Papers

Co-exposure to microplastic and plastic additives causes development impairment in zebrafish embryos

When zebrafish embryos were exposed to mixtures of polystyrene microplastics combined with common plastic additives (BPS and a phthalate), the combination was far more toxic than any single chemical alone. Even at individually non-toxic doses, the mixtures caused significant developmental abnormalities, oxidative stress, and disrupted thyroid hormone genes. This highlights that real-world exposure to microplastics plus their chemical additives may be more dangerous than studies of individual plastics suggest.

Preparation of fragmented polyethylene nanoplastics using a focused ultrasonic system and assessment of their cytotoxic effects on human cells

Researchers created realistic polyethylene nanoplastic fragments in the lab and tested their effects on seven types of human cells, including stomach, lung, liver, and brain cells. While the particles did not immediately kill cells, they caused membrane damage and triggered inflammatory responses across all cell types, and were found to accumulate inside cells.

Identification and quantification of microplastics in omega-3 products using micro Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy