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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Sorption of the common freshwater cyanotoxin microcystin to microplastics
ClearMicrocystin bound on microplastics in eutrophic waters: A potential threat to zooplankton revealed by adsorption-desorption processes
Researchers studied adsorption and desorption of the cyanotoxin microcystin onto microplastics in eutrophic freshwater and found that microplastics can act as vectors carrying bound cyanotoxins to zooplankton, enhancing toxin transfer through the food web beyond what free toxin exposure alone would predict.
Adsorption of cyanotoxins on polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate: Microplastics as vector of eight microcystin analogues
Eight microcystin analogues were tested for adsorption onto polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics, finding that these common plastics can bind cyanotoxins from freshwater environments. The study identifies microplastics as potential vectors for cyanobacterial toxins in lakes and reservoirs, with implications for drinking water safety.
Adsorption behavior of polyamide microplastics as a vector of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR in environmental freshwaters
Researchers found that polyamide-6 microplastics showed exceptionally strong adsorption of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR — with 89.5% efficiency — raising concern that microplastics can act as vectors transporting harmful cyanotoxins through freshwater environments.
Potentially Poisonous Plastic Particles: Microplastics as a Vector for Cyanobacterial Toxins Microcystin-LR and Microcystin-LF
Researchers demonstrated for the first time that microplastics can act as vectors for cyanobacterial toxins called microcystins, concentrating the toxins up to 28 times from water onto plastic surfaces. The adsorption process depended on particle size, plastic type, pH, and the specific microcystin variant. The findings raise concerns about microplastics transporting harmful algal toxins through aquatic food webs to higher trophic levels.
Experimental Evidence from the Field that Naturally Weathered Microplastics Accumulate Cyanobacterial Toxins in Eutrophic Lakes
Researchers conducted laboratory sorption experiments and field sampling in eutrophic lakes to test whether naturally weathered microplastics accumulate cyanobacterial toxins (microcystins). Weathered microplastics from the field had significantly higher microcystin concentrations than predicted from lab sorption experiments with pristine plastics, confirming that naturally aged plastics are more effective toxin carriers.
Toxicity of microcystin-LR adsorbed onto microplastics: Impacts on Daphnia magna
Researchers tested how microcystin-LR toxin adsorbed onto polyethylene microplastics affects the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna compared to free toxin exposure. Microplastic-adsorbed microcystin showed enhanced toxicity versus free toxin at equivalent concentrations, with increased mortality and reduced reproduction, suggesting microplastics can potentiate cyanotoxin hazards in freshwater ecosystems.
Fate, abundance and ecological risks of microcystins in aquatic environment: The implication of microplastics
This review explores how microplastics in water can interact with microcystins, highly toxic compounds produced by harmful algal blooms, by adsorbing and transporting them through aquatic environments. The combination poses increased risks to human health because microplastics can carry these dangerous toxins into drinking water sources and through the food chain.
Limited Potential of Polystyrene Microplastic as a Vector of Microcystin-LR in Diluted Lysate of Microcystis aeruginosa Strain MASH01-A05 in Laboratory Freshwater and Brackish Water Conditions
Microplastics and cyanotoxins (toxic compounds produced by harmful algal blooms) often occur together in freshwater lakes, raising concern that plastics could act as a vehicle concentrating and transporting these toxins to organisms that ingest them. This lab study mixed polystyrene microplastics of two size ranges with a cyanotoxin (microcystin-LR) in both fresh and brackish water, finding that adsorption was extremely low—less than 5% even under ideal conditions. The results suggest polystyrene microplastics are unlikely to be a significant vector for microcystin-LR delivery in real aquatic environments, providing some reassurance about this particular combination of pollutants.
The Inhibition of Microcystin Adsorption by Microplastics in the Presence of Algal Organic Matters
Researchers found that polyethylene, polystyrene, and polymethyl methacrylate microplastics can adsorb microcystin MC-LR from water, but the presence of algal intracellular organic matter (IOM) reduced this adsorption by up to 22.7% due to competitive binding, suggesting that microplastic uptake of harmful natural toxins is likely overestimated in realistic aquatic conditions.
Adsorption of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Microcystins by Virgin and Weathered Microplastics in Freshwater Matrices
Researchers examined the adsorption of long-chain and short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cyanobacterial microcystins by both virgin and weathered microplastics in freshwater matrices. The study found that microplastic weathering and polymer type influenced sorption capacity, with implications for the co-transport of persistent organic contaminants and cyanotoxins in drinking water source environments.
Microplastics benefit bacteria colonization and induce microcystin degradation
Polystyrene microplastics in a microcosm experiment facilitated bacterial colonization and promoted the degradation of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin, with the plastisphere community showing distinct metabolic activity compared to free-living bacteria. The study reveals that microplastic biofilms can unexpectedly accelerate detoxification of co-occurring harmful algal bloom toxins.
Microplastic characteristics differentially influence cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom microbial community membership, growth, and toxin production
Researchers investigated how different types of microplastics influence the growth and toxin production of harmful algal blooms in freshwater. They found that certain microplastic characteristics, such as shape and polymer type, significantly affected which microbial species thrived and how much toxin was produced. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may play an underappreciated role in worsening harmful algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs.
Adsorption of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Microcystins by Virgin and Weathered Microplastics in Freshwater Matrices
Researchers studied whether microplastics can absorb two types of harmful water contaminants: PFAS (so-called forever chemicals) and microcystin toxins produced by algae. They found that weathered microplastics adsorbed significantly more of these pollutants than pristine ones, and that environmental water conditions influenced the absorption process. The study suggests that microplastics in freshwater may concentrate and transport multiple types of dangerous chemicals simultaneously.
Toxic plastisphere: How the characteristics of plastic particles can affect colonization of harmful microalgae and adsorption of phycotoxins
Researchers found that microplastic particles in water can serve as surfaces for harmful algae to grow on and for algae-produced toxins to stick to. Smaller and sun-aged microplastic particles absorbed more toxins than larger or newer ones, meaning the most common microplastics in the environment may carry the greatest risk. This matters for human health because contaminated microplastics could transfer harmful algal toxins into seafood and drinking water.
Effects of cyanotoxins on nitrogen transformation in aquaculture systems with microplastics coexposure: Adsorption behavior, bacterial communities and functional genes
Combined exposure of polystyrene and polylactic acid microplastics with microcystin-LR in simulated aquaculture ponds disrupted nitrogen transformation processes and shifted microbial communities, with adsorption behavior of the toxin on different MP types influencing overall ecotoxicity.
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.
Combined effects of microplastics and excess boron on Microcystis aeruginosa
Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastics and excess boron on a common freshwater cyanobacterium (Microcystis aeruginosa). They found that amino-modified polystyrene microplastics were the most harmful, inhibiting growth and worsening boron toxicity, while other surface-modified types actually stimulated growth. The study reveals that the surface chemistry of microplastics plays a key role in how they interact with other pollutants to affect aquatic microorganisms.
Understanding the Risks of Diffusion of Cyanobacteria Toxins in Rivers, Lakes, and Potable Water
This review covers the health risks of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) toxins found in rivers, lakes, and drinking water, which can damage the liver and nervous system in humans. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastics in water can interact with cyanobacteria and their toxins, potentially serving as carriers that concentrate these harmful substances. The paper discusses various water treatment methods for removing cyanotoxins, many of which are also applicable to microplastic removal.
Microplastics as Pollutants In Aquatic Ecosystems Across South Carolina
This study examined microplastic contamination in freshwater and saltwater environments across South Carolina, documenting how particles accumulate and interact with harmful algal bloom toxins. Microplastics can adsorb algal toxins like microcystin, potentially increasing the danger of these compounds to animals that consume contaminated plastic particles.
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.