Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Microplastic interactions with freshwater microalgae: Hetero-aggregation and changes in plastic density appear strongly dependent on polymer type

Researchers studied interactions between microplastics and freshwater microalgae, finding that microplastics can physically attach to algal cells to form hetero-aggregates, altering both particle behavior and algal physiology.

2016 Environmental Pollution 704 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics exposure on the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae

Researchers investigated how polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae and found that both types reduced chlorophyll content and impaired photosynthetic efficiency. The damage was concentration-dependent and worsened over the growth period. The study highlights that microplastic pollution in freshwater can harm algae, which form the base of aquatic food chains.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 416 citations
Article Tier 2

Long-term exposure of a free-living freshwater micro- and meiobenthos community to microplastic mixtures in microcosms

Researchers exposed a natural freshwater micro- and meiobenthos community to microplastic mixtures in long-term microcosm experiments, finding community-level effects that differ from single-species studies and highlighting the importance of realistic multi-polymer exposure scenarios.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nano/microplastics on the growth and reproduction of the microalgae, bacteria, fungi, and Daphnia magna in the microcosms

Researchers tested the effects of 14 types of plastic particles and 6 fiber materials on microorganisms and water fleas in both single-species and microcosm experiments. They found that higher concentrations and smaller particle sizes of microplastics led to reduced growth rates in algae and other microorganisms. The study highlights the importance of testing realistic mixtures of plastic types rather than single materials when assessing the ecological risks of microplastic pollution.

2023 Environmental Technology & Innovation 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions between polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics and Spirulina sp. microalgae in aquatic systems

Researchers evaluated interactions between polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics and Spirulina microalgae, finding that microplastics inhibited algal growth and pigment production while Spirulina showed limited ability to degrade the plastic surfaces.

2021 Heliyon 121 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Culture Scenedesmus quadricauda: Interactions between Microplastics and Algae

Researchers found that microplastics from multiple polymer types inhibit growth of the freshwater alga Scenedesmus quadricauda and induce oxidative stress, with toxicity varying by polymer type, particle size, and concentration.

2021 Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Influence of Size and Concentration on the Ecotoxicity of Microplastics to Microalgae Scenedesmus sp., Bacterium Pseudomonas putida and Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Researchers assessed the ecotoxicity of five common microplastic types on microalgae, bacteria, and yeast, finding that polyvinyl chloride caused the most growth inhibition and that smaller particle sizes generally increased harmful effects.

2022 Polymers 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae colonization of different microplastic polymers in experimental mesocosms across an environmental gradient

Microalgal colonization of five different microplastic polymer types was monitored in freshwater mesocosms across an environmental gradient, finding that polymer type, surface properties, and environmental conditions all influenced the biomass and community composition of epiplastic microalgal biofilms.

2021 Global Change Biology 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano- and microplastics affect the composition of freshwater benthic communities in the long term

Researchers conducted a 15-month mesocosm experiment exposing freshwater communities to five concentrations of nano- and microplastics, assessing long-term effects on community composition under ecologically realistic conditions. The study found that chronic exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations affected the composition of freshwater microalgal assemblages.

2020 Science Advances 171 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the Interaction Among Microalgae Spirulina sp, Plastics Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polypropylene in Freshwater Environment

This study examined interactions between the microalga Spirulina sp. and two common plastics (PET and polypropylene) in freshwater, assessing how plastic degradation and algal growth affect each other in a simulated aquatic environment.

2019 Journal of Ecological Engineering 142 citations
Review Tier 2

A critical review of interactions between microplastics, microalgae and aquatic ecosystem function

This review of microplastic-microalgae interactions found that microplastics form distinct epiplastic algal communities that differ from surrounding water communities, and that the interactions are bidirectional — MP properties affect algal physiology while algal surface coatings alter MP behavior and fate.

2020 Water Research 412 citations
Article Tier 2

Different interaction performance between microplastics and microalgae: The bio-elimination potential of Chlorella sp. L38 and Phaeodactylum tricornutum MASCC-0025

Researchers investigated how two species of microalgae, Chlorella and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, interact with common microplastic types including polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, and PVC. The study found that these microalgae have different capacities to interact with and potentially help remove microplastics, suggesting a possible green and cost-effective approach to microplastic bio-elimination from contaminated waters.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 216 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae–microplastics interactions at environmentally relevant concentrations: Implications toward ecology, bioeconomy, and UN SDGs

This study investigated how microalgae interact with microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations, examining growth inhibition, aggregation, and photosynthetic effects, with implications for aquatic ecosystem function and the feasibility of microalgae-based bioremediation.

2023 Water Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics and microplastic-metal combinations on growth and chlorophyll a concentration of Chlorella vulgaris

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics alone and in combination with metals (copper, zinc, manganese) on the freshwater microalga Chlorella vulgaris. The study found that low microplastic concentrations had no significant impact, but higher concentrations reduced algal growth and chlorophyll content, with metal-microplastic combinations producing more pronounced effects.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 231 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of biofouled plastics on phytoplankton community assembling and water chemistry: pilot study and implications for freshwater environments

Researchers conducted a pilot laboratory study exposing a five-species freshwater phytoplankton community to pristine and biofouled polypropylene fragments to investigate whether plastic acts as a carrier for algal species dispersal and to assess effects on water biodiversity and chemistry in freshwater environments.

2024
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Microplastics on the Growth, Reproduction and Survival of Daphnia magna

Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to polyvinyl chloride microplastics at different concentrations, alone and combined with two algal food sources, and measured growth, reproduction, and survival. PVC microplastics reduced fecundity and survival in a dose-dependent manner, with food source type modulating the severity of toxicity effects.

2025 International Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on freshwater and marine microalgae

This book chapter reviews the effects of microplastics on freshwater and marine microalgae, covering how different plastic types and sizes affect algal growth, photosynthesis, and reproduction. Microalgae form the base of aquatic food webs, so plastic-induced disruption to algal communities could have cascading effects throughout ecosystems.

2020 IWA Publishing eBooks 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Interplay of plastic pollution with algae and plants: hidden danger or a blessing?

Researchers tested the ability of three microalgae species to remove microplastics from water through bioadhesion, finding that all three species could adsorb particles onto their surfaces. Removal efficiency depended on particle size, surface charge, and algae cell morphology.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different concentrations and particle sizes of microplastics on the full life history of freshwater Chlorella

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different concentrations and particle sizes affect the complete life cycle of freshwater Chlorella algae. The study found that microplastics can inhibit algal growth by up to 68%, while also altering chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, indicating that microplastic pollution may pose significant risks to the base of aquatic food webs.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Interaction between polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic and microalgae (Scenedesmus spp.): Effect on the growth, chlorophyll content, and hetero-aggregation

Researchers exposed two types of freshwater microalgae to PET microplastics at various concentrations, finding that higher levels significantly stunted growth, reduced chlorophyll, and caused the algae to cluster around the plastic particles. This "hetero-aggregation" behavior suggests microplastics can physically trap microalgae, potentially disrupting aquatic food webs that depend on algae as a foundation.

2023 Environmental Advances 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Combinatory effects of microplastics and emerging contaminants on alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Researchers exposed the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to two types of microplastics found in face washes — PVC and an acrylate copolymer — along with the preservative 2-phenoxyethanol, finding that combined exposure had distinct effects on algal growth compared to individual pollutants. This is relevant because microplastics rarely occur alone in the environment, and their interactions with other chemicals can either amplify or dampen ecological harm.

2023 Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and microbial communities in sediments

Researchers found that PVC, PLA, and polypropylene microplastics altered nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in freshwater sediments by shifting microbial community composition, with effects varying by polymer type and biodegradability.

2022 Environmental Pollution 107 citations
Article Tier 2

The interaction between plastics and microalgae affects community assembly and nutrient availability

Researchers found that plastic debris coated with biological growth (biofilm) — but not clean plastic — altered the community composition of microalgae and changed nutrient levels in the surrounding water. This suggests that plastic particles act as rafts carrying organisms between environments, potentially disrupting aquatic ecosystems in ways that have been largely overlooked.

2024 Communications Earth & Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative growth and cellular responses of toxigenic Microcystis exposed to different types of microplastics at various doses

Researchers exposed toxigenic Microcystis cyanobacteria to polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics at various concentrations to study dose- and time-dependent effects. They found that low microplastic doses initially stimulated growth, while higher doses increasingly inhibited it, with PVC showing stronger effects than polyethylene. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwaters could influence the behavior of harmful algal blooms depending on the type and concentration of plastic present.

2021 Environmental Pollution 51 citations