The production of plastic has exponentially increased in recent years, leading to the release of millions of tons of plastic waste into the environment annually. This waste can break down into smaller micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) that are toxic and reactive to life forms, including humans. MNPs are particularly concerning for marine biologists and environmental scientists due to their toxic impacts on aquatic organisms, including algae, which are the foundation of the food chain. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the (eco)toxicity assessment of MNPs on aquatic algal communities, highlighting the novel insights gained into the ecotoxicity of various MNPs on algae and the associated health risks for aquatic ecosystems, food chains, and humans. This article also discusses current challenges and future research opportunities to address these challenges, making it a valuable contribution to the field of environmental science. Overall, this work is one of the first efforts to comprehensively assess the effects of MNPs on aquatic algae, emphasizing the significant risks that MNPs pose to essential ecosystems and human health.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118982 | DOI Listing |
Talanta
December 2024
Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China. Electronic address:
The proliferation of micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) has emerged as a pivotal environmental issue, largely due to their potential for human exposure. Consequently, the development of sensitive and efficient detection methodologies is paramount for elucidating their environmental footprint. Here, we report a novel three-dimensional (3D) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor, which integrate TiCT/TiO/WO semiconductor heterostructure, for the rapid and sensitive detection of MNPs in environmental matrices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrends Plant Sci
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan, 666303, China. Electronic address:
Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) contamination is a potential threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem functions, with unclear ecological impacts on aboveground (AG) and belowground (BG) food webs in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we discuss the uptake, ingestion, bioaccumulation, and ecotoxicological effects of MNPs in plants and associated AG-BG biota at various trophic levels. We propose key pathways for MNPs transfer between the AG-BG food webs and elaborate their impact on terrestrial ecosystem multifunctionality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
December 2024
Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom; Material and Advanced Technologies for Healthcare, Queen's University of Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5DL, United Kingdom. Electronic address:
Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs), a burgeoning health hazard, often go unnoticed due to suboptimal analytical tools, making their way inside our bodies through various means. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), although is utilized in detecting NPs, challenges arise at low concentrations due to their low Raman cross section and inability to situate within hotspots owing to their ubiquitous size and shape. This study presents an innovative and cost-effective approach employing household metallic foils (aluminium and copper) as nanoparticle-on-film (NPoF) substrates for targeting such analytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Plant Biol
December 2024
School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, China.
Background: As modern industrial activities have advanced, the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment has increased, thereby impacting plant growth. Potassium is one of the most crucial nutrient cations for plant biology. Understanding how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) treatment affects potassium uptake will deepen our understanding of plant response mechanisms to plastic pollution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomol Ther (Seoul)
January 2025
College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea.
Recent technological advancements and environmental changes are leading to an increase in various diseases such as obesity, fibrosis, metabolic disorders, and degenerative diseases associated with aging. Additionally, micro- and nanoplastics are emerging as as potential contributors to many of these conditions, posing a serious threat to human health. This special issue aims to explore new directions and opportunities for future drug development through recent review articles published in the issue, focusing on these key medical topics.
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