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Papers
64 resultsShowing papers from University of Ferrara
ClearMicroplastics in Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas
A nationwide study across Italy found microplastics in 7-13% of common mussels sampled from Italian seas, mainly polypropylene and polystyrene fragments and fibers. Since mussels are eaten whole without removing their digestive system, any microplastics inside them are directly consumed by people. The findings underscore the need for standardized detection methods and better waste management to protect both marine ecosystems and the seafood supply.
Microplastic accumulation and ecological impacts on benthic invertebrates: Insights from a microcosm experiment
In a month-long experiment, researchers exposed marine invertebrates like mussels and clams to small microplastics and found that the particles accumulated mainly in the gut, gills, and reproductive organs. Different species absorbed different types and sizes of microplastics, and bottom-dwelling organisms suffered energy loss from the exposure. Since many of these species are consumed as seafood, their microplastic accumulation represents a direct pathway for human exposure.
Plastic-Degrading Microbial Consortia from a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers isolated bacteria from a wastewater treatment plant that can break down common plastics including polyethylene and polystyrene, some of the hardest plastics to recycle. The microbial communities worked together to degrade the plastics more effectively than individual bacterial strains. While biological plastic degradation is still slow compared to the scale of pollution, identifying these bacteria is a step toward developing biotechnology solutions for plastic waste cleanup.
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.
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Human Health: Effects on Metabolism, Diabetes and Cancer
This review by a panel of Italian medical experts examines how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), flame retardant chemicals commonly found in plastics and electronics, affect human metabolism and may contribute to diabetes and cancer. PBDEs persist in the environment and accumulate in human tissues, where they disrupt hormone signaling and activate pathways linked to metabolic disease and tumor growth. These chemicals are relevant to microplastic concerns because they leach from plastic products and can be carried into the body on microplastic surfaces.
Citizen Science for Monitoring Plastic Pollution from Source to Sea: A Systematic Review of Methodologies, Best Practices, and Challenges
This systematic review examines how citizen science programs track plastic pollution from land to sea. The research found that while public participation greatly expands data collection, inconsistent methods and data quality issues limit the scientific usefulness of the results. Better-designed citizen science programs could help communities monitor and respond to the microplastic pollution in their local environments.
Effects of microplastics on head kidney gene expression and enzymatic biomarkers in adult zebrafish
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to a mix of polystyrene and high-density polyethylene microplastics for 20 days and examined effects on gene expression and enzyme activity. The lower concentration activated genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and adaptive immunity, while the higher concentration inhibited acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme important for nervous system function. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure can trigger immune and metabolic responses and may pose neurotoxic risks in fish.
Bioaccumulation Rate of Non-Biodegradable Polystyrene Microplastics in Human Epithelial Cell Lines
Researchers measured how quickly non-biodegradable polystyrene microplastics accumulate in human epithelial cell lines under laboratory conditions. They found that the cells took up and retained plastic particles over time, with accumulation rates depending on particle size and exposure duration. The study provides important baseline data for understanding how microplastics may build up in human tissues upon repeated exposure.
Integrative toxicogenomics: Advancing precision medicine and toxicology through artificial intelligence and OMICs technology
Researchers reviewed how artificial intelligence combined with genomics (the study of genes) and multi-omics data is advancing personalized medicine and toxicology, enabling faster, more accurate predictions of how individuals will respond to drugs or toxic exposures. These tools could eventually help assess risks from environmental contaminants like microplastics based on a person's unique genetic makeup.
Exposure of Mytilus galloprovincialis to Microplastics: Accumulation, Depuration and Evaluation of the Expression Levels of a Selection of Molecular Biomarkers
Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to a realistic mixture of microplastic types and then tested whether a standard purification process could remove them. They found that purification significantly reduced microplastic contamination in the mussels and that molecular biomarkers in the gills could detect the biological effects of exposure. The study suggests that both purification protocols and molecular monitoring tools could help address microplastic risks in farmed shellfish.
Legislation to limit the environmental plastic and microplastic pollution and their influence on human exposure
This review surveys global legislation aimed at limiting plastic and microplastic pollution, including bans on single-use items, recycling mandates, and clean-up initiatives across different countries. The study also discusses how these regulations may help reduce human exposure to plastics and their associated toxic chemicals, though enforcement and scope remain uneven worldwide.
Comparison of Pollutant Effects on Cutaneous Inflammasomes Activation
Researchers compared how different environmental pollutants, including microplastics, cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust, ozone, and UV light, activate inflammatory pathways in human skin tissue. They found that each pollutant triggered distinct patterns of inflammasome activation, with microplastics and diesel exhaust producing particularly notable inflammatory responses. The study provides evidence that airborne pollutants, including microplastics, may contribute to skin inflammation and related skin conditions through specific molecular pathways.
Microplastic accumulation in commercial fish from the Adriatic Sea
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in six commercial fish species from the Northern Adriatic Sea sold for human consumption. The study found that 47.8% of fish contained microplastics, primarily polyethylene and polypropylene fragments, which is particularly concerning because some of these species are consumed whole without being gutted.
Microplastic ingestion affects the lateralised processing of predator stimuli in fish
Researchers fed zebrafish food containing polyethylene or biodegradable microplastics for 20 days and tested their brain lateralization, which reflects how information processing is divided between brain hemispheres. While standard rotation and mirror tests showed no changes, the fish displayed disrupted lateralization when confronted with a predator model. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion can impair specific cognitive responses in fish, particularly those related to predator avoidance.
Adverse effects of plastic ingestion on the Mediterranean small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
Researchers examined plastic ingestion by small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) stranded or caught in the Mediterranean and found plastics in the digestive tracts of multiple individuals, documenting the types and sizes of plastics ingested by this elasmobranch species.
Plastic ingestion by Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) from central Mediterranean Sea: A potential cause for endocrine disruption
Researchers examined plastic ingestion by Atlantic horse mackerel caught in the central Mediterranean, finding plastics in a substantial fraction of fish stomachs and identifying chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties in the ingested plastic types, raising concerns for both fish health and seafood safety.
Sorbed environmental contaminants increase the harmful effects of microplastics in adult zebrafish, Danio rerio
Researchers found that microplastics carrying sorbed environmental contaminants (DDE, BP-3, chlorpyrifos) caused greater harmful effects on adult zebrafish health and behavior than pristine microplastics alone, demonstrating their role as pollutant vectors.
The Application of Synthetic Flavors in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Rearing with Emphasis on Attractive Ones: Effects on Fish Development, Welfare, and Appetite
Researchers tested synthetic flavors as potential feed attractants for zebrafish during early development and evaluated their effects on growth, welfare, and appetite. They found that certain cheese-like and vanilla-like flavors dissolved in propylene glycol influenced feeding behavior and development to varying degrees. The study explores novel approaches to improving aquaculture feed efficiency through flavor-based attractants.
Detection methods of micro and nanoplastics
This review surveyed current detection methods for micro- and nanoplastics across environmental and food matrices, comparing techniques like FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry for identifying these emerging contaminants.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid Promotes Recruitment and Exocytosis of Rodlet Cells in the Renal Hematopoietic Tissue of Common Carp
Researchers investigated how sub-chronic exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) affects specialized immune cells called rodlet cells in the kidney tissue of common carp. The study found that PFOA exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations promoted the recruitment and release of these cells, suggesting they may serve as biomarkers for chemical stress in aquatic organisms.
Traceability as a tool for identification of microplastic pollution and healthy food in the Goro lagoon 
Researchers developed a digital traceability system for clam aquaculture in Italy's Goro lagoon that tracks shellfish from seed to sale while monitoring microplastic concentrations in sediments and animals. The system aims to give consumers transparency about product origin and lagoon pollution levels, linking food quality certification to microplastic contamination data.
Does Microplastic Ingestion Affect Cognition and Brain Gene Expression in Zebrafish, <i>Danio rerio</i> ?
The first extended study of microplastic ingestion and cognition in zebrafish found no significant impairment in visual or spatial learning tasks, suggesting that dietary microplastic exposure at tested doses does not obviously disrupt cognitive function in this teleost model.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Two Different Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Farming Strategies in the Sacca di Goro, Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy
Life cycle assessment of two oyster farming strategies in northern Italy found that replacing offshore pre-fattening with lagoon-based pre-fattening reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 12% and all other environmental impact categories by about 9%.
Acoustical Characterization and Modeling of Sustainable Posidonia Fibers
Acoustic characterization of loose Posidonia oceanica fiber balls found on Mediterranean beaches revealed their potential as eco-sustainable sound-absorbing materials, with experimental measurement of airflow resistivity and absorption used to derive an analytical Johnson-Champoux-Allard acoustic model.