Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Size-dependent cellular internalization and effects of polystyrene microplastics in microalgae P. helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis and S. quadricauda

Researchers investigated whether polystyrene microplastics of different sizes could be internalized by marine and freshwater microalgae cells. Using confocal laser scanning and 3D image analysis, the study found size-dependent cellular uptake, with smaller microbeads more readily internalized, suggesting that microplastic size is a critical factor in their biological interactions with phytoplankton.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 143 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics impacts in seven flagellate microalgae: Role of size and cell wall

Seven marine flagellate microalgae species were incubated with 1-micrometer polystyrene microplastics at 10 mg/L, revealing that cell size and the presence of a cell wall strongly influenced the degree of microplastic-induced physiological and growth effects across species.

2021 Environmental Research 23 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

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
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

Effect of microplastic particles on viability of the selected ciliated protozoa

Researchers exposed three species of freshwater ciliates to polystyrene microbeads (1 and 2 µm) at two concentrations and found species-specific, concentration-dependent effects on population growth and ingestion rates. Ciliates are a key component of the microbial food web, and their ingestion of microplastics means these particles can be transferred to higher trophic levels even through microscopic organisms. The variable responses across species underscore the need for multi-species assessments when evaluating microplastic ecotoxicity.

2023
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
Article Tier 2

Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate Growth and Grazing Rates Reduced by Microplastic Ingestion

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic ingestion significantly reduced the growth and grazing rates of heterotrophic dinoflagellates, suggesting that microplastic pollution could disrupt marine microbial food webs at the single-celled predator level.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Differential physiological response of marine and freshwater microalgae to polystyrene microplastics

Researchers compared how polystyrene microplastics affect marine versus freshwater algae species and found that freshwater algae were more severely harmed. While both types showed reduced photosynthesis and increased stress responses, marine algae recovered better over time, possibly due to differences in their cell membranes and ability to handle oxidative damage. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains, greater damage to freshwater species could have cascading effects on the ecosystems that supply human drinking water and freshwater fish.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of cell responses in Rhodomonas baltica exposed to PMMA nanoplastics

Researchers exposed the marine microalga Rhodomonas baltica to PMMA nanoplastics and found effects on cell growth, photosynthesis, and membrane integrity, demonstrating that this important alga — often used as aquaculture feed — is sensitive to nanoplastic contamination.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Influence of Size and Concentration on the Ecotoxicity of Microplastics to Microalgae Scenedesmus sp., Bacterium Pseudomonas putida and Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Researchers assessed the ecotoxicity of five common microplastic types on microalgae, bacteria, and yeast, finding that polyvinyl chloride caused the most growth inhibition and that smaller particle sizes generally increased harmful effects.

2022 Polymers 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Size dependent uptake and trophic transfer of polystyrene microplastics in unicellular freshwater eukaryotes

Researchers investigated the size-dependent uptake and trophic transfer of fluorescent polystyrene microplastic beads (0.5 µm and 6 µm) and fragments in unicellular freshwater eukaryotes, examining internalization dynamics at lower trophic levels where microplastic transfer is poorly understood.

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

Response of coral reef dinoflagellates to nanoplastics under experimental conditions

Researchers exposed symbiotic dinoflagellates from coral reefs to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that cell growth and aggregation were significantly reduced after 10 days. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution could harm the tiny algae that are essential to coral reef health, with potential consequences for reef ecosystems.

2020 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Do plastic particles affect microalgal photosynthesis and growth?

This study investigated whether polystyrene particles of different sizes and charges affect growth and photosynthesis in three marine microalgae species. The results showed that charged particles caused greater inhibition of algal growth at the lowest concentrations tested, suggesting that plastic particle charge and size influence their toxicity to primary producers at the base of marine food chains.

2016 Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Article Tier 2

Different effecting mechanisms of two sized polystyrene microplastics on microalgal oxidative stress and photosynthetic responses

Researchers found that 1 micrometer polystyrene microplastics caused more oxidative stress and cell death in marine diatoms, while 0.1 micrometer particles caused greater light shading and pigment decline, revealing distinct size-dependent toxicity mechanisms.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 25 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)
Review Tier 2

Microplastics – A major contaminant in marine macro algal population: Review

This review identified the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in marine macroalgae, highlighting macroalgae as both indicators of MP pollution and potential entry points for microplastics into marine food webs.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 17 citations
Article Tier 2

The microplastic menace: a critical review of its impact on marine photoautotrophs and their environment

This review examines how microplastics interact with marine macro- and microalgae, covering environmental prevalence, genetic responses to MP exposure, and mitigation strategies. It finds that annual introduction of 28.5 million tons of plastic into oceans threatens marine primary producers and indirectly affects marine food webs and human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

An ecotoxicological approach towards the understanding of the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics in the marine environment

This PhD thesis investigated how micro- and nanoplastics affect marine microalgae and associated microbial consortia, examining how extracellular polymeric substances mediate plastic-biota interactions and how these effects cascade to higher trophic levels in marine food webs.

2025 Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University)
Article Tier 2

Size dependent uptake and trophic transfer of polystyrene microplastics in unicellular freshwater eukaryotes

Researchers investigated the size-dependent uptake and trophic transfer of fluorescent polystyrene microplastic beads and fragments (0.5 µm and 6 µm) in unicellular freshwater eukaryotes representing lower trophic levels. The study aimed to fill a gap in understanding how microplastics move through the base of freshwater food webs via protozoan and algal intermediaries.

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

Persistence and Recovery of Polystyrene and Polymethyl Methacrylate Microplastic Toxicity on Diatoms

Researchers tested whether the toxic effects of polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate microplastics on marine diatoms persist after the plastic particles are removed. They found that both types of microplastics inhibited algal growth, increased oxidative stress, and caused structural damage, with some effects lingering even after a recovery period. The study suggests that even temporary microplastic exposure can cause lasting harm to the tiny algae that produce nearly 40% of the ocean's oxygen.

2025 Toxics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Are the primary characteristics of polystyrene nanoplastics responsible for toxicity and ad/absorption in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum?

Researchers exposed the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to 50 nm and 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics and found that smaller particles triggered faster oxidative stress and photosynthetic damage while larger ones were more stable and caused greater growth inhibition over 72 hours, illustrating how particle size shapes toxicity dynamics in marine algae.

2019 Environmental Pollution 180 citations
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

Physiological effects of micro-plastics on the red algae, Grateloupia turuturu and Chondrus sp.

This study investigated how polystyrene microspheres affect two species of red algae, finding that the smoother-surfaced species adsorbed fewer microplastics and showed less growth inhibition than the rough-surfaced species. The results suggest that surface characteristics of marine algae influence how microplastics attach to and affect them, with implications for understanding microplastic impacts on marine primary producers.

2023 Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)