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Papers
40 resultsShowing papers from Mendel University in Brno
ClearUnraveling the ecotoxicological effects of micro and nano-plastics on aquatic organisms and human health
This review summarizes the growing body of evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics affect aquatic organisms and, through the food chain, potentially human health. The tiny plastic particles absorb toxic pollutants and pathogens from the water, acting as carriers that deliver these harmful substances into the bodies of fish, shellfish, and other organisms. The review highlights that both direct plastic toxicity and indirect chemical exposure through contaminated seafood pose risks to human consumers.
Assessing the ecological consequences of biodegradable plastics: Acute, chronic and multigenerational impacts of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate microplastics on freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna
Researchers tested the effects of microplastics made from PHB, a biodegradable plastic, on the freshwater organism Daphnia magna across multiple generations. Even biodegradable microplastics impaired reproduction, growth, and survival, with effects worsening over successive generations. This study shows that replacing conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives does not eliminate the microplastic problem, since biodegradable plastics can still produce harmful micro-sized particles.
A Maze in Plastic Wastes: Autonomous Motile Photocatalytic Microrobots against Microplastics
Researchers developed sunlight-powered microrobots that can autonomously navigate through water channels, capture microplastic particles, and break them down through photocatalysis. The tiny robots combine photocatalytic and magnetic materials, allowing them to self-propel under visible light and be precisely guided with magnets. The study demonstrates a novel, energy-efficient approach to actively seeking out and degrading microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Not so dangerous? PET microplastics toxicity on freshwater microalgae and cyanobacteria
Researchers tested whether PET microplastics are toxic to freshwater algae and cyanobacteria and found that the effects were relatively mild compared to other plastic types. While PET particles did cause some changes in growth and photosynthesis at high concentrations, the organisms largely tolerated the exposure. The study suggests that not all microplastics are equally harmful, and PET may pose lower risks to aquatic primary producers.
Microplastic Removal and Degradation by Mussel‐Inspired Adhesive Magnetic/Enzymatic Microrobots
Researchers developed tiny magnetic microrobots inspired by mussel adhesive chemistry that can capture and break down microplastics in water. The microrobots use a sticky polydopamine coating to grab microplastic particles and an enzymatic component to degrade them. The study demonstrates a novel, biocompatible approach to actively removing microplastic pollution from aquatic environments, offering a potential alternative to passive filtration methods.
Microplastics and nanoplastics toxicity assays: A revision towards to environmental-relevance in water environment
This review evaluates how well current laboratory toxicity tests for micro and nanoplastics reflect real-world conditions in water environments. The authors found that most studies use pristine plastic particles at concentrations far higher than what is found in nature, limiting the relevance of their findings. The paper calls for more environmentally realistic testing approaches to better understand the actual risks of plastic particle pollution.
Testing laboratory protocols for micro- and nano-PET particles preparation by bottom-up chemical and top-down physical methods and implications for environmental studies
Researchers tested and compared chemical and physical methods for producing PET micro- and nanoparticles in the laboratory, evaluating each approach's ability to control particle size, shape, and purity. They found that each method has distinct trade-offs, with top-down grinding producing irregularly shaped particles more representative of environmental debris while bottom-up chemical methods offer better size control. The study provides practical guidance for standardizing how reference plastic particles are prepared for environmental research.
Biohybrid Magnetically Driven Microrobots for Sustainable Removal of Micro/Nanoplastics from the Aquatic Environment
Researchers developed biohybrid microrobots by coating biological cells with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, enabling them to capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water using magnetic steering. The microrobots effectively captured plastic particles through electrostatic interactions and could be collected with a magnet after use. The study presents an innovative and sustainable approach to cleaning up plastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Do foodborne polyethylene microparticles affect the health of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)?
Researchers fed rainbow trout diets containing polyethylene microparticles at three concentrations for six weeks and evaluated various health indicators including growth, organ condition, blood chemistry, and gut histology. The study found that pristine polyethylene microparticles at environmentally relevant concentrations did not cause significant adverse health effects in the fish over the exposure period.
Polystyrene microparticles can affect the health status of freshwater fish – Threat of oral microplastics intake
Researchers fed juvenile rainbow trout polystyrene microplastics at three dietary concentrations for six weeks and assessed multiple health parameters. They found that the highest concentration triggered immune responses, liver and gill damage, disrupted antioxidant balance, and reduced plasma proteins. The study demonstrates that oral microplastic intake can negatively affect the health of freshwater fish across multiple organ systems.
Microplastics in animal nutrition: Occurrence, spread, and hazard in animals
Researchers reviewed how microplastics — tiny plastic particles less than 5mm — move through the food chain and enter animals via contaminated food, water, and prey, potentially disrupting gut health, nutrient absorption, and hormonal function across fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates. Because these effects can pass up the food chain, the review warns of human health risks from eating animal products contaminated with microplastics.
Precision Engineering of Nanorobots: Toward Single Atom Decoration and Defect Control for Enhanced Microplastic Capture
Researchers engineered tiny self-propelled nanorobots by decorating titanium dioxide nanotubes with single platinum atoms and tested their ability to capture microplastics from water. The precise placement of individual atoms on the nanorobot surface significantly enhanced their movement speed and microplastic capture efficiency. The study demonstrates a cutting-edge nanotechnology approach that could eventually be used to remove microplastic pollution from water at very small scales.
Investigating aquatic biodegradation and changes in the properties of pristine and UV-irradiated microplastics from conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastics
Researchers compared the biodegradation of conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastic mulching films in aquatic environments, testing both pristine and UV-weathered samples. The study found that while biodegradable plastics break down well under controlled composting conditions, their degradation in non-target environments like water bodies is considerably less predictable.
Effect of biodegradable poly-3-hydroxybutyrate amendment on the soil biochemical properties and fertility under varying sand loads
Researchers added a biodegradable bacterial plastic called poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) to nutrient-poor soils and found that while it boosted microbial activity, it significantly stunted lettuce growth by diverting nitrogen away from plants. This suggests that using P3HB as a soil amendment has unintended consequences — microbes consume it as a carbon source, depleting the nutrients that crops need to grow.
Establishing Impact of the Long-Term Actionof Waste Dumps with the Occurrenceof Waste Tires on the Soil Environment
Researchers found that soils at long-term waste tire dump sites in the Czech Republic contained heavy metal concentrations exceeding regulatory limits by up to 26,566%, with lead, zinc, and mercury being most elevated and causing measurable phytotoxicity in germination tests.
The Interaction of Microplastics and Microbioplastics with Soil and a Comparison of Their Potential to Spread Pathogens
This review compares the environmental impacts of conventional microplastics and biodegradable microbioplastics on soil properties and microbial communities. The authors argue that while bioplastics are often promoted as eco-friendly alternatives, their rapid fragmentation into smaller particles may actually worsen soil contamination and potentially increase the spread of soil-borne pathogens.
The Influence of Microplastics from Ground Tyres on the Acute, Subchronical Toxicity and Microbial Respiration of Soil
Researchers assessed the toxicity of ground tire microplastics on soil organisms and microbial respiration, finding subchronic phytotoxicity effects that highlight the environmental risks posed by tire wear particles accumulating in soils.
Extraction, characterisation and remediation of microplastics from organic solid matrices
This review examined methods for extracting, characterizing, and remediating microplastics from organic solid matrices, addressing the challenges of detecting microplastics in complex environmental media and evaluating current remediation strategies.
Microbial degradation of virgin polyethylene by bacteria isolated from a landfill site
Researchers isolated bacteria from landfill sites that had been exposed to plastic waste for up to 17 years and tested their ability to break down high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a common plastic used in packaging. The bacterium Bacillus cereus achieved the highest degradation at only 1.78% weight loss, confirming that plastic biodegradation in landfills is an extremely slow process.
Medicine designed to combat diseases of affluence affects the early development of fish. How do plastic microparticles contribute?
Researchers studied whether microplastic particles enhance the toxicity of three pharmaceuticals (metoprolol, enalapril, and another drug of affluence) to early fish development, examining combined effects on embryo and larval zebrafish. The results revealed that microplastics can modify the toxic effects of pharmaceuticals on fish, with implications for cumulative risk assessment in aquatic environments.
Influence of Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate Micro-Bioplastics and Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on the Soil Organic Matter Structure and Soil Water Properties
Researchers compared how bioplastic (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate) and conventional PET microplastics at various concentrations affected the supramolecular structure of soil organic matter and soil water properties. Both MP types altered SOM structure and reduced soil water retention capacity, with the bioplastic MPs showing distinct effects from PET despite being marketed as an environmentally friendlier option.
Integrated Electrochemical Biosensors for Detection of Waterborne Pathogens in Low-Resource Settings
This review covers the development of electrochemical biosensors integrated with microfluidic components for detecting waterborne pathogens, highlighting their potential for portable, affordable water quality monitoring in developing countries. The authors discuss how these devices could address critical gaps in current water safety infrastructure in low-resource settings.
Micromachines for Microplastics Treatment
This review summarizes advances in micro- and nanomotor devices for microplastic removal from aquatic environments, describing how these tiny machines can be powered by chemical fuels or light to propel themselves and capture or degrade plastic particles. The authors identify scalability and environmental safety as key challenges for transitioning from laboratory demonstrations to real-world applications.
Optimisation of phagocytosis assay in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Researchers optimized a phagocytosis assay for rainbow trout using Alexa Fluor and Texas Red-labeled zymosan particles, testing the effects of incubation time, temperature, and blood volume on leucocyte phagocytic activity. The optimized protocol provides a reliable immunological tool for assessing immune function in trout exposed to environmental stressors including microplastics.