Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on growth, physiological traits of Microcystis aeruginosa and microcystin production and release

Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics of various sizes affect the growth and toxin production of the harmful algae Microcystis aeruginosa. They found that microplastics inhibited algal growth at low densities, with the smallest particles causing the greatest inhibition, and also disrupted the algae's antioxidant defense system. Notably, microplastic exposure led to a significant increase in the production of the toxin microcystin-LR, raising concerns about how microplastic pollution could worsen harmful algal blooms.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 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

Responses of bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene microplastics exposure: Growth and photosynthesis

Researchers exposed bloom-forming blue-green algae (Microcystis aeruginosa) to polystyrene microplastics and found a complex pattern: high concentrations (50–100 mg/L) temporarily suppressed growth and photosynthesis in the middle of the experiment, but promoted growth at the beginning and end. This suggests microplastics could worsen harmful algal blooms in the long run, which is concerning because these blooms produce toxins that contaminate drinking water.

2022 Water Cycle 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Promote Microcystin Synthesis and Release from Cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers discovered that amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics promote both the production and release of microcystin, a harmful toxin, from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The nanoplastics inhibited photosynthesis, induced oxidative stress, and damaged cell membranes, which enhanced toxin synthesis and extracellular release. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems could worsen the threat of harmful algal blooms to aquatic ecology and human health.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 232 citations
Article Tier 2

Responses of Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene microplastics: Growth dynamics and implications for water treatment

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics affect the harmful freshwater algae Microcystis aeruginosa, which causes toxic algal blooms. They found that while microplastics initially suppressed algae growth, the algae eventually adapted and grew even more, producing higher levels of the dangerous toxin microcystin. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwater could worsen harmful algal blooms and create additional water treatment challenges.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 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

Growth inhibition, toxin production and oxidative stress caused by three microplastics in Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers tested the effects of three common microplastic types, PVC, polystyrene, and polyethylene, on the growth and toxin production of the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. They found that all three microplastics inhibited algal growth and triggered oxidative stress, with PVC causing the most severe effects. The study also revealed that microplastic exposure stimulated the production of microcystin toxins, suggesting that plastic pollution could worsen harmful algal bloom impacts in freshwater systems.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics affect growth and microcystin production of Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers exposed Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene nanoplastics across a range of concentrations and tracked effects on growth, cell aggregation, and microcystin production and release throughout the full growth cycle. They found a dose-dependent growth inhibition and increased aggregation at high concentrations, but nanoplastics at 50 mg/L paradoxically stimulated a period of rapid growth, with complex effects on intracellular and extracellular microcystin levels.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Polymer-specific toxicity of microplastics to Microcystis aeruginosa: Growth inhibition, physiological responses, and molecular mechanisms

Researchers exposed the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to four polymer types over 12 days and found that all significantly inhibited growth, with PVC causing the greatest inhibition, and identified polymer-specific molecular mechanisms including oxidative stress and photosynthesis disruption.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Article Tier 2

Roles of extracellular polymeric substances on Microcystis aeruginosa exposed to different sizes of polystyrene microplastics

Researchers examined how the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa responds to different sizes of polystyrene microplastics by producing extracellular polymeric substances. They found that the composition of these protective substances varied depending on particle size, with each size triggering distinct defense mechanisms in the algae. The study reveals that extracellular polymeric substances play a crucial role in mitigating the adverse effects of microplastics on algal growth and photosynthesis.

2022 Chemosphere 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastic stress intensifies Microcystis aeruginosa physiology and toxin risks under environmentally relevant water chemistry conditions

Researchers exposed the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to environmentally relevant concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics, finding both significantly enhanced algal biomass and microcystin toxin production, with nanoplastics additionally promoting extracellular toxin release.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics promote microcystin synthesis and release from cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa.

Researchers showed that amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH2) stimulate microcystin synthesis and release in the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa by inhibiting photosystem II and increasing membrane permeability. This is the first direct evidence linking nanoplastics to enhanced cyanotoxin production in freshwater blooms.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Toxicity mechanism of Nylon microplastics on Microcystis aeruginosa through three pathways: Photosynthesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism

Researchers investigated how nylon microplastics affect the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and found dose-dependent growth inhibition reaching nearly 48% at the highest concentration. The microplastics disrupted photosynthesis, damaged cell membranes, triggered oxidative stress, and altered the expression of genes involved in energy production and carbon fixation. The study identifies three interconnected pathways through which nylon microplastics harm these important aquatic organisms.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 149 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
Article Tier 2

Aging process does not necessarily enhance the toxicity of polystyrene microplastics to Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers compared the properties and toxicity of pristine versus aged polystyrene microplastics of different sizes on the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The study found that the aging process does not necessarily increase microplastic toxicity, as aging induced changes in surface properties, functional groups, and zeta potential that could either enhance or reduce toxic effects depending on particle size.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Post-exposure recovery of Microcystis aeruginosa from nanoplastics stress: metabolic adaptation and damage resilience

Researchers exposed Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacteria to polystyrene nanoplastics for 15 days, then transferred them to NP-free medium to study post-exposure recovery. Toxicity was concentration-dependent during exposure, and cells showed metabolic changes and only partial recovery after removal, suggesting persistent effects on cyanobacterial physiology.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science
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

The effects and mechanisms of polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate with different sizes and concentrations on Gymnodinium aeruginosum

Researchers exposed the microalga Gymnodinium aeruginosum to polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate microplastics of different sizes and concentrations, finding that smaller particles and higher concentrations caused greater oxidative stress and growth inhibition. The study revealed that microplastics can physically adhere to and damage algal cell membranes, disrupting cellular structure and function.

2021 Environmental Pollution 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Metabolic impacts of polystyrene microplastics on the freshwater microalga Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers used untargeted metabolomics to investigate how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa at the metabolic level. They found that microplastic exposure disrupted lipid metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis pathways, with effects varying by particle size and concentration. The study reveals that microplastics can cause subtle but measurable biochemical changes in freshwater algae that may not be captured by standard ecotoxicology tests.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic study on the increase of Microcystin-LR synthesis and release in Microcystis aeruginosa by amino-modified nano-plastics.

This study examined how amino-modified nanoplastics increase production and release of the toxin Microcystin-LR in the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, revealing the cellular and gene-expression mechanisms behind this enhancement. The findings highlight how nanoplastic pollution can amplify harmful algal bloom toxicity.

2024 Journal of hazardous materials