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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Aged polystyrene microplastics cause reproductive impairment via DNA-damage induced apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans
ClearReproductive toxicity of UV-photodegraded polystyrene microplastics induced by DNA damage-dependent cell apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans
Researchers investigated how UV-photodegraded polystyrene microplastics affect reproduction in the nematode C. elegans at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study found that aged microplastics caused more severe reproductive toxicity than pristine ones, operating through a DNA damage-induced cell death pathway, suggesting that weathered microplastics in the environment may pose greater biological risks.
Photoaged polystyrene nanoplastics exposure results in reproductive toxicity due to oxidative damage in Caenorhabditis elegans
Researchers exposed the roundworm C. elegans to polystyrene nanoplastics that had been aged by sunlight, simulating real-world environmental conditions. The study found that these weathered nanoplastics caused more severe reproductive harm than pristine particles, primarily through increased oxidative stress, suggesting that aging makes plastic particles more toxic to living organisms.
Comparison of reproductive toxicity between pristine and aged polylactic acid microplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans
This study compared the effects of new versus UV-aged biodegradable PLA microplastics on reproductive health using a worm model, finding that aged particles caused significantly more reproductive damage and DNA injury. The results suggest that biodegradable plastics become more toxic as they weather in the environment, which matters because these aged particles are what organisms, including humans, are most likely to encounter.
Environmentally persistent free radicals on photoaging microplastics shortens longevity via inducing oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans
Researchers found that microplastics aged by sunlight develop persistent free radicals on their surface that are more toxic than fresh microplastics. In experiments with a common laboratory worm, these sun-aged microplastics caused significant oxidative stress and shortened lifespan. This is important because most microplastics in the real world have been exposed to sunlight, meaning their actual health risks may be greater than studies using brand-new plastic particles would suggest.
Aged polystyrene microplastics exposure affects apoptosis via inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in early life of zebrafish
Zebrafish embryos exposed to UV-aged polystyrene microplastics at environmental concentrations showed more severe developmental problems than those exposed to fresh microplastics. The aged particles caused greater oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, triggering increased cell death during early development -- suggesting that weathered microplastics in the real environment may be more harmful than the pristine particles typically used in lab studies.
Seawater Accelerated the Aging of Polystyrene and Enhanced Its Toxic Effects on Caenorhabditis elegans
Researchers simulated the aging of polystyrene microplastics in seawater and found that the marine environment accelerated surface erosion, releasing smaller aged particles. When tested on the nematode C. elegans, the aged polystyrene caused greater reductions in movement, vitality, and reproduction compared to virgin particles, driven by increased oxidative stress. The findings suggest that microplastics become more toxic as they weather in ocean conditions.
Polystyrene microplastics photo-aged under simulated sunlight influences gonadal development in the Pacific oyster
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics aged by simulated sunlight harmed the reproductive development of Pacific oysters, reducing gonad size and disrupting sex hormones. Female oysters were especially affected, with altered energy allocation and significant changes in genes related to reproductive development. Since most microplastics in the ocean have been weathered by sunlight, these findings suggest that real-world microplastic exposure may pose a greater threat to shellfish reproduction than laboratory tests with fresh plastics indicate.
Photo-aged polylactic acid microplastics causes severe transgenerational decline in reproductive capacity in C. elegans: Insight into activation of DNA damage checkpoints affected by multiple germline histone methyltransferases
Researchers found that even supposedly biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, after being aged by sunlight, caused severe reproductive decline in worms that persisted across multiple generations. This is concerning because PLA is widely marketed as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic, yet these results suggest that sunlight-degraded PLA particles may pose long-lasting biological harm through changes in gene regulation.
Photoaged Polystyrene Nanoplastics Result in Transgenerational Reproductive Toxicity Associated with the Methylation of Histone H3K4 and H3K9 in Caenorhabditis elegans
When roundworms were exposed to sun-aged polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant levels, the reproductive damage passed down to unexposed future generations through changes in gene-regulating chemical marks called histone methylation. Sun-aged nanoplastics caused more severe fertility problems than fresh ones, and these effects persisted for two generations after exposure stopped. This study is alarming because it shows nanoplastic exposure could cause hereditary reproductive harm without changing DNA itself.
Multigenerational growth inhibition and oxidative stress of polystyrene micro(nano)plastics on earthworms (Eisenia fetida)
Researchers exposed earthworms to polystyrene nano- and microplastics across two generations, finding both particle types reduced offspring numbers by 23–39%, disrupted reproductive tissue structure, and caused oxidative stress, with nanoplastics producing more severe multigenerational effects.
UV-aged nanoplastics induced stronger biotoxicity to earthworms: Differential effects and the underlying mechanisms of pristine and aged polystyrene nanoplastics
Researchers compared the toxicity of pristine versus UV-aged polystyrene nanoplastics on earthworms and found that aged nanoplastics caused significantly stronger harmful effects. At higher concentrations, aged nanoplastics increased earthworm mortality by 11.1% and reduced reproduction, with the enhanced toxicity attributed to changes in surface properties that occur during environmental UV weathering.
Photoaging of polystyrene-based microplastics amplifies inflammatory response in macrophages
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics aged by sunlight exposure for just three hours triggered stronger inflammatory responses and DNA damage in immune cells than fresh microplastics, even at very low concentrations. The aging process changed the particles' surface properties, making them more biologically reactive. Since most microplastics in the real world have been weathered by sunlight, this study suggests their actual health impact may be greater than lab studies using pristine particles indicate.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induced transgenerational reproductive toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans through enhanced DNA damage accompanied by DNA repair inhibition
Researchers exposed roundworms (C. elegans) to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found that reproductive harm persisted across multiple generations, even after exposure stopped. The nanoplastics caused DNA damage while simultaneously suppressing the organisms' DNA repair mechanisms, creating a compounding effect. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may have lasting consequences that are passed down through generations, amplifying harm beyond the originally exposed organisms.
Microplastics - Back to Reality: Impact of Pristine and Aged Microplastics in Soil on Earthworm Eisenia fetida under Environmentally Relevant Conditions
Researchers compared the effects of new versus sunlight-aged polyethylene microplastics on earthworms at real-world contamination levels, finding that aged particles caused more harm. The aged microplastics accumulated more in earthworm guts, caused greater tissue damage, and shifted gut bacteria away from beneficial species toward harmful ones. This is significant because most microplastics in the environment have been aged by sunlight, meaning their actual impact on soil health and the food chain may be worse than lab studies using fresh plastics suggest.
Photoaged Polystyrene Microplastics Accelerate Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans via Ferroptosis-Linked Insulin Signaling Pathway
Researchers found that photoaged polystyrene microplastics accelerated aging in the nematode C. elegans at environmentally relevant concentrations far more than fresh particles. The aged plastics generated more persistent free radicals and accumulated more readily in the organisms, triggering ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death, and disrupting insulin signaling pathways. The study suggests that environmental weathering makes microplastics substantially more harmful to biological aging processes.
The generation of environmentally persistent free radicals on photoaged microbeads from cosmetics enhances the toxicity via oxidative stress
Researchers studied how sunlight aging affects microbeads from cosmetics and their potential toxicity. They found that UV exposure generates persistent free radicals on the plastic surface, which significantly increased harmful effects on the roundworm C. elegans, including reduced reproduction and elevated oxidative stress. The findings suggest that weathered microplastics from personal care products may be considerably more toxic than their freshly manufactured counterparts.
Photoaging Elevated the Genotoxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics to Marine Mussel Mytilus trossulus (Gould, 1850)
Researchers found that sunlight-aged polystyrene microplastics caused more DNA damage in marine mussels than fresh, unweathered microplastics. The UV-degraded particles disrupted cell metabolism and destabilized protective cell membranes more severely. This is important because most microplastics in the ocean have been weathered by sunlight, meaning real-world exposure may be more harmful than what many lab studies using pristine plastics suggest.
Impact of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the entire female mouse reproductive cycle: Assessing reproductive toxicity of microplastics through in vitro follicle culture
Female mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics suffered significant damage to their reproductive systems, including ovarian cell death, abnormal egg development, and fewer offspring. The microplastics accumulated in the ovaries and triggered cell death pathways while disrupting survival signaling in the cells that support egg development, suggesting microplastic exposure could contribute to declining fertility.
Photoaged Nanopolystyrene Affects Neurotransmission to Induce Transgenerational Neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
When tiny roundworms were exposed to sunlight-aged nanoplastics, their offspring showed movement problems and damaged nerve cells for up to two generations, even without further exposure. The aged nanoplastics were more harmful than fresh ones and worked by disrupting key brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, suggesting that weathered plastic particles in the environment may pose greater risks to nervous system health across generations.
Microplastics and Their Impact on Reproduction—Can we Learn From the C. elegans Model?
This review examines the growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics can harm reproductive systems in animals, causing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage that disrupts normal reproductive function. Researchers highlight that these particles can also carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals that further compound reproductive risks. The study proposes using the nematode C. elegans as an efficient model organism for rapidly screening the reproductive effects of plastic particles.
Impact of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Sperm Functionality: An In Vitro Study of Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity and Fertility-Related Genes Expression
Researchers exposed human sperm samples to polystyrene microplastics in the lab and observed decreased sperm vitality and motility in a time-dependent manner. The microplastics also caused DNA damage, increased harmful reactive oxygen species, and reduced the expression of genes essential for fertilization. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could impair male fertility through oxidative stress and interference with key reproductive functions.
Aged microplastics-induced growth inhibition via DNA damage, GH/IGF-1 and HPT axes disruption in zebrafish larvae
Researchers compared the developmental effects of pristine versus sunlight-aged polystyrene microplastics on zebrafish embryos at environmentally relevant concentrations. They found that aged microplastics were more toxic than pristine ones, causing greater growth inhibition, DNA damage, and disruption of hormonal pathways involved in growth and thyroid function. The study suggests that as microplastics weather in the environment, they may become increasingly harmful to developing aquatic organisms.
Photoaged polystyrene microplastics result in neurotoxicity associated with neurotransmission and neurodevelopment in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio)
This study found that sunlight-aged microplastics are more toxic to zebrafish brains than fresh ones, disrupting nerve signaling chemicals and motor neuron development at very low concentrations. The findings are important because most microplastics in the environment have been weathered by sunlight, meaning their real-world neurotoxic effects may be worse than laboratory tests using fresh plastics would suggest.
Toxicological effects of polystyrene microplastics on earthworm (Eisenia fetida)
Researchers exposed earthworms to two sizes of polystyrene microplastics in soil for 14 days and found evidence of intestinal cell damage, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. The larger particles accumulated more in earthworm intestines, while both sizes triggered changes in key antioxidant markers. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination in soil can cause measurable biological harm to important soil organisms.