Size- and shape-dependent effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on the benthic crustacean Artemia franciscana.

A large amount of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment have gradually sunk into the benthic area, and crawling organisms can be easily exposed to the MPs. This study aimed to compare the size- and shape-dependent effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on Artemia franciscana, which crawls on the bottom during the juvenile stage. In this study, the juvenile stage A.

Chronic effects of irregular and fibril microplastics on Artemia franciscana in a benthic environment: Size and shape-dependent toxicity.

Marine ecosystems are contaminated by plastic products, particularly microplastics (MPs), which settle on the seafloor and affect benthic organisms. This study explores the toxicity of irregular fibril-shaped MPs of various sizes and lengths on Artemia franciscana. We exposed juvenile A.

In vivo visualization of environmentally relevant microplastics and evaluation of gut barrier damages in Artemia franciscana.

Although irregularly-shaped label-free microplastics (MPs) are predominantly distributed in the environment, non-destructive analysis of environmentally relevant MPs in organisms is still challenging. The purpose of the study is to suggest in vivo visual evidence of the uptake and effect of environmentally relevant MPs in organism. Transparent irregularly-shaped high-density polyethylene was selected as an environmentally relevant model MP and exposed to brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana).

PARVB and HSD17B13 variants are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the comprehensive genetic effects of exploratory variants of LYPLAL1, GCKR, HSD17B13, TRIB1, APOC3, MBOAT7, and PARVB on pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in addition to the previously reported variants of TM6SF2, PNPLA3, and SAMM50 in Korean children.

Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted involving 309 patients diagnosed using ultrasound and 339 controls. Anthropometric measurements, liver function tests, and metabolic marker analysis were conducted, and fibrosis scores were calculated.

Microplastics promote the accumulation of negative fungal groups and cause multigenerational effects in springtails.

The environmental persistence of microplastics (MPs) is ubiquitous and problematic. Despite an increase in research on the soil ecotoxicity of MPs, the response of springtails to MP pollution remains unexplored. We hypothesized that MPs promote the accumulation of negative soil fungal groups and cause multigenerational effects in springtails.

Microplastic ingestion in aquatic and soil biota: A comprehensive review of laboratory studies on edible size and intake pattern.

Microplastic contamination is ubiquitous and can be transferred through the food chain to humans. However, studies on microplastic size have mainly focused on large animals with a body length >20 mm. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive review of 169 laboratory studies to determine the edible size of microplastics for macrofauna and flora in aquatic and soil biota.

Microfibers from cigarette butts can induce exoskeletal alteration in whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei).

Cigarette butts (CB) are a source of microfibers (MFs) in aquatic environments, posing a risk to the health of aquatic organisms. Research has been focused on examining the toxicity of CBs on ecological receptors, including invertebrates. More focus has been on death, growth, or movement inhibition of but less on exoskeletal effects in malacostracans.

TRIAD method to assess ecological risks of contaminated soils in abandoned mine sites.

Site-specific soil ecological risk assessment is important for protecting soil ecosystems because it reflects the environmental factors at the site to detect ecological risks and develop risk management measures. This study assessed the ecological risks from chemical pollutants in abandoned mine sites using the TRIAD approach, evaluating its overall applicability, including the tiered system of assessment. A site-specific soil ecological risk assessment was conducted for five abandoned mine sites (Sites 1-4 and R, the reference site); integrated risks (IRs) for each site were calculated.

Chemical toxicity screening of tire particle leachates from vehicles and their effects on organisms across three trophic levels.

Tire particles (TPs) generated on roads are a main contributor to microplastic environmental pollution. In this study, TP leachates from three vehicle types (bicycle, car, and electric scooter) were prepared. TP leachate toxicity impacts on three organisms (Vigna radiata, Daphnia magna, and Danio rerio) were analyzed, in addition to their chemical compositions.

Potential effects of natural aging process on the characteristics and toxicity of facial masks: A zebrafish-based study.

The use of facial masks has increased and is therefore being recognized as a large source of environmental microplastics. Herein, we naturally aged disposable masks in a lake for eight weeks and compared the toxicity of mask-derived microplastics depending on the aging process using zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish were exposed to virgin and aged mask fragments (VF and AF, respectively) for eight weeks.

Effect of Diurnal Variation of Heart Rate and Respiratory Rate on Activation of Rapid Response System and Clinical Outcome in Hospitalized Children.

Heart rate and respiratory rate display circadian variation. Pediatric single-parameter rapid response system is activated when heart rate or respiratory rate deviate from age-specific criteria, though activation criteria do not differentiate between daytime and nighttime, and unnecessary activation has been reported due to nighttime bradycardia. We evaluated the relationship between rapid response system activation and the patient’s clinical outcome by separately applying the criteria to daytime and nighttime in patients < 18.

Assessing the size-dependent effects of microplastics on zebrafish larvae through fish lateral line system and gut damage.

This study evaluated the size-dependent effects of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fragments in zebrafish. Larvae were exposed to HDPE microplastic (MP) in three sizes, small (14.12 μm), medium (80.

Trophic transfer of nanoplastics through a microalgae-crustacean-small yellow croaker food chain: Inhibition of digestive enzyme activity in fish.

This study investigated the effects of nanoplastics on marine organisms via trophic transfer in the food chain. We designed a three-step food chain comprising microalga (Dunaliella salina), small crustaceans (Artemia franciscana), and fish (small yellow croakers; Larimichthys polyactis) and evaluated the effects of trophic transfer in marine organisms, as well as verified the possibility of nanoplastic transfer to humans via trophic transfer. Using amine-modified nanopolystyrene (nPS-NH) as a pollutant, we conducted both direct-exposure and trophic transfer experiments to determine how pollutants move through the food chain (D.

Translocation and chronic effects of microplastics on pea plants (Pisum sativum) in copper-contaminated soil.

Microplastics (MPs) released into soil environments, along with the existing pollutants in soil, may have adverse effects on plants. However, the chronic effects of MPs in soils contaminated with heavy metals on crop plants remain unidentified. This study aimed to investigate the chronic effects of MPs (polystyrene, 20 nm) on the reproductive and nutritional status of pea crop plant (Pisum sativum) grown in Cu- (40 mg/kg) and MP-contaminated soils (40, 20 mg/kg).

Toxicity assessment of tire particles released from personal mobilities (bicycles, cars, and electric scooters) on soil organisms.

Tire particles are generated by the abrasion of tire treads on roads and are major contributors to microplastics in soil environments. Contamination by tire wear particles worsens annually as the use of personal mobilities increases. Tire particles (112-541 µm) were obtained from three types of personal mobility tires (bicycle, car, and electric scooter) and exposed to plants (Vigna radiata) and springtails (Folsomia candida) for 28 d to assess the toxicity of each tire-particle type.

Microplastics from shoe sole fragments cause oxidative stress in a plant (Vigna radiata) and impair soil environment.

Shoe sole fragments are generated by sole abrasion, which is unavoidable. These fragments can enter the soil ecosystem. However, limited studies have evaluated their effects on soils and plants.

Sub-acute exposure to nanoplastics via two-chain trophic transfer: From brine shrimp Artemia franciscana to small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis.

This study investigated the trophic transfer of nanoplastics in marine food chains. We fed nanoplastic-exposed Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp) to Larimichthys polyactis (small yellow croaker) daily for eight days. Subsequently, the overall health condition, histopathological damage to the liver and digestive tract, and swimming ability of the fish were measured.

Are your shoes safe for the environment? - Toxicity screening of leachates from microplastic fragments of shoe soles using freshwater organisms.

This study investigated the toxic effects of leachates from microplastic fragments of soles from four different types of shoes (slippers, trekking shoes, running shoes, and sneakers) on three aquatic organisms (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Daphnia magna, and Danio rerio). The chemical components in each leachate were identified; furthermore, chlorophyll a contents of C. reinhardtii were measured, and immobilization of D.

Estimation of hazardous concentration of toluene in the terrestrial ecosystem through the species sensitivity distribution approach.

Toluene is a highly flammable and commonly used industrial chemical with severe health consequences on humans upon exposure and ingestion. In this study, multispecies bioassays were conducted using a species sensitivity distribution approach to determine acute and chronic hazardous concentrations of toluene in soil. Acute and chronic toluene toxicity tests were conducted with seven soil species from four taxonomic groups.

Species sensitivity distributions for ethylparaben to derive protective concentrations for soil ecosystems.

Ethylparaben is used as an antifungal preservative. Although some countries have implemented regulations for human exposure to parabens, environmental regulations for ethylparaben have not been established. This study provides new toxicological data for ethylparaben, for which data regarding soil organisms were previously lacking.

Comparative toxicity of potential leachates from perovskite and silicon solar cells in aquatic ecosystems.

Globally, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) represent a third-generation photovoltaic technology that is being increasingly implemented and commercialized. However, the biological impacts of leachates from PSCs are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the ecotoxicity of PSC leachates compared with that of commercial Si-based solar cell (SBSC) leachates.

Sublethal toxicity of PbI in perovskite solar cells to fish embryos (Danio rerio and Oryzias latipes): Deformity and growth inhibition.

Pb-based perovskite in solar cells is a source of PbI. The objective of this study was to characterize the embryonic toxicity of PbI, a potentially leachable chemical and hazardous material, for two fish species (zebrafish and Japanese medaka). A series of measurements were performed to assess mortality, abnormalities (deformities and other pathological changes), hatchability, and growth inhibition.

Synthetic and natural microfibers induce gut damage in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana.

The increasing amount of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems is a significant environmental issue, with adverse effects on marine organisms including invertebrates and vertebrates. This study examined the effects of three types of microfibers on the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana as the test species. The brine shrimps were exposed to two commonly found synthetic microfibers (polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate) and one natural fiber (lyocell).

Determination of hazardous concentrations of 2,4-dinitrophenol in freshwater ecosystems based on species sensitivity distributions.

2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) is a phenolic compound used as a wood preservative or pesticide. The chemical is hazardous to freshwater organisms. Although 2,4-DNP poses ecological risks, only a few of its aquatic environmental risks have been investigated and very limited guidelines for freshwater aquatic ecosystems have been established by governments.