Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Are the primary characteristics of polystyrene nanoplastics responsible for toxicity and ad/absorption in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum?

Researchers exposed the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to 50 nm and 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics and found that smaller particles triggered faster oxidative stress and photosynthetic damage while larger ones were more stable and caused greater growth inhibition over 72 hours, illustrating how particle size shapes toxicity dynamics in marine algae.

2019 Environmental Pollution 180 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic size-dependent biochemical and molecular effects in alga Heterosigma akashiwo

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on the harmful algal species Heterosigma akashiwo, finding that 80-nanometer particles were more toxic than 1-micrometer particles. The study showed that smaller nanoplastics at higher concentrations inhibited algal growth and photosynthesis, disrupted antioxidant enzyme activity, and altered gene expression, suggesting size-dependent toxicity mechanisms.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-Dependent Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Freshwater Microalgae After Long-Term Exposure

Researchers exposed a common freshwater algae species to polystyrene nanoplastics of three different sizes over an extended period. They found that the smallest particles caused the most damage to algae cells, while the largest particles had relatively mild effects, revealing a clear size-dependent toxicity pattern. The study suggests that the tiniest nanoplastic particles in freshwater environments may pose the greatest risk to the base of aquatic food webs.

2025 Water 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of nSiO2 and mPS on diatoms Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima

This study tested the toxic effects of silicon dioxide nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics on the marine diatom Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima, finding both types inhibited algae growth in a dose-dependent manner. Since marine microalgae form the base of ocean food chains, toxicity to these organisms can cascade up through marine ecosystems and ultimately affect seafood that humans consume.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Different effecting mechanisms of two sized polystyrene microplastics on microalgal oxidative stress and photosynthetic responses

Researchers found that 1 micrometer polystyrene microplastics caused more oxidative stress and cell death in marine diatoms, while 0.1 micrometer particles caused greater light shading and pigment decline, revealing distinct size-dependent toxicity mechanisms.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent toxic effects of polystyrene microplastic exposure on Microcystis aeruginosa growth and microcystin production

Researchers exposed the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene microplastics of two sizes and found that particle size significantly influenced the effects. The larger 1-micrometer particles promoted algal growth while aggregating on cell surfaces and inhibiting photosynthesis, whereas 100-nanometer particles stimulated toxin production. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwater may have complex, size-dependent effects on harmful algal blooms and their toxin output.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 152 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics particle size on the toxicity of the microalgae Scenedesmus sp.

This study tested how particle size affects the toxicity of microplastics to freshwater microalgae (Scenedesmus sp.), finding that smaller particles were more toxic. The size-dependent toxicity of microplastics is important for risk assessment, as environmental samples contain particles of widely varying sizes.

2021 Repository of Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology University of Zagreb
Article Tier 2

Role of heteroaggregation and internalization in the toxicity of differently sized and charged plastic nanoparticles to freshwater microalgae

Researchers investigated how the size and surface charge of polystyrene nanoparticles affect their toxicity to freshwater microalgae. The study found that smaller and positively charged nanoparticles showed greater heteroaggregation with algal cells and higher internalization rates, leading to more pronounced toxic effects including reduced photosynthetic activity.

2022 Environmental Pollution 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Current methods to monitor microalgae-nanoparticle interaction and associated effects

Researchers reviewed over sixty studies on how nanoparticles — including metals, silica, and plastics — affect aquatic microalgae, finding that shading, ion release, oxidative stress, and adsorption are the primary impact pathways, though no consensus has emerged on which particle properties (size, chemistry, concentration) most determine toxicity.

2019 Aquatic Toxicology 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Impacts on Microalgae Growth: Effects of Size and Humic Acid

Researchers investigated how different sizes of polystyrene microplastics affect the growth of freshwater microalgae, both with and without naturally occurring humic acid. They found that larger particles blocked light and disrupted photosynthesis, while smaller ones damaged cell walls by adhering to the algae surface. Adding humic acid significantly reduced the toxicity of smaller microplastics by forming a protective coating around the particles.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 368 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on microalgae Chlorella vulgaris: Changes in biomass, photosynthetic pigments and morphology

This study tested how polystyrene nanoplastics of three different sizes affect green algae and found a clear pattern: smaller particles were more toxic than larger ones. The smallest nanoplastics (90 nm) caused the greatest reductions in algal growth and photosynthetic pigments, along with visible changes in cell shape and increased clumping. The findings suggest that as plastics break down into ever-smaller particles in the environment, their potential for biological harm may increase.

2021 Chemosphere 112 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Different Sizes on Freshwater Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris

Researchers tested how two sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics (50 nm and 70 nm) affected the common freshwater microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. Both sizes reduced algae growth, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic activity in a dose-dependent manner, with the smaller particles causing more damage. Since microalgae form the base of aquatic food chains, their sensitivity to nanoplastics could have cascading effects on entire freshwater ecosystems.

2023 Molecules 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Microcystis aeruginosa copes with toxic effects of micro/nano-plastics with varying particle sizes through different self-regulatory mechanisms

Researchers exposed the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene particles of three different sizes ranging from nanoscale to microscale. All particle sizes harmed the algae, but they triggered different cellular defense mechanisms depending on their size, with nanoparticles causing the most severe damage. The findings reveal that particle size is a key factor in determining how microplastics affect aquatic microorganisms.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of two sized polystyrene nanoplastics on the growth, physiological functions, and toxin production of Alexandrium tamarense

Polystyrene nanoplastics at two size ranges were found to inhibit growth and alter physiological functions of the harmful algal bloom dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense, with larger particles having stronger effects on toxin production and smaller particles causing more pronounced growth inhibition.

2021 Chemosphere 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics impacts in seven flagellate microalgae: Role of size and cell wall

Seven marine flagellate microalgae species were incubated with 1-micrometer polystyrene microplastics at 10 mg/L, revealing that cell size and the presence of a cell wall strongly influenced the degree of microplastic-induced physiological and growth effects across species.

2021 Environmental Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

The toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on freshwater algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa depends on the different size of polystyrene microplastics

Researchers tested how two sizes of polystyrene microplastics affect the freshwater alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa, an important organism at the base of aquatic food webs. They found that smaller microplastics caused more severe damage to algal growth, photosynthesis, and cellular health than larger ones, with effects worsening over time and at higher concentrations. The study demonstrates that microplastic size is a critical factor determining toxicity to aquatic phytoplankton.

2022 Chemosphere 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Differential effect of nano vs. micro-sized plastics on live Chlorella sp. algae in water environment

Researchers exposed live Chlorella sp. algae to polystyrene particles ranging from 20 nm to 2000 nm and used confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging to characterize interactions. Nanoplastics of 20–500 nm formed corona-like structures around algae cells and reduced chlorophyll fluorescence intensity and lifetime, indicating impaired photosynthesis, while larger 1000–2000 nm particles had minimal effects.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Individual and Binary Mixture Toxicity of Five Nanoparticles in Marine Microalga Heterosigma akashiwo

Researchers assessed the individual and combined toxicity of five nanoparticle types on marine microalgae, finding synergistic toxic effects from titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide mixtures likely caused by a Trojan horse mechanism of contaminant delivery.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the toxic effects of different polystyrene micro-and nanoplastics on microalgae Chlorella vulgaris by analysis of cell viability, pigment content, oxidative stress and ultrastructural changes

Researchers examined the toxic effects of different-sized polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on the microalga Chlorella vulgaris in long-term exposure tests. The study found that smaller particles (20 and 50 nm) caused greater reductions in cell viability and chlorophyll concentration than larger ones, with surface functionalization also influencing toxicity and ultrastructural damage.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 209 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-specific mediation of the physiological responses and degradation ability of microalgae to sulfamerazine by microplastics

Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect the ability of marine microalgae to tolerate and break down the antibiotic sulfamerazine. They found that nano-sized plastics were more harmful than larger particles, reducing algal growth and impairing the organisms' ability to degrade the antibiotic. The study reveals that microplastic pollution could interfere with the natural biological breakdown of pharmaceutical contaminants in waterways.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Meta-analysis for systematic review of global micro/nano-plastics contamination versus various freshwater microalgae: Toxicological effect patterns, taxon-specific response, and potential eco-risks

A meta-analysis of 1,071 observations found that nanoplastics cause more severe cell membrane damage than microplastics, while microplastics more strongly inhibit photosynthesis in freshwater microalgae. Among polymer types, polyamide caused the highest growth inhibition, polystyrene induced the most toxin release, and diatoms were the most sensitive algal group while cyanobacteria showed exceptional resilience.

2024 Water Research 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentration dependent toxicity of microplastics to marine microalgae

Researchers exposed the marine microalga Chlorella sp. to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L, finding that even low concentrations inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis, while higher concentrations caused more pronounced oxidative stress.

2025 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Size-Dependent Toxicityof Polystyrene Nanoplasticsto Tetrahymena thermophila: A Toxicokinetic–ToxicodynamicAssessment

Researchers synthesized polystyrene nanoplastics of four different sizes (50–500 nm) and exposed the ciliated protist Tetrahymena thermophila to each, finding that smaller particles were more toxic and caused greater bioaccumulation, confirming a size-dependent relationship between nanoplastic properties and ecotoxicological risk.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Physiological responses of the microalga Isochrysis galbana exposed to polystyrene microplastics with different particle sizes

Researchers exposed the marine microalga Isochrysis galbana to polystyrene microplastics of three different sizes and found that smaller particles caused more severe damage. The smallest microplastics inhibited growth, reduced photosynthetic efficiency, and increased oxidative stress more than larger particles. The study highlights that particle size is a critical factor in determining how harmful microplastics are to the base of the marine food chain.

2024 Marine Environmental Research 8 citations