Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic fibers on Lates calcarifer juveniles: Accumulation, oxidative stress, intestine microbiome dysbiosis and histological damage

Researchers fed juvenile barramundi fish polyethylene microplastic fibers for 56 days and found that while the fibers did not affect growth, they induced intestinal oxidative stress and disrupted the gut microbiome. Beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus species were significantly reduced, while overall microbial diversity declined. The study suggests that microplastic fiber ingestion can compromise intestinal health in marine fish even without observable effects on growth.

2021 Ecological Indicators 60 citations
Article Tier 2

A review on fate and ecotoxicity of biodegradable microplastics in aquatic system: Are biodegradable plastics truly safe for the environment?

This review examines whether biodegradable plastics are truly safe for aquatic environments, finding that they can break down into microplastics faster than conventional plastics and cause comparable or even greater harm to algae, invertebrates, and fish. The findings suggest that switching to biodegradable plastics alone will not solve the microplastic pollution problem, and these particles can still enter the human food chain through contaminated seafood.

2024 Environmental Pollution 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on the intestine, intestinal community composition, and metabolic levels in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Researchers exposed tilapia fish to both biodegradable (PLA) and conventional (PVC) microplastics for 14 days and compared the effects on their intestines and gut bacteria. Both types of microplastics caused intestinal inflammation and disrupted the gut microbial community, though the specific effects differed between the two plastic types. The study suggests that biodegradable microplastics may not be substantially safer for aquatic life than conventional ones.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Differential biochemical responses of Cyprinus carpio after dietary and waterborne exposure to microplastics from polyethylene-based biodegradable and conventional bags

Researchers compared the toxic effects of microplastics from biodegradable and conventional polyethylene bags on common carp through both dietary and waterborne exposure. They found that the toxicity ranking differed depending on the exposure route, and that biodegradable plastic microplastics showed significant differences from conventional plastics, particularly in liver nitric oxide levels. The study emphasizes that both the chemical composition of microplastics and how organisms encounter them influence the resulting biological harm.

2025 Ecotoxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of primary leachates of conventional and alternative plastics in Cyprinodon variegatus fish larvae: Endocrine disruption and toxicological responses

Researchers exposed marine fish larvae to chemical leachates from both conventional and so-called eco-friendly plastics and measured the biological effects. They found that leachates from two alternative bioplastics caused complete larval mortality, while bag leachates from all tested materials disrupted hormonal and metabolic defense pathways. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for marine life than conventional ones.

2024 Environmental Pollution 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Multigenerational exposure of microplastics on the microbiota of E. affinis (copepod): a comparative study between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable microplastics

Researchers compared multigenerational effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on copepod microbiota, finding that both types altered microbial communities and that microplastics served as substrates for pathogenic bacteria across generations.

2023 Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Increased transfer of trace metals and Vibrio sp. from biodegradable microplastics to catfish Clarias gariepinus

Researchers compared the transfer of trace metals and Vibrio bacteria from conventional and biodegradable microplastics to catfish. They found that biodegradable microplastics actually transferred more metals and pathogens to the fish than conventional plastics. The study suggests that biodegradable alternatives may not be safer for aquatic organisms and could potentially increase contaminant exposure through ingestion.

2022 Environmental Pollution 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity comparison of polylactic acid and polyethylene microplastics co-exposed with methylmercury on Daphnia magna

Researchers compared the toxicity of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics with conventional polyethylene microplastics, both alone and in combination with methylmercury, on water fleas. The biodegradable microplastics caused greater harm, significantly reducing survival and reproduction while also increasing mercury accumulation in the organisms. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment, suggesting they may actually enhance the toxicity of co-occurring pollutants.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment on intestinal health from polylactic acid microplastics degradation on rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus): Inflammation regulation by mitochondrial dysfunction

Researchers exposed rare minnow fish to photodegraded polylactic acid microplastics to assess intestinal health effects. The study found that these biodegradable plastic particles induced visible intestinal damage, triggered inflammation through mitochondrial dysfunction, and caused oxidative stress, suggesting that even biodegradable plastics may pose ecological risks after environmental degradation.

2025 Environmental Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Microplastics on the Microbiota of Eurytemora affinis

Exposure of the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis to environmentally realistic concentrations of both compostable (PBAT) and conventional (LDPE) microplastics altered the composition of the copepod's microbiome across multiple generations, with the type of polymer making no significant difference to the microbial effect. This finding is notable because it suggests that labelling a plastic as compostable does not reduce its ecological impact on the gut microbiome of a key zooplankton species, which plays a central role in aquatic food webs.

2023 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Accumulation and release of organic pollutants by conventional and biodegradable microplastics in the marine environment

Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics accumulate and release organic pollutants in natural seawater over 64 days. They found that biodegradable plastics like PHA and PBS accumulated similar types and levels of pollutants as conventional polyethylene. The study suggests that switching to biodegradable plastics may not reduce the risk of these materials acting as carriers for toxic chemicals in the marine environment.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative toxicity of virgin and biodegraded LLDPE microplastics on growth, behavior, antioxidant, and hematological health of Catla catla fish

Researchers compared the toxicity of virgin versus bacterially degraded polyethylene microplastics on freshwater fish, finding that both types caused abnormal behaviors and disrupted blood parameters in a dose-dependent manner. However, biodegraded microplastics produced less severe effects on growth, survival, and antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that microbial degradation may reduce the ecological risk posed by microplastic pollution.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable microplastics amplify antibiotic resistance in aquaculture: A potential One Health crisis from environment to seafood

Researchers tracked antibiotic resistance genes in tilapia aquaculture systems exposed to conventional polypropylene and biodegradable PBAT microplastics over 90 days. They found that both types of microplastics promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, with biodegradable plastics showing comparable or even greater effects. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safer, suggesting they may similarly amplify antibiotic resistance risks in food production systems.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of biodegradable plastics on microplastic accumulation and exposure

Researchers developed a comprehensive method to quantify microplastic accumulation from biodegradable polymers in natural environments, examining whether biodegradable alternatives actually reduce plastic loads compared to conventional polymers under real-world outdoor conditions.

2025 Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling
Article Tier 2

Comparative evaluation of biodegradable microplastic presence in edible and non-edible tissues of cage-cultured and wild fishes of Periyar River

Researchers compared biodegradable microplastic presence in edible and non-edible tissues of wild and cage-cultured fish from the Periyar River in India. Biodegradable plastic particles were detected across species and tissue types including muscle, indicating that these supposedly environmentally friendly alternatives persist long enough to contaminate food fish.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and retention of biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable microplastics in a tropical coral reef fish: The role of chemical and physical characteristics

Researchers compared how juvenile reef fish ingested and retained biodegradable versus non-biodegradable microplastics of varying shapes, sizes, and colors. The study found that fish preferred larger, transparent fragments regardless of polymer type, and surprisingly, biodegradable polycaprolactone microplastics persisted longer in the gut than conventional polystyrene, suggesting that biodegradability alone does not reduce retention risks in marine organisms.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the degradation from micro to nanoplastics from biodegradable bags in marine conditions

Researchers evaluated how biodegradable plastic bags degrade into micro- and nanoplastics under environmental conditions, comparing them to conventional plastics. The study found that even biodegradable materials generate persistent micro- and nanoplastic particles under real-world conditions.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Ecological implications of biodegradable and conventional microplastics: Dissolved organic matter bioavailability and microbial response in marine systems

Researchers compared the dissolved organic matter released by biodegradable and conventional microplastics and assessed its bioavailability to marine microbial communities. They found that biodegradable plastics like PLA released organic matter that was more readily used by microorganisms, which altered microbial community composition. The study suggests that while biodegradable plastics break down faster, their leached compounds may have distinct and potentially significant ecological effects in marine environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of the Potential Chronic Toxicity of Polypropylene and Polylactic Acid to the Amphipod Gammarus Aequicauda

Researchers compared the chronic toxicity of conventional polypropylene (PP) and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics on the marine amphipod Gammarus aequicauda to assess whether bioplastics are a safer alternative. The study found that both polymer types caused harm to this crustacean, indicating biodegradable plastics are not necessarily benign once released into marine environments.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
Article Tier 2

Effects of conventional versus biodegradable microplastic exposure on oxidative stress and gut microorganisms in earthworms: A comparison with two different soils

Researchers compared the toxic effects of conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics on earthworms in two different soil types. Both types of microplastic caused oxidative stress and altered gut microbiota in earthworms, with toxicity increasing at higher concentrations. The study found that microplastic concentration was more important than the type of plastic or soil in determining the level of harm, and that biodegradable plastics were not necessarily safer for soil organisms.

2022 Chemosphere 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Different effects of nano- and microplastics on oxidative status and gut microbiota in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on oxidative stress and gut microbiota in marine medaka fish. They found that nanoplastics caused more severe oxidative damage and greater disruption to the gut microbial community than larger microplastic particles. The study suggests that particle size plays a critical role in determining the biological impact of plastic pollution on aquatic organisms.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 244 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination suppressed immune and health status in cage cultured Barramundi: An investigation on pollution sources, ecotoxicological impacts, and transcription of genes involved in detoxification

Researchers studied microplastic contamination in cage-cultured Barramundi from the Persian Gulf, finding that gills accumulated the most plastic and fish with higher microplastic loads showed suppressed immune function, reduced enzyme activity, and upregulated liver detoxification genes — though biomagnification risk to consumers was low.

2025 Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University AVESIS
Article Tier 2

Diverse PerspectivesIlluminate the Intestinal Toxicityof Traditional and Biodegradable Agricultural Film Microplastics to Eisenia fetida under Varying Exposure Sequences

Researchers compared intestinal toxicity of traditional plastic agricultural films and biodegradable alternatives across multiple biological perspectives, finding that both types caused gut damage through oxidative stress and inflammation, with biodegradable MPs showing distinct but not necessarily safer toxicity profiles.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Insights into mouse metabolic health and gut microbiota responses to conventional and biodegradable microplastics released from plastic food containers

Researchers compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics from food containers affect mice over four weeks. They found that both types disrupted lipid metabolism and increased harmful gut bacteria, but the biodegradable PLA microplastics actually caused more severe metabolic disruption than conventional polyethylene. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be safer than traditional plastics when it comes to microplastic exposure from food packaging.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations