic effects in fish larvae
Researchers collected microplastic samples from beaches on Easter Island, Guam, and Hawaii, then fed them to Japanese medaka fish at concentrations reflecting real ocean conditions. Larvae exposed to these environmental microplastics experienced increased mortality, developmental abnormalities, DNA damage, and behavioral changes. The study demonstrates that realistic concentrations of weathered, real-world microplastics can cause significant harm to fish during their most vulnerable early life stages.
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.
Phytomanagement of Metal(loid)-Contaminated Soils: Options, Efficiency and Value
This review examines phytomanagement as a nature-based approach for recovering soils contaminated with metals and metalloids. Researchers found that using plants and associated microorganisms, combined with appropriate site management, can effectively restore soil ecological functions while providing economic value through biomass production. The study suggests that phytomanagement offers a sustainable alternative to conventional soil remediation techniques for large contaminated areas.
Continuum from microplastics to nanoplastics: effects of size and source on the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
Researchers exposed the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana to environmentally realistic concentrations of both microplastics and nanoplastics to compare their toxic effects. The study found that particle size influenced toxicity profiles differently in gill and digestive gland tissues, suggesting that nanoplastics may pose distinct ecotoxicological risks compared to larger microplastic particles in estuarine organisms.
A threshold model of plastic waste fragmentation: New insights into the distribution of microplastics in the ocean and its evolution over time
Researchers proposed a new model for how plastic waste breaks down in the ocean, suggesting there is a critical size below which particles resist further fragmentation. The model predicts a peak in microplastic abundance around 1 millimeter in size, which matches real-world observations and helps explain the puzzling distribution patterns of ocean plastic pollution.
Effects of polystyrene nano- and microplastics and of microplastics with sorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in adult zebrafish
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to nano- and microplastic particles of different sizes, some carrying additional chemical pollutants, over a 21-day period. The study found that nanoplastics and microplastics triggered different stress responses in the fish, with nanoplastics altering antioxidant gene activity and microplastics causing liver changes. The findings suggest that particle size matters when it comes to the biological effects of plastic pollution in aquatic organisms.
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.
Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development
Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.
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.
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.
Intergenerational effects of environmentally-aged microplastics on the Crassostrea gigas
Researchers exposed adult oysters to environmentally aged aquaculture microplastics for two months and found increased mortality, oxidative stress, and environmental stress biomarker responses. Offspring from exposed parents showed reduced swimming activity, developmental abnormalities, and growth impairment in their larval stage. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure can have intergenerational effects on shellfish health and development.
Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics and their degraded forms on stem cell fate
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and their degraded forms affect human bone marrow-derived stem cells. They found that both intact and degraded nanoplastics showed reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, enhanced mitochondrial fusion, and promoted cell proliferation and fat cell differentiation. However, the degraded nanoplastics showed higher long-term cytotoxicity, suggesting that as nanoplastics break down in the environment, their biological effects on human cells may change.
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.
Removal efficiency and adsorption mechanisms of CeO2 nanoparticles onto granular activated carbon used in drinking water treatment plants
Researchers investigated how well granular activated carbon (GAC), commonly used in drinking water treatment, can remove cerium oxide nanoparticles. The study found that GAC achieved removal efficiencies of up to 75% in natural lake water, with adsorption driven primarily by electrostatic attraction and enhanced by the presence of divalent cations and natural organic matter.
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.
Sustainable food packaging: An updated definition following a holistic approach
Researchers proposed an updated, holistic definition for sustainable food packaging by analyzing 38 related terms across the food systems domain. The study found that the lack of a commonly accepted definition has led to uninformed packaging choices by stakeholders throughout the value chain, and the work aims to help producers, distributors, practitioners, and consumers make better decisions about sustainable food packaging alternatives.
Trophic transfer effects of PS nanoplastics and field-derived nanoplastics in the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea
Researchers compared the effects of laboratory-made polystyrene nanoplastics and field-collected nanoplastics on freshwater clams through dietary exposure via algae. They found that both types of nanoplastics transferred through the food chain and accumulated in the clams, but the field-derived particles caused different biological responses than the lab-made ones. The study highlights the importance of using environmentally realistic plastic particles in toxicity research.
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.
A preliminary analysis of microplastics in edible versus non-edible tissues from seafood samples.
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in commercially important fish and shellfish species, comparing levels in edible versus non-edible tissues. The study found microplastics present across multiple species and tissue types, providing preliminary evidence that the edible portions of seafood may contain microplastic particles, which has implications for understanding human dietary exposure.
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.