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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Impacts to Larval Fathead Minnows Vary between Preconsumer and Environmental Microplastics
ClearNo evidence of microplastic impacts on consumption or growth of larval Pimephales promelas
This study found no evidence that microplastic polyethylene microspheres affected the feeding or growth of larval fathead minnows at the concentrations tested. The results suggest that not all microplastic exposures produce measurable harm in fish larvae, and that effect magnitude may depend strongly on particle concentration and type.
Accumulation, depuration, and potential effects of environmentally representative microplastics towards Daphnia magna
Researchers created environmentally realistic microplastics by grinding common consumer products and tested their effects on Daphnia magna, a small freshwater organism widely used in toxicity studies. The organisms accumulated the microplastics and showed some ability to clear them over time, but the realistic microplastics caused different effects than the pristine laboratory plastics typically used in research. This suggests that many existing studies may underestimate the true environmental risk of microplastics.
Marine microplastic: Preparation of relevant test materials for laboratory assessment of ecosystem impacts
Researchers developed methods to prepare environmentally realistic marine microplastic test materials from weathered plastic litter for laboratory ecotoxicology studies, addressing the limitation that most prior research used pristine, homogeneous plastics that do not reflect real-world microplastic complexity.
Studies of the effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms: What do we know and where should we focus our efforts in the future?
This review critically evaluates published research on microplastic effects on aquatic organisms and identifies significant gaps between laboratory experiments and real-world conditions. Researchers found that most studies use polystyrene spheres at concentrations far higher than those found in the environment, while the most common microplastics in nature are fragments and fibers of other polymer types. The study calls for more environmentally realistic experimental designs to better understand the actual ecological risks of microplastic pollution.
Effects of a microplastic mixture differ across trophic levels and taxa in a freshwater food web: In situ mesocosm experiment
Researchers conducted the first in situ mesocosm experiment testing the effects of a microplastic mixture on a freshwater lake food web, spanning multiple trophic levels. The study found that microplastic effects varied across different organisms and trophic levels, providing important community-level evidence that laboratory findings may not fully predict how microplastics impact real aquatic ecosystems.
Are we really producing environmentally relevant reference materials for microplastic studies?
This study evaluated whether laboratory-produced microplastic reference materials used in research adequately represent the physical and chemical properties of particles found in natural environments. Results found substantial differences between commercially available reference materials and environmentally weathered microplastics, undermining the ecological relevance of studies using pristine materials.
How Relevant Is the Accumulated Research on Commercial Spherical Nano- and Microplastics?
A critical review asked how relevant research using commercial spherical plastic beads (a common lab standard) is to the irregularly shaped microplastics found in real environments. The analysis finds significant mismatches between lab model particles and environmental microplastics, urging more ecologically realistic experimental designs.
Is there any consistency between the microplastics found in the field and those used in laboratory experiments?
This study compared the types of microplastics found in field samples with those used in laboratory toxicity tests, finding major inconsistencies in polymer type, size, and shape. The mismatch raises concerns that most lab-based toxicity studies may not accurately predict the effects of microplastics in real environmental conditions.
Towards more ecologically relevant investigations of the impacts of microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems
This review argues that microplastic research in freshwater ecosystems lacks ecological realism, calling for studies that account for realistic exposure concentrations, particle mixtures, and multi-species interactions rather than single-species laboratory tests.
The distinct toxicity effects between commercial and realistic polystyrene microplastics on microbiome and histopathology of gut in zebrafish
Researchers compared the toxic effects of commercially manufactured polystyrene microplastics with environmentally weathered ones on the gut microbiome and intestinal tissue of zebrafish. The study found that the two types of microplastics produced distinct effects, suggesting that commonly used commercial microplastics in laboratory studies may not accurately represent the impacts of real-world microplastic pollution.
Are we really producing environmentally relevant reference materials for microplastic studies?
This study critically evaluated whether current laboratory-produced microplastic reference materials adequately represent the properties of microplastics found in real environments, examining particle morphology, chemical composition, and surface characteristics. Significant gaps were identified between commercially available reference materials and environmentally relevant particles, limiting the ecological realism of ecotoxicology studies.
Effects of microplastics and natural particles on the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia magna under different dietary quality scenarios
Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to both natural particles—including sediment, algae, and biofilm—and polystyrene microplastics to compare their effects, finding that natural particles caused similar or greater harm than microplastics at equivalent concentrations, highlighting the need for environmental context in MP toxicity studies.
Effects of microplastics on bivalves: Are experimental settings reflecting conditions in the field?
A critical comparison of experimental microplastic studies on bivalves found that most laboratory studies used particle concentrations far exceeding environmental levels and polymer types that differ from field observations, concluding that many reported toxic effects may not be ecologically relevant and calling for environmentally realistic experimental designs.
Microplastic Effect Tests Should Use a Standard Heterogeneous Mixture: Multifarious Impacts among 16 Benthic Invertebrate Species Detected under Ecologically Relevant Test Conditions
Researchers tested how environmentally realistic microplastic mixtures affect 16 species of bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Some species showed negative effects like reduced growth and reproduction at microplastic concentrations already found in nature, while others were unaffected even at high doses. The study argues that standardized, real-world plastic mixtures should replace simple lab-grade particles in future testing to get more reliable risk assessments.
Meta-analysis of the hazards of microplastics in freshwaters using species sensitivity distributions
This meta-analysis built species sensitivity distributions for microplastics in freshwater and found that predicted no-effect concentrations for pristine microplastics were lower than for weathered ones, suggesting lab studies with new plastics may overestimate real-world hazards. The research highlights that most ecotoxicological studies use pristine microplastics at concentrations far exceeding environmental levels, complicating ecological risk assessment.
Microplastics versus natural mineral particles. How to create and test them while maintaining environmental relevance
Researchers developed standardized methods for creating environmentally relevant microplastic and mineral particle mixtures to test whether microplastics cause different effects than natural particles. They exposed freshwater worms to both types of particles over 28 days and found that microplastics reduced reproduction, but only under low organic matter conditions. The study suggests that the biological effects of microplastics depend heavily on the surrounding environmental context.
Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions
Researchers tested how different microplastic properties, including concentration, shape, and polymer type, affect microbial communities and ecosystem functions in freshwater environments. They found that the presence of an invertebrate consumer had a stronger influence on microbial activity than the microplastics themselves, though high concentrations of certain particle shapes did alter community composition. The study suggests that the ecological effects of microplastics in freshwater depend heavily on the broader biological context.
In vitro and in vivo effects of commercial and environmental microplastics on Unio delicatus
Researchers exposed freshwater mussels to both environmental and commercial microplastics at realistic concentrations and compared their biological effects. They found that both types of microplastics caused significant changes in immune cell counts, enzyme activity, and tissue damage, though environmental microplastics often produced different responses than laboratory-grade particles. The study highlights that using only commercial microplastics in toxicity testing may not fully represent real-world exposure risks.
Microplastic exposure studies should be environmentally realistic
Researchers argue that many laboratory studies on microplastic effects use concentrations far higher than what is actually found in the environment, which can lead to misleading conclusions about real-world risks. They call for experiments that better reflect environmental conditions, including realistic particle sizes, shapes, and concentrations. The study emphasizes that more environmentally relevant research is needed to accurately assess the true ecological threat of microplastic pollution.
Contrasting the effects of microplastic types, concentrations and nutrient enrichment on freshwater communities and ecosystem functioning
Researchers tested two types of microplastics, conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid, in outdoor freshwater mesocosms and found that neither type significantly affected community composition or ecosystem functions like algae growth and leaf decomposition. Even at concentrations known to cause harm in lab settings, the microplastics had minimal impact when tested in more realistic ecological conditions. The study suggests that real-world microplastic effects on freshwater communities may differ from laboratory predictions.
Relevant and Realistic Assessments of Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Environment
This paper discusses methodological challenges in microplastic risk assessment, arguing that studies using only clean, uniform lab-prepared particles may not reflect the complex, mixed-type plastic particles actually found in the environment. More realistic experimental conditions are needed to generate data that accurately predicts ecological harm from microplastic pollution.
Environmental Microplastic Particles vs. Engineered Plastic Microparticles—A Comparative Review
This review compared environmental microplastic particles with engineered plastic microparticles used in laboratory studies, revealing significant discrepancies in size, shape, and polymer type that may limit the ecological relevance of current exposure research.
Comparing effects of microplastic exposure, FPOM resource quality, and consumer density on the response of a freshwater particle feeder and associated ecosystem processes
Researchers found that realistic microplastic concentrations had minimal direct effects on freshwater particle feeders compared to the much stronger influences of food resource quality and consumer density on growth, survival, and ecosystem processes in stream microcosms.
Comparative analysis of microplastic pollution in commercially relevant seafood across different geographical regions
Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in commercially important seafood species, characterizing particle morphology and polymer composition across species. The study found microplastics in all species sampled, with differences in contamination levels linked to feeding ecology and habitat.