Effects of nanoplastics at low level on the marine primary producer are largely unclear. To assess the potential risk of nanoplastic pollution, this study exposed marine green microalgae Platymonas helgolandica to 20, 200, and 2000 μg/L 70-nm polystyrene nanoplastics for 6 days. Nanoplastics significantly inhibited the growth of P. helgolandica during the first 4 days of exposure, and elevated heterocyst frequency was observed in 200 and 2000 μg/L exposure groups in the early exposure stage. Exposure to 200 and 2000 μg/L nanoplastics for 4 days increased the membrane permeability and mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased light energy used in photochemical processes of microalgae. Moreover, clear morphological changes, including surface folds, fragmentation, aggregation cluster, and rupture, in the microalgae exposed to nanoplastics were observed under scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. These results demonstrate that nanoplastics could reduce the microalgal vitality by the damage on cell morphology and organelle function.
The paper studies the microplastic abundances and characteristics in the Southern Jiangsu Canal to reveal the effect of riverside cities on microplastics in river water. The results show that the microplastic abundance in the water body of the South Jiangsu Canal ranges from 3.41 to 19.07 particles L−1, with an average of 9.59 ± 3.95[…]
This paper reveals the status of microplastic pollution in paddy soil with long-term mulching. The study investigates the distribution and weathering characteristics of filmy microplastics in a mulched paddy field (non-mulched, four years of mulched, and ten years of continuous mulched soil were investigated) in Southwest China. The filmy microplastics accumulated annually in the plough[…]
The paper reviews advancements in polymer technologies that aim to improve the efficiency of recycling and upcycling plastic waste. Increasing the rate of recycling and upcycling is critical for addressing the issues caused by plastic pollution, and, at the same time, overcoming the technical limitations on the same. The research emphasises the need to develop[…]
The study analyses the current advancements in the behavioural differences between MPs and NPs in urban waters. Analytical challenges, fate, interactions with surrounding pollutants, and eco-impacts of MPs and NPs are similarly discussed in this paper. It has been highlighted in the study that the characterization and fate studies of NPs are more challenging as[…]
The study investigates scientifically evidence-based policy initiatives for targeting plastic pollution. The issue of plastic pollution is complex and still related to several uncertainties, which implies that policy initiatives must allow for flexibility and ongoing evaluations to adjust to the evolving knowledge generation. It is also important that the scientific community provide the needed research[…]