Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Response mechanisms of Chlorella sorokiniana to microplastics and PFOA stress: Photosynthesis, oxidative stress, extracellular polymeric substances and antioxidant system

Researchers exposed green algae to polystyrene microplastics and PFOA (a forever chemical) both separately and together, finding that the combination was more toxic than either pollutant alone. Microplastics mainly harmed the algae by blocking light for photosynthesis, while PFOA caused oxidative damage inside cells. Since microplastics and PFAS often co-exist in polluted water, their combined effects on aquatic food chains could be greater than studies of individual pollutants suggest.

2023 Chemosphere 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and lead on Chlorella vulgaris growth, membrane lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, and morphological alterations

Researchers found that amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics and lead act synergistically to inhibit the growth of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, with combined exposure producing greater reductions in chlorophyll, biomass, and cell size than either pollutant alone.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrating transcriptomics and biochemical analysis to understand the interactive mechanisms of the coexisting exposure of nanoplastics and erythromycin on Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Researchers used transcriptomics and biochemical analysis to study how nanoplastics and the antibiotic erythromycin interact when both are present in water with the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa. They found that the combined toxicity was dynamic, shifting from synergistic to antagonistic effects depending on nanoplastic concentration and exposure duration. The study indicates that co-exposure disrupts algal cell membranes, induces oxidative stress, and reduces photosynthetic efficiency.

2023 Chemosphere 11 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

The influence of microplastics on the toxic effects and biodegradation of bisphenol A in the microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics inhibited the biodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA) by the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, with combined exposure showing greater toxicity than either contaminant alone due to BPA adsorption onto microplastic surfaces.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and PCB-44 exposure on growth and physiological biochemistry of Chlorella vulgaris

Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and a common industrial pollutant (PCB-44) on a freshwater green algae species over both short and long exposure periods. They found that both contaminants individually inhibited algae growth and disrupted cell functions, but their combined presence intensified the damage. The study highlights that when nanoplastics and chemical pollutants co-exist in water, they can create compounding harmful effects on aquatic organisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Elucidating the negatively influential and potentially toxic mechanism of single and combined micro-sized polyethylene and petroleum to Chlorella vulgaris at the cellular and molecular levels

Researchers tested the individual and combined toxicity of micro-sized polyethylene and petroleum on the green alga Chlorella vulgaris, finding that particle size, concentration, and aging all influenced toxicity. Combined exposure to both contaminants caused greater harm than either alone, also shifting microbial community composition in the experimental cultures.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular mechanism for combined toxicity of micro(nano)plastics and carbon nanofibers to freshwater microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Researchers tested how microplastics, nanoplastics, and carbon nanofibers affect freshwater algae individually and in combination, finding that the combined effects were significantly worse than either pollutant alone. Nanoplastics combined with carbon nanofibers caused the most severe cellular stress, damaging cell membranes, increasing oxidative stress, and disrupting energy metabolism. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains, this damage could cascade through ecosystems and affect the safety of water and seafood for humans.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-Exposure to Glyphosate and Polyethylene Microplastic Affects Their Toxicity to Chlorella vulgaris: Implications for Algal Health and Aquatic Risk

Researchers assessed the individual and combined toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and glyphosate to the microalga Chlorella vulgaris in acute and chronic exposures. The combination caused greater toxicity than either contaminant alone, particularly at chronic exposure durations, indicating synergistic effects relevant to agricultural runoff contamination.

2025 Molecules
Article Tier 2

Combined effect of polystyrene microplastics and dibutyl phthalate on the microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Researchers investigated the combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate on the microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa. They found that smaller microplastics were more toxic than larger ones, and the interaction between microplastics and the plasticizer ranged from additive to antagonistic depending on concentration. At higher microplastic levels, the particles actually reduced the bioavailability of the plasticizer, partially offsetting its toxic effects.

2019 Environmental Pollution 201 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

Polystyrene microplastics attenuated the impact of perfluorobutanoic acid on Chlorella sorokiniana: Hetero-aggregation, bioavailability, physiology, and transcriptomics

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics interact with PFBA (a type of forever chemical) when both are present around green algae. Surprisingly, the microplastics actually reduced the toxic effects of PFBA on the algae by binding to the chemical and making it less available, showing that pollutant interactions in the environment can be more complex than expected.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastic–petroleum pollution on nutrient uptake, growth, and antioxidative activity of Chlorella vulgaris

Researchers examined the single and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and petroleum on the microalga Chlorella vulgaris. Both pollutants individually and in combination caused oxidative stress, disrupted nutrient uptake of key elements like iron and silicon, and affected cell growth, with iron and manganese playing critical roles in nitrate absorption pathways.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic toxic effects of polystyrene micro-plastics, DCOIT and their combination on marine Chlorella sp.

Marine green algae (Chlorella) exposed to polystyrene microplastics combined with the antifouling biocide DCOIT showed greater toxicity than exposure to either pollutant alone, indicating synergistic effects. This is concerning because plastics coated with antifouling paint — used on boats and marine infrastructure — can carry these toxic chemicals directly to marine organisms.

2022 Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP
Article Tier 2

The combined toxicity influence of microplastics and nonylphenol on microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Researchers examined the combined toxicity of nonylphenol and several types of microplastics on the freshwater microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa. The study found that microplastics of different polymer types and sizes interacted with nonylphenol in complex ways, affecting algal growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and antioxidant enzyme activity, demonstrating that co-exposure to microplastics and organic pollutants can produce combined toxic effects.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 252 citations
Article Tier 2

The comparative effects of visible light and UV-A radiation on the combined toxicity of P25 TiO2 nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics on Chlorella sp.

Scientists studied how titanium dioxide nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics together affect green algae under visible light versus UV-A radiation. UV-A light made titanium dioxide more toxic on its own, but when combined with microplastics, the mixture actually reduced toxicity because the plastics absorbed some of the reactive chemicals generated by UV exposure. The findings suggest that light conditions significantly change how multiple pollutants interact in marine environments.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Complex co-contaminant responses of Chlorella sp. and its phycosphere microbiota under co-exposure to PET microfibers and oxytetracycline

Researchers exposed green algae and their surrounding microbial community to both PET microplastic fibers and an antibiotic, finding that combined exposure caused far greater genetic stress than either pollutant alone — with over 12,000 genes disrupted. The study also found that microplastic fibers promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the microbial community, raising ecological concerns about co-occurring plastic and drug pollution in waterways.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
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

Microplastics disrupt microalgal carbon fixation: Efficiency and underlying mechanisms

Researchers exposed the microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa to polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics and found up to 39% inhibition of carbon fixation, driven by reduced chlorophyll content, increased oxidative stress, and downregulation of genes in the Calvin cycle and chlorophyll metabolism, with implications for aquatic carbon cycling.

2026 Journal of Environmental Management
Article Tier 2

Higher toxicity induced by co-exposure of polystyrene microplastics and chloramphenicol to Microcystis aeruginosa: Experimental study and molecular dynamics simulation

Researchers studied what happens when the antibiotic chloramphenicol and polystyrene microplastics are present together in water containing blue-green algae. The study found that the combined exposure was more toxic to the algae than either pollutant alone, disrupting photosynthesis and gene expression. The findings suggest that microplastics and antibiotics may interact in ways that amplify their harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological Responses to Climate Change and Nanoplastics Are Altered in Concert: Full-Factor Screening Reveals Effects of Multiple Stressors on Primary Producers

Using high-throughput screening of a freshwater green alga, researchers tested how nanoplastics interact with multiple climate change stressors (temperature, CO2, pH, UV), finding that nanoplastics combined with warming or UV caused greater harm than either alone, and that climate change will likely amplify nanoplastic toxicity.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity effects of microplastics and lead(II) ion co-exposure on Chlorella: Protein- and enzyme-level responses

Researchers examined the combined toxic effects of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics with lead ions on the freshwater alga Chlorella, focusing on protein and enzyme-level responses. They found that co-exposure altered protein expression and enzymatic activity in ways that differed from single-pollutant exposure. The study highlights that microplastics and heavy metals can interact to produce complex biomolecular responses in aquatic organisms.

2026 Asian Journal of Water Environment and Pollution
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Evaluating physiological responses of microalgae towards environmentally coexisting microplastics: A meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of 52 studies found that microplastics inhibit microalgal growth and photosynthesis and induce oxidative damage, though microalgae can recover over time. Cyanobacteria are more vulnerable than green algae, and the relative size of microplastics to algal cells governs the mechanism of impact, while aged versus pristine microplastics have opposite effects on extracellular polymeric substance and microcystin production.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Heavy Metals Removal from Fresh Water and Wastewater Systems Using a Membrane

Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics affect the growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress responses of freshwater microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. Smaller particles caused greater inhibition of growth and chlorophyll synthesis than larger ones.

2022 Separations 15 citations