Algal Growth at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Suspended Solids: Implications for Microplastic Hazard Assessment
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Abstract
Hazard assessment of microplastic is challenging because standard toxicity testing is targeting soluble (at least partially) chemicals. Adverse effects can occur when test organisms are exposed to turbid environments in the presence of various particulate matter (PM), both natural, such as clay and cellulose, and anthropogenic, such as microplastic. It is, therefore, relevant to compare responses to PM exposure between the microplastic and other suspended solids present at ecologically relevant concentrations. This comparison is possible when reference materials are included in the testing of microplastic hazard potential. Here, we evaluated growth inhibition in unicellular alga Raphidocelis subcapitata exposed to different PM (microplastic, kaolin, and cellulose; 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/L); algae without added solids were used as a control. Also, aggregate formation in the exposure systems was analyzed using particle size distribution (PSD) data. At 10–100 mg/L, no adverse growth effects were observed in any treatments; moreover, algal growth was significantly stimulated in kaolin and cellulose treatments compared to the control. However, at 1,000 mg/L, all tested materials exerted growth inhibition, with no significant differences among the materials. Comparing PSD s across the treatments showed that both PM concentration and size of the particle aggregates were significant growth predictors for all materials tested. Therefore, at high concentrations, both natural and anthropogenic materials have a similar capacity to cause growth inhibition. Linking effects in unicellular organisms to microplastic fragments remains a challenge since plastics incorporate chemicals that may leach and elicit specific effects relative to the particulates. The use of reference materials in hazard assessment of plastic litter is needed to delineate these effects.
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Dong, D., Gao, W., & Zhou, Q.-Q. (2025) · Water, Air and Soil Pollution · doi:10.1007/s11270-025-08873-4 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Interspecific Interactions Drive Nonribosomal Peptide Production in Nodularia spumigena
Lage, S., Mazur-Marzec, H., & Gorokhova, E. (2022) · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1128/aem.00966-22 · Cited by 2
Self-citationShi, W., Liu, Y.-X., Xu, Y.-X., Wang, Z., Li, F., & Jia, J. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128083 · Cited by 1
Evaluation of the toxic effects of polylactic acid on green microalgae using flow cytometric methods
Erdağı, D., Erman, G., Akpinar, M., & Tunca, H. (2026) · Journal of Applied Phycology · doi:10.1007/s10811-026-03921-w
“Gorokhova et al. (2020) investigated the effects of microplastics (10–1000 µg mL −1 ) on Raphidocelis subcapitata and reported growth inhibition at higher concentrations.”
Liang, S., Yu, W.-J., Li, J., Liu, J., & Zhang, L.-T. (2026) · Algal Research · doi:10.1016/j.algal.2026.104721
Elias, J. M., & Rier, S. (2026) · Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science · doi:10.5325/jpennacadscie.97.1-2.0001
- Authors
- Gorokhova, E., Ek, K., & Reichelt, S.
- Affiliations
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Gorokhova, Elena
- Venue
- Frontiers in Environmental Science
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2020-11-19
- Volume
- 8
- ISSN
- 2296-665X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3099553751
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 1.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Environmental Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- VINNOVA (2017-00979)
- Naturvårdsverket (802-0160-18)
- Stockholms Universitet
- 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 › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Keywords
- microplastics, algal growth inhibition, Raphidocelis subcapitata, suspended solids, turbidity, kaolin, cellulose, particle aggregates, particle size distribution, reference materials, hazard assessment, plastic debris
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