Papers

Microplastic mediated arsenic toxicity involves differential bioavailability of arsenic and modulated uptake in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Researchers examined how polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics interact with arsenic contamination in rice paddies. They found that at low arsenic levels, microplastics actually reduced arsenic uptake by rice plants, but at high arsenic concentrations the combination produced synergistic toxic effects. The study reveals that the interaction between microplastics and heavy metals in agricultural soils is more complex than previously thought and depends heavily on contaminant concentration levels.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis exacerbates polystyrene microplastics-induced liver inflammation via activating LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway in ducks

This study found that polystyrene microplastics exacerbate gut microbiota dysbiosis in ducks, and that this disruption of the gut microbial community amplifies liver inflammation through the gut-liver axis, revealing a mechanism by which MP exposure causes hepatic injury.

Reply to “Comment on ‘MicroRNA and Gut Microbiota Alter Intergenerational Effects of Paternal Exposure to Polyethylene Nanoplastics’”

Assessing the ecological risk of representative wastewater based on a growth inhibition method with freshwater algae (Raphidocelis subcapitata)

Researchers developed a sensitive algae-based test using chlorophyll fluorescence to rapidly assess how toxic industrial wastewaters are to aquatic ecosystems, finding that different wastewater types caused widely varying levels of harm to the test algae. The method offers a practical and responsive tool for monitoring whether industrial discharges pose risks to rivers and other water bodies.