Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics cause growth inhibition, morphological damage and physiological disturbance in the marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica

Researchers exposed marine green microalgae to polystyrene nanoplastics and found significant growth inhibition, increased membrane permeability, disrupted photosynthesis, and visible morphological damage — including surface fragmentation and cellular rupture — at concentrations as low as 200 µg/L.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Nanoplastics on the Functional Profile of Microalgae Species Used as Food Supplements: Insights from Comparative In Vitro and Ex Vivo Digestion Studies

Researchers assessed how polystyrene and polyethylene nanoplastics affect microalgae species used as food supplements, both before and after simulated digestion. The study found that nanoplastics persisted through the digestion process, altered particle behavior in the microalgae medium, and significantly increased total phenolic content, raising concerns about food safety when plastic contamination occurs.

2024 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2 citations
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

Elucidating the cellular adaptive response of Coccomyxa sp. upon exposure to PVC-nanoplastics (PVC-NPs) for production of bioenergy molecules

Researchers studied how the microalga Coccomyxa sp. responds at the cellular level to exposure to PVC nanoplastics. The study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of nanoplastic interactions with microalgae, which has significant ecological implications for understanding how plastic pollution affects primary producers in aquatic food webs.

2026 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on the toxicity of chlorpyrifos and mercury on the marine microalgae Rhodomonas lens

Researchers examined how polyethylene microplastics influence the toxicity of chlorpyrifos and mercury to the marine microalga Rhodomonas lens, finding that microplastics can modify pollutant bioavailability and alter toxic effects depending on particle surface oxidation state.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics reshape lipid metabolism in marine microalgae with potential ecological consequence

Researchers exposed a marine microalga important to ocean ecosystems to nanoplastics and found significant disruptions to its lipid metabolism, reducing both biomass and lipid production. The nanoplastics altered the types of fats the algae produced, potentially affecting the nutritional value of these organisms for the marine food web. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution could have cascading ecological consequences by disrupting carbon cycling at the base of the food chain.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics on aquatic algae: Facts, challenges, and future opportunities

This review provides a comprehensive assessment of how micro- and nanoplastics harm aquatic algae, which form the base of ocean and freshwater food chains. The toxic effects include reduced growth, oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthesis, with nanoplastics generally causing more damage than larger particles. Since algae support the entire aquatic food web, their decline from plastic pollution could reduce the quality and safety of fish and shellfish consumed by people.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nanoplastics on microalgae and their trophic transfer along the food chain: recent advances and perspectives

This review summarized evidence on how nanoplastics affect microalgae — including growth inhibition, oxidative stress, and altered photosynthesis — and examined trophic transfer of nanoplastics up the food chain, finding that toxicity depended on NP concentration, size, and surface charge.

2021 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 41 citations
Article Tier 2

The Growth Inhibition of Polyethylene Nanoplastics on the Bait-Microalgae Isochrysis galbana Based on the Transcriptome Analysis

Researchers found that polyethylene nanoplastics (50 nm) significantly inhibited growth and reduced chlorophyll in the bait microalga Isochrysis galbana through oxidative stress and disrupted gene expression, while larger microplastics had no significant impact.

2023 Microorganisms 39 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of microplastics pollution in microalgal biomass production: A biochemical study

Scientists exposed the marine microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum to polystyrene microplastics and found that both short- and long-term exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations disrupted biochemical composition including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

2020 Water Research 64 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

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

The impact of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on physiological and biochemical parameters of the microalgae Spirulina platensis

Researchers exposed the microalgae Spirulina platensis to polystyrene nanoplastics at three concentrations over 20 days and found dose-dependent reductions in growth rate, dry weight, and photosynthetic pigments alongside increased oxidative stress markers, indicating nanoplastics impair algal physiology even at relatively low exposure levels.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of nanoplastics on marine plankton: A case study with polymethylmethacrylate

Researchers tested polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics against four marine microalgae species and a marine rotifer, finding median effect concentrations between 84 and 133 mg/L for algae and a 48-hour lethal concentration of 13.3 mg/L for rotifers, with species sensitivity distribution analysis suggesting PMMA nanoplastics are less harmful to marine biota than polystyrene.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 104 citations
Article Tier 2

Persistence of algal toxicity induced by polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations

Researchers studied whether the harmful effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on marine algae are temporary or long-lasting. They found that while some damage, like oxidative stress, was reversible after exposure ended, other effects such as increased cell membrane damage persisted. The study suggests that even at low, environmentally realistic concentrations, nanoplastics can cause lasting disruption to algal metabolism and cell function.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro/nano-plastics and microalgae in aquatic environment: Influence factor, interaction, and molecular mechanisms.

This review examined the interactions between micro/nanoplastics and microalgae in aquatic environments, summarizing how plastic particle size, surface chemistry, and co-pollutants influence algal toxicity through oxidative stress, photosynthesis inhibition, and gene expression changes.

2024 The Science of the total environment
Article Tier 2

Micro/nanoplastic-induced stress in microalgae: Latest laboratory evidence and knowledge gaps

This review compiled laboratory evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics stress microalgae — the base of aquatic food webs — covering effects on photosynthesis, growth, oxidative stress, and toxin production. The authors identify key knowledge gaps including environmentally realistic concentrations and combined contaminant effects.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Uptake and Effects of Nanoplastics on the Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium corollarium

This study exposed the marine dinoflagellate Gymnodinium corollarium to nanoplastics and found that, although the organism can ingest particles via phagotrophy, nanoplastic uptake disrupted cell growth and photosynthesis, highlighting the vulnerability of unicellular marine organisms to nanoplastic pollution.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentration dependent toxicity of microplastics to marine microalgae

A dose-response study of microplastic effects on marine microalgae found concentration-dependent toxicity across multiple species, with higher MP concentrations reducing growth rates, photosynthesis efficiency, and chlorophyll content, confirming that microplastics pose risks to the base of marine food webs.

2025 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics increase the adverse impacts of lead on the growth, morphological structure and photosynthesis of marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica

Combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and lead was found to have greater adverse effects on marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica growth, morphology, and photosynthesis than lead alone, indicating nanoplastics can amplify heavy metal toxicity in marine primary producers.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics exposure modulate lipid and pigment compositions in diatoms

Researchers exposed marine diatoms (Chaetoceros neogracile) to amine-functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics and found disruption to photosynthetic pigments and membrane lipid composition, with exponential-phase cells showing impaired long-chain fatty acid synthesis at high concentrations — identifying lipid and pigment profiles as sensitive biomarkers for nanoplastic stress in marine primary producers.

2020 Environmental Pollution 59 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics – An emerging contaminants for algae. Critical review and perspectives

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics affect algae, which are the foundation of aquatic food chains. Microplastics can reduce algae growth, disrupt photosynthesis, and cause oxidative stress, with smaller nanoplastics being more harmful. Since algae are at the base of the food web, damage to them can ripple through ecosystems and ultimately affect the seafood that humans consume.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 69 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Meta-analysis for systematic review of global micro/nano-plastics contamination versus various freshwater microalgae: Toxicological effect patterns, taxon-specific response, and potential eco-risks

A meta-analysis of 1,071 observations found that nanoplastics cause more severe cell membrane damage than microplastics, while microplastics more strongly inhibit photosynthesis in freshwater microalgae. Among polymer types, polyamide caused the highest growth inhibition, polystyrene induced the most toxin release, and diatoms were the most sensitive algal group while cyanobacteria showed exceptional resilience.

2024 Water Research 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and effects of microplastic particles in selected marine microalgae species; Oxyrrhis marina and Rhodomonas baltica

Researchers investigated the uptake and effects of polystyrene microbeads in two marine microalgae species, finding that the dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina ingested both 10 µm and 1-5 µm particles, while Rhodomonas baltica showed interactions with PS microbeads across a 264-hour exposure period.

2017 BIBSYS Brage (BIBSYS (Norway)) 18 citations