Cited by 1,138Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Nanoplastic Affects Growth of S. obliquus and Reproduction of D. magna

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Besseling, Ellen, Wang, Bo, Lürling, Miquel, Koelmans, Albert A.·2014·Environmental Science & Technology

Abstract

The amount of nano- and microplastic in the aquatic environment rises due to the industrial production of plastic and the degradation of plastic into smaller particles. Concerns have been raised about their incorporation into food webs. Little is known about the fate and effects of nanoplastic, especially for the freshwater environment. In this study, effects of nano-polystyrene (nano-PS) on the growth and photosynthesis of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus and the growth, mortality, neonate production, and malformations of the zooplankter Daphnia magna were assessed. Nano-PS reduced population growth and reduced chlorophyll concentrations in the algae. Exposed Daphnia showed a reduced body size and severe alterations in reproduction. Numbers and body size of neonates were lower, while the number of neonate malformations among neonates rose to 68% of the individuals. These effects of nano-PS were observed between 0.22 and 103 mg nano-PS/L. Malformations occurred from 30 mg of nano-PS/L onward. Such plastic concentrations are much higher than presently reported for marine waters as well as freshwater, but may eventually occur in sediment pore waters. As far as we know, these results are the first to show that direct life history shifts in algae and Daphnia populations may occur as a result of exposure to nanoplastic.

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  • Adsorption of nanoplastic particles by a freshwater algae lowered photosynthesis rates and promoted formation of reactive oxygen species or inhibited growth.

    “The adsorption of nanoplastic particles by a freshwater algae lowered photosynthesis rates and promoted the formation of reactive oxygen species 151 or inhibited growth.152”

    From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [152]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Radix P.; Léonard M.; Papantoniou C.; Roman G.; Saouter E.; Gallotti-Schmitt S.; Thiébaud H.; Vasseur P. Comparison of Brachionus calyciflorus 2-d and microtox chronic 22-h tests with Daphnia magna 21-d test for the chronic toxicity assessment of chemicals. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 1999, 18, 2178– 2185. 29857635
  2. Faure F.; Corbaz M.; Baecher H.; Felippe L. Pollution due to plastics and microplastics in Lake Geneva and in the Mediterranean Sea. Arch. Des. Sci. 2012, 65, 157– 164.

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Authors
Besseling, E., Wang, B., Lürling, M., & Koelmans, A. A.
Affiliations
  • Wageningen Marine Research (NL)
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
  • Wageningen University , , P.O. Box 47, ,
Corresponding author
Besseling, Ellen
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2014-09-30
Volume
48
Issue
20
Pages
12336-12343
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
OpenAlex
W2414305648
Cited by
1,138
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 62 · 2025: 89 · 2024: 126 · 2023: 130 · 2022: 152 · 2021: 149 · 2020: 153 · 2019: 116 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 1
FWCI
22.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords
polystyrene nanoparticles, Scenedesmus obliquus, Daphnia magna, algal growth inhibition, photosynthesis, chlorophyll, zooplankton reproduction, neonate production, malformations, freshwater microplastics, sediment pore water
MeSH terms
Chlorophyta, Animals, Daphnia, Fresh Water, Pheromones, Polystyrenes, Reproduction, Time Factors, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Toxicity Tests, Food Chain, Scenedesmus, Body Size, Nanospheres

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