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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Toxicity of aged and unaged conventional or biodegradable mulching films microplastics to the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
ClearToxicity of aged and unaged conventional or biodegradable mulching films microplastics to the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
This study tested the toxicity of microplastics derived from aged and unaged conventional and biodegradable mulching films on the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana, finding that both types caused harm to this ecologically important species. Aged microplastics showed different toxicity profiles compared to fresh particles.
Toxicity of aged and unaged conventional or biodegradable mulching films microplastics to the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
Researchers tested the toxicity of aged and unaged microplastics from both conventional and biodegradable mulch films on soil organisms under realistic agricultural exposure conditions. Aged mulch film microplastics were more toxic than virgin particles, and biodegradable alternatives were not inherently less harmful to soil biota.
Effect of aging on the toxicity of polyethylene microplastics on the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
Researchers compared the toxicity of new versus artificially aged polyethylene microplastics on an estuarine bivalve species. They found that aged microplastics, which better represent what is actually found in the environment, caused different and sometimes greater biological effects than pristine particles. The study emphasizes the importance of using environmentally realistic aged microplastics in toxicity testing rather than only new materials.
Microplastics from agricultural mulch films: Biodegradation and ecotoxicity in freshwater systems
Researchers investigated the biodegradation and ecotoxicity of microplastics derived from bio-based biodegradable agricultural mulch films in freshwater systems. They found that UV-aged particles triggered stronger antioxidant defense responses in insect larvae compared to pristine particles, though long-term survival and growth were not significantly affected. The study suggests that while biodegradable mulch microplastics do interact with freshwater organisms, the ecological effects observed were relatively moderate at the concentrations tested.
Long-term effects of conventional and biodegradable microplastics from mulch on freshwater communities
Researchers examined the long-term effects of both conventional and biodegradable mulch film microplastics on freshwater zooplankton populations after leaching from agricultural soils. Even environmentally relevant concentrations of mulch-derived microplastics reduced zooplankton reproduction, with biodegradable mulch microplastics showing effects comparable to conventional plastics.
Exploring Different Toxic Effects of UV-Aged and Bio-Aged Microplastics on Growth and Oxidative Stress of Escherichia coli
This study compared the toxic effects of UV-aged and bio-aged microplastics on aquatic microorganisms, finding that different aging processes alter MP surface properties in distinct ways that produce different patterns of toxicity to bacteria and algae in aquatic environments.
Aging process potentially aggravates microplastic toxicity in aquatic organisms: Evidence from a comprehensive synthesis
This meta-analysis found that environmental aging of microplastics significantly worsens their toxicity to aquatic organisms overall, particularly harming algae, zooplankton, and fish. However, the effect varied by organism type — aged microplastics were less toxic to aquatic plants. Aging methods, particle characteristics, and environmental conditions all modulated the severity of toxicity.
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.
Virgin and Photoaged Polyethylene Microplastics Have Different Effects on Collembola and Enchytraeids
Researchers compared how virgin and UV-aged polyethylene microplastics affect two types of small soil organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. They found contrasting responses between species: one type showed reduced survival but increased reproduction with aged particles, while another showed the opposite pattern. The study highlights that microplastic aging and species differences both matter when assessing the ecological impact of plastic pollution in soils.
Study on the toxic effect of seawater-aged microplastics on Philippine curtain clams
Researchers studied how seawater aging changes the properties of five common microplastic types and tested their toxic effects on Philippine curtain clams. Aging significantly increased the surface area of all microplastics and caused visible surface cracking in polyethylene and PVC particles. Higher microplastic concentrations accelerated clam mortality, with prolonged exposure suggesting cumulative toxic effects.
Aging reduces the negative effect of low-density polyethylene microplastics on soil-plant-microbial systems
This study compared the effects of original and UV-aged low-density polyethylene microplastics at two particle sizes on soil properties, plant performance, and microbial communities. Aging reduced the negative impacts of LDPE microplastics, suggesting that environmental weathering partially mitigates the harm these particles cause to soil-plant-microbe systems.
Mechanistic insights into non-negligible toxicity evolution of microplastics under different aging processes
This review examines how different environmental aging processes, such as UV exposure, mechanical wear, and chemical weathering, change the physical and chemical properties of microplastics and alter their toxicity. Researchers found that aged microplastics and the chemicals they leach tend to be more harmful to organisms than fresh particles, causing growth inhibition and genetic damage. The findings suggest that the environmental risks of microplastics may increase significantly as they degrade over time.
Comprehensive assessment of photo-oxidative degradation and biofilm colonization on microplastic pellets in simulated marine environment
Researchers exposed polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon-6 microplastics to artificial UV aging and chemical oxidation in seawater to study photo-oxidative degradation and subsequent biofilm colonization. Aging altered surface chemistry and enabled biofilm formation, with degradation rates and biofilm composition varying by polymer type.
Aging simulation of thin-film plastics in different environments to examine the formation of microplastic
Researchers aged polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene thin films under land, freshwater, estuarine, and oceanic conditions, finding that UV radiation was the primary driver of surface degradation and microplastic formation, with degradation rates varying substantially by environmental medium.
Developing environmentally relevant test materials for microplastic research through UV-induced photoaging
Researchers used UV irradiation to create photoaged microplastics from multiple polymer types as environmentally relevant test materials for ecotoxicology research, characterizing how aging changes surface chemistry, particle size distribution, and potential biological effects.
New Insights into the Mechanisms of Toxicity of Aging Microplastics
This study showed that UV-aged polypropylene microplastics are significantly more toxic than fresh ones, absorbing more chemicals and generating more harmful reactive oxygen species in seawater. The aged particles caused greater damage to cell membranes in mussels compared to pristine plastics. Since most microplastics in the ocean have been weathered by sunlight, real-world exposure risks may be higher than laboratory studies using new plastics suggest.
Recent advances on microplastic aging: Identification, mechanism, influence factors, and additives release
This review found that environmental aging transforms microplastic surface properties through abrasion, chemical oxidation, UV irradiation, and biodegradation, altering their environmental behavior and ecological risk. Aging also triggers the release of toxic plastic additives, but significant gaps remain between laboratory aging simulations and real-world conditions.
Fragmentation of polypropylene into microplastics promoted by photo-aging; release of metals, toxicity and inhibition of biodegradability
This study showed that when polypropylene plastic ages in sunlight, it fragments into microplastics much faster and releases metal contaminants that were originally added during manufacturing. The resulting particles and chemical leachates were toxic to aquatic organisms and resistant to biodegradation, meaning aged plastics in the environment are more hazardous than fresh ones.
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.
Nanoplastics in aquatic environments: The hidden impact of aging on fate and toxicity
This review highlights that most toxicity studies on nanoplastics use brand-new pristine particles, but real-world nanoplastics are aged by sunlight and chemical exposure, which fundamentally changes their surface properties and toxicity. Aged nanoplastics may be more harmful than pristine ones because they interact differently with biological systems, meaning current safety assessments likely underestimate the true risks.
Ecotoxicological assessment of microplastics in limnic systems with emphasis on chemicals released by weathering
This study examined both the physical and chemical toxicity of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, with special focus on chemicals released when plastics are weathered by ultraviolet light. The research tested conventional and biodegradable plastics, addressing whether particle properties or leaching chemicals drive ecotoxicological effects.
UV-aging exacerbates the diversified toxicity of microplastics in the gut of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)
This study examined how UV aging of microplastics affects their toxicity in the gut of gibel carp, finding that aged MPs caused greater gut microbiome disruption and oxidative stress than virgin MPs. The results highlight that environmental weathering increases the ecological hazard of microplastics in freshwater aquaculture systems.
Effect of aging of microplastics on gene expression levels of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis: Comparison in vitro/in vivo exposures
Researchers compared the effects of aged versus non-aged polyethylene microplastics on the marine mussel Mytilus edulis using both in vitro and in vivo exposures at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study found that gene expression changes in xenobiotic defense, immune function, and cell cycle control differed depending on whether the plastic was aged and the type of exposure method used. These findings highlight that the environmental weathering state of microplastics is an important factor in determining their biological effects on marine organisms.
Time matters: Why ecological effects of microplastics might change over time
This review examines how the ecological effects of microplastics on soil and plant systems can change over time, highlighting that photodegradation of microplastics alters their chemical and physical properties and thereby modifies their environmental impacts. The authors argue that temporal factors are a critical but underappreciated variable in assessing microplastic ecotoxicology.