Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Impact of extracellular polymeric substances from Skeletonema costatum on the combined toxicity of microplastics and antibiotics in estuarine environment

Researchers investigated how extracellular polymeric substances from the diatom Skeletonema costatum modified the combined toxicity of polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics with the antibiotic sulfamethazine, finding that the EPS layer provided partial protection against the joint pollutant stress.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Microplastics decrease the toxicity of sulfamethoxazole to marine algae (Skeletonema costatum) at the cellular and molecular levels

Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole and five types of microplastics on the marine alga Skeletonema costatum. They found that certain microplastics actually decreased the toxicity of the antibiotic by adsorbing it, creating a protective "shelter" effect, though polystyrene combined with the antibiotic caused higher oxidative stress. The study suggests that microplastics can alter the bioavailability and toxicity of co-occurring pollutants in marine environments through adsorption interactions.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 66 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of polystyrene plastics on the toxicity of triphenyltin to the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum—influence of plastic particle size

The presence of polystyrene particles of different sizes was found to modify the toxicity of triphenyltin (a toxic organotin compound) to the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum, with effects depending on whether the plastic particles increased or decreased the bioavailability of the chemical. The study illustrates how microplastics can alter the toxicity of co-occurring chemical pollutants to sensitive marine microalgae.

2019 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Joint toxicity of microplastics with triclosan to marine microalgae Skeletonema costatum

Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of triclosan and four types of microplastics on the marine microalga Skeletonema costatum. They found that while all microplastics individually inhibited algal growth, PVC and smaller particles had the strongest effects, and the joint toxicity with triclosan followed an antagonistic pattern rather than additive or synergistic. The study suggests that microplastics can adsorb organic pollutants and partially reduce their bioavailability, though the physical damage from smaller particles remains a significant concern.

2018 Environmental Pollution 337 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of tetracycline-adsorbed polystyrene microplastics on E. coli

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics with adsorbed tetracycline antibiotic affect Escherichia coli compared to free tetracycline at equivalent concentrations. Microplastic-bound tetracycline showed altered antibacterial activity and induced different transcriptional responses in bacteria compared to the free drug, raising concerns about how plastic-antibiotic complexes affect resistance development in aquatic environments.

2025
Article Tier 2

Alleviating effects of microplastics together with tetracycline hydrochloride on the physiological stress of Closterium sp.

Researchers studied how PET and PBT microplastics combined with the antibiotic tetracycline affect freshwater microalgae. They found that in some combinations, microplastics actually reduced the toxicity of the antibiotic to the algae, likely by adsorbing the chemical onto their surfaces. The study highlights the complex and sometimes counterintuitive ways that microplastics interact with other pollutants in aquatic environments.

2024 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1) on physiological performance of marine diatom Thalassiosira minima

Scientists studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and a marine algal toxin called dinophysistoxin-1 affect a common ocean diatom, both individually and in combination. The nanoplastics alone reduced diatom growth by over 50%, while the toxin reduced it by 22%, but when combined, the nanoplastics actually absorbed some of the toxin and partially offset its effects. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in coastal waters creates complex, unpredictable interactions with other marine contaminants that could disrupt the base of the ocean food chain.

2025 Water Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics and their combined effects with sulphamethoxazole on the free-floating aquatic plant Lemna major

Researchers examined the combined effects of nanoplastics and the antibiotic sulphamethoxazole on free-floating algae, assessing whether nanoplastics alter antibiotic toxicity. The co-exposure produced greater inhibitory effects on algal growth than either substance alone.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Interactive toxicity effects of metronidazole, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and differently functionalized nanoplastics on marine algae Chlorella sp.

Researchers examined the combined toxicity of common pharmaceutical drugs and nanoplastics with different surface coatings on marine algae. They found that the interaction between drugs and nanoplastics produced effects ranging from additive to synergistic, depending on the specific combination, with amine-coated nanoplastics generally causing more harm. The study highlights that real-world mixtures of pharmaceutical and plastic pollutants in oceans may pose greater risks to marine life than either contaminant alone.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactionsbetween Nanoplastics and Antibiotics:Implications for Nanoplastics Aggregation in Aquatic Environments

Researchers studied how the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and tetracycline interact with polystyrene nanoplastics in aquatic environments, finding that these drugs alter nanoplastic surface properties and aggregation behavior under environmentally relevant conditions.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Sorption of tetracycline antibiotics by microplastics, associated mechanisms, and risk assessments

Researchers systematically investigated how three common microplastic types adsorb tetracycline antibiotics. The study found that polystyrene had the highest adsorption capacity at 178.57 micrograms per gram, followed by PVC and polyethylene, and that PVC and polystyrene strongly retained the antibiotics with minimal desorption, raising concerns about compound pollution from microplastic-antibiotic combinations in the environment.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

The Complex Toxicity of Tetracycline with Polystyrene Spheres on Gastric Cancer Cells

Polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics adsorbed the antibiotic tetracycline, and both the plastics alone and the plastic-tetracycline complexes caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell death in gastric cancer cells, with nanoplastics being more toxic than microplastics. The combined toxicity of antibiotic-loaded nanoplastics warrants attention given the growing co-occurrence of plastics and pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments.

2020 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 47 citations
Article Tier 2

The co-presence of polystyrene nanoplastics and ofloxacin demonstrates combined effects on the structure, assembly, and metabolic activities of marine microbial community

Researchers examined the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic ofloxacin on marine microbial communities. They found that the two pollutants together had a greater impact on bacterial community structure and metabolic activity than either one alone. The study suggests that nanoplastics and antibiotics co-occurring in the ocean may work together to disrupt the microorganisms that support marine ecosystem health.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics and their combined effects with sulphamethoxazole on the free-floating aquatic plant Lemna major

Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole on free-floating freshwater organisms, examining how co-exposure to these two pollutants interacts compared to individual exposures. Nanoplastics altered the bioavailability and toxicity of the antibiotic, demonstrating complex mixture effects in aquatic systems.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Amide groups within polystyrene accelerates tetracycline removal in a continuous advanced microalgal treatment system

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics can actually help microalgae remove the antibiotic tetracycline from livestock wastewater more efficiently. The interaction between the antibiotic and the plastic particles reduced toxicity to the algae, allowing them to grow more vigorously and break down the pollutants faster. The study suggests that advanced microalgal treatment systems could simultaneously address both antibiotic and microplastic contamination in agricultural wastewater.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Transport of microplastic-antibiotic co-contaminants in tidal zones

Researchers studied how microplastics carrying the antibiotic tetracycline move through tidal zone environments. They found that tidal conditions influenced how effectively microplastics adsorbed and transported the antibiotic, with factors like salinity and sediment type playing important roles. The study highlights that microplastics can serve as vehicles for spreading antibiotic contamination through sensitive coastal ecosystems.

2025 Environmental Pollution 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics play a minor role in tetracycline sorption in the presence of dissolved organic matter

Researchers studied the sorption of the antibiotic tetracycline onto microplastics in the presence of dissolved organic matter, finding that dissolved organics competed strongly for binding sites on microplastics, meaning real-world conditions substantially reduce microplastic uptake of tetracycline.

2018 Environmental Pollution 439 citations
Article Tier 2

Does triclosan adsorption on polystyrene nanoplastics modify the toxicity of single contaminants?

Researchers investigated whether triclosan adsorption onto polystyrene nanoplastics modifies the toxicity of each contaminant individually, using a multi-tiered approach to assess how nanoplastic carrier effects alter the combined hazard of this common antimicrobial agent in aquatic environments.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of nanoplastics and norfloxacin on mussel: Leveraging biochemical parameters and gut microbiota

Researchers exposed mussels to nanoplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin, both alone and together, and found that the combination caused greater biochemical stress than either pollutant alone. Nanoplastics appeared to carry the antibiotic into mussel tissues, increasing its bioavailability and impact on gut microbiota. The findings suggest that nanoplastics can amplify the toxicity of other contaminants in marine organisms.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity interaction of polystyrene nanoplastics with sulfamethoxazole on the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: A closer look at effect of light availability

Researchers studied how light availability influences the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole on the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The study found that the interaction between these two pollutants was largely antagonistic under low and normal light conditions, as nanoplastics could adsorb the antibiotic and reduce its bioavailability, highlighting the importance of environmental factors in determining combined pollutant toxicity.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced biotoxicity by co-exposure of aged polystyrene and ciprofloxacin: the adsorption and its influence factors

This study found that polystyrene microplastics aged by sunlight absorbed significantly more of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin than fresh microplastics, and the combination was more toxic to organisms than either pollutant alone. The aging process created more surface area and chemical binding sites on the plastic particles. This is important because it means weathered microplastics in the real world can concentrate antibiotics and deliver higher toxic doses to organisms, potentially contributing to both direct toxicity and antibiotic resistance.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 10 citations
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

Synergistic Pollution: Interactions Among Polyethylene, Surfactants, and Antibiotics in an Aquatic Environment

Researchers investigated synergistic pollution effects among polyethylene microplastics, surfactants, and antibiotics in aquatic systems, finding that co-presence enhanced the environmental persistence and bioavailability of antibiotics beyond what microplastics or surfactants caused individually.

2025
Article Tier 2

Impact of sequential UV-aging of microplastics on the fate of antibiotic (tetracycline) in riverine, estuarine, and marine systems

Researchers studied how sequential UV aging of polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene microplastics, which mimics natural weathering, affects their ability to adsorb the antibiotic tetracycline under different water chemistry conditions. They found that aged microplastics adsorbed significantly more tetracycline than pristine particles, with the effect varying by water type and plastic polymer. The study suggests that as microplastics weather in the environment, they may become increasingly effective at carrying antibiotic contaminants.

2025 Environmental Research 3 citations