Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Interactions between polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics and Spirulina sp. microalgae in aquatic systems

Researchers evaluated interactions between polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics and Spirulina microalgae, finding that microplastics inhibited algal growth and pigment production while Spirulina showed limited ability to degrade the plastic surfaces.

2021 Heliyon 121 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of salinity on the interaction between microplastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and microalgae Spirulina sp.

Researchers examined the interaction between PET microplastics and the microalga Spirulina under varying salinity conditions, finding that salinity influenced how microplastics affected algal growth and their potential to enter the food supplement chain.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effect of Mixed Microplastic on Freshwater Microalgae Growth and Survival

Researchers tested the effects of mixed polypropylene and PVC microplastics at five different ratio combinations on a freshwater microalgae community, finding that mixture composition affected algal growth and survival differently than either polymer alone.

2025 UF Journal of Undergraduate Research
Article Tier 2

Interaction between polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic and microalgae (Scenedesmus spp.): Effect on the growth, chlorophyll content, and hetero-aggregation

Researchers exposed two types of freshwater microalgae to PET microplastics at various concentrations, finding that higher levels significantly stunted growth, reduced chlorophyll, and caused the algae to cluster around the plastic particles. This "hetero-aggregation" behavior suggests microplastics can physically trap microalgae, potentially disrupting aquatic food webs that depend on algae as a foundation.

2023 Environmental Advances 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic interactions with freshwater microalgae: Hetero-aggregation and changes in plastic density appear strongly dependent on polymer type

Researchers studied interactions between microplastics and freshwater microalgae, finding that microplastics can physically attach to algal cells to form hetero-aggregates, altering both particle behavior and algal physiology.

2016 Environmental Pollution 704 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae–microplastics interactions at environmentally relevant concentrations: Implications toward ecology, bioeconomy, and UN SDGs

This study investigated how microalgae interact with microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations, examining growth inhibition, aggregation, and photosynthetic effects, with implications for aquatic ecosystem function and the feasibility of microalgae-based bioremediation.

2023 Water Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of polyethylene microplastics toxicity by microalgae Scenedesmus sp.

This study investigated the toxicity of polyethylene microplastics on the freshwater microalgae Scenedesmus sp. Results showed that microplastics inhibited algal growth and photosynthesis, indicating potential harm to aquatic ecosystems.

2021 Repository of Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology University of Zagreb
Article Tier 2

Impacts of polyethylene microplastics on the microalga, Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)

This study examined how polyethylene microplastics affect Spirulina, a widely cultivated blue-green algae used in food and supplements. Researchers found that at higher concentrations, microplastics reduced Spirulina growth and caused oxidative stress, while the algae also physically entangled with the plastic particles. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination could threaten both natural algal ecosystems and the commercial production of this important food source.

2023 Environmental Pollution 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Culture Scenedesmus quadricauda: Interactions between Microplastics and Algae

Researchers found that microplastics from multiple polymer types inhibit growth of the freshwater alga Scenedesmus quadricauda and induce oxidative stress, with toxicity varying by polymer type, particle size, and concentration.

2021 Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin 6 citations
Review Tier 2

A critical review of interactions between microplastics, microalgae and aquatic ecosystem function

This review of microplastic-microalgae interactions found that microplastics form distinct epiplastic algal communities that differ from surrounding water communities, and that the interactions are bidirectional — MP properties affect algal physiology while algal surface coatings alter MP behavior and fate.

2020 Water Research 412 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of biofouled plastics on phytoplankton community assembling and water chemistry: pilot study and implications for freshwater environments

Researchers conducted a pilot laboratory study exposing a five-species freshwater phytoplankton community to pristine and biofouled polypropylene fragments to investigate whether plastic acts as a carrier for algal species dispersal and to assess effects on water biodiversity and chemistry in freshwater environments.

2024
Article Tier 2

Interplay of plastic pollution with algae and plants: hidden danger or a blessing?

Researchers tested the ability of three microalgae species to remove microplastics from water through bioadhesion, finding that all three species could adsorb particles onto their surfaces. Removal efficiency depended on particle size, surface charge, and algae cell morphology.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on cell growth, intracellular products and oxidative stress of Scenedesmus sp.

Researchers exposed freshwater microalgae to PET microplastics, a common plastic found in beverage bottles and textiles. Higher concentrations of PET particles significantly reduced algal growth and disrupted the cells' internal production of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. The study suggests that PET microplastic pollution in wastewater could harm the tiny organisms that form the foundation of aquatic food webs.

2023 Chemosphere 16 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

Effect of microplastics exposure on the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae

Researchers investigated how polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae and found that both types reduced chlorophyll content and impaired photosynthetic efficiency. The damage was concentration-dependent and worsened over the growth period. The study highlights that microplastic pollution in freshwater can harm algae, which form the base of aquatic food chains.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 416 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic habitats: Algal biofilms on photic and aphotic plastics

Researchers tracked algae colonizing plastic surfaces in a freshwater reservoir over six weeks, finding that different plastic types developed distinct algae communities and that plastic surfaces showed early signs of degradation — suggesting that biofouling may accelerate microplastic fragmentation in freshwater systems.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Different interaction performance between microplastics and microalgae: The bio-elimination potential of Chlorella sp. L38 and Phaeodactylum tricornutum MASCC-0025

Researchers investigated how two species of microalgae, Chlorella and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, interact with common microplastic types including polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, and PVC. The study found that these microalgae have different capacities to interact with and potentially help remove microplastics, suggesting a possible green and cost-effective approach to microplastic bio-elimination from contaminated waters.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 216 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of photoaging on biofilm development and microbial community in polypropylene and polylactic acid microplastics in freshwater

Researchers systematically examined how varying degrees of photoaging affect the physicochemical properties, biofilm formation, and bacterial community composition of polypropylene and polylactic acid microplastics in freshwater environments.

2025 Emerging Contaminants and Environmental Health
Article Tier 2

Application of freshwater microalgae Scenedesmus sp. for determining the toxicity of polypropylene microplastic particles

Polypropylene microplastics were found to be toxic to the freshwater microalgae Scenedesmus sp. in a dose-dependent manner. Since microalgae form the base of aquatic food chains, their sensitivity to microplastic exposure has cascading implications for freshwater ecosystems.

2021 Repository of Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology University of Zagreb
Article Tier 2

Toward a better understanding of microalgal photosynthesis in medium polluted with microplastics: a study of the radiative properties of microplastic particles

This study measured how microplastic particles from two common polymers — polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) — interact with light, finding that both scatter light strongly rather than absorbing it. This matters because microplastics floating in waterways can shade out microalgae by blocking light needed for photosynthesis, potentially disrupting aquatic food webs at their base.

2023 Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of biofilm colonization on the sinking of microplastics in three freshwater environments

A 44-day freshwater incubation experiment showed that biofilm colonization on PET, PP, and PVC microplastics promoted sinking in three Chinese water bodies, with biomass and chlorophyll levels varying by environment and influencing the rate of buoyancy change.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 155 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effect of plastic pollution on freshwater flora: A meta-analysis approach to elucidate the factors influencing plant growth and biochemical markers

Meta-analysis of 43 studies found that higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics negatively affected aquatic plant growth while increasing protein content and antioxidant enzyme activity as a stress response. Among polymers, PVC most strongly disrupted photosynthetic pigments, and algal species were the most growth-sensitive plant group.

2022 Water Research 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae colonization of different microplastic polymers in experimental mesocosms across an environmental gradient

Microalgal colonization of five different microplastic polymer types was monitored in freshwater mesocosms across an environmental gradient, finding that polymer type, surface properties, and environmental conditions all influenced the biomass and community composition of epiplastic microalgal biofilms.

2021 Global Change Biology 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Potential of Algae in the Mitigation of Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Environments

This review examined how algae can help mitigate plastic pollution in aquatic environments, finding that certain algal species can adsorb, degrade, or entrap microplastics, suggesting potential bioremediation applications though large-scale effectiveness remains to be demonstrated.

2022 Practice, progress, and proficiency in sustainability 6 citations