Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gabriela Kalcikova
Summary: The interactions between microplastics and aquatic organisms have been primarily studied in animal species, particularly through dietary ingestion. However, recent research has indicated that microplastics can also interact with biota through bioadhesion. Bioadhesion has been observed in aquatic macrophytes and other species in the natural environment, as well as in micro-organisms retained by biofilms. Adhesion to biotic surfaces could influence the abundance and bioavailability of microplastics in the environment.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Garth A. Covernton, Hailey L. Davies, Kieran D. Cox, Rana El-Sabaawi, Francis Juanes, Sarah E. Dudas, John F. Dower
Summary: Researchers investigated the ingestion of microplastic particles (MPs) in marine and freshwater fishes to identify factors influencing MPs intake. They found that MPs concentration in fish digestive tracts did not increase with trophic level or body size, indicating no biomagnification occurred. However, larger fish were more likely to contain MPs, and clupeids showed higher MPs concentrations compared to other taxonomic families. Standardized methodologies are crucial for accurate comparisons among studies.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katharina Ruthsatz, Anja Schwarz, Ivan Gomez-Mestre, Ruth Meyer, Marie Domscheit, Fabian Bartels, Sarah-Maria Schaeffer, Karolin Engelkes
Summary: This study used African clawed frogs to investigate the effects of polyethylene microplastic (MP) ingestion on amphibian growth, development, and metabolism across two consecutive life stages, as well as the interaction between MP ingestion and rearing temperature. The results showed that MP ingestion had sublethal effects on larval growth, development, and metabolism, and led to morphological changes in juveniles. MP was also found to accumulate in both life stages. These findings indicate that juvenile amphibians may play a role in the transfer of MP from freshwater to terrestrial environments.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Diana Rede, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Virginia Cruz Fernandes
Summary: Plastic, a crucial material in modern society, has caused significant ecological stress due to high production rates and inadequate waste management. Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major environmental problem globally, affecting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the issue of MP pollution and highlights gaps in the existing literature for future research.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tao Sun, Junfei Zhan, Fei Li, Chenglong Ji, Huifeng Wu
Summary: The study found that microplastics can enhance biological performance and reduce oxidative stress biomarkers in aquatic organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. The responses varied among different biological endpoints, with stimulatory effects observed in consumption, growth, reproduction, and survival. The meta-regression analysis showed that the responses to MPs were independent of habitat, MP characteristics, and exposure duration. The findings suggest that exposure to MPs at low and high concentrations may lead to opposite or non-monotonic responses in aquatic biota.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana-Belen Muniz-Gonzalez, Carlos J. M. Silva, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Diana Campos, Joao L. T. Pestana, Jose-Luis Martinez-Guitarte
Summary: The study reveals that exposure to environmental concentrations of LDPE MPs affects energy reserves, antioxidant responses, detoxification responses, and neurotransmission in Chironomus riparius larvae, as well as induces significant changes at the gene level, thereby impacting development and response to unfavorable situations in these organisms.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Carlos J. M. Silva, Sonia Beleza, Diana Campos, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Joao L. T. Pestana, Carlos Gravato
Summary: This study found that ingestion of polyethylene microplastics by Chironomus riparius larvae triggered a significant increase in basal PO activity at concentrations of 5 and 20 g PE-MPs kg-1, by 26% and 29% respectively, while total PO increased significantly by 48%, indicating de novo synthesis of proPO by organisms. The activation of the immune response is likely linked to damage in the epithelial cells of the gut lumen.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ludmila Polechonska, Ula Rozman, Katarzyna Sokolowska, Gabriela Kalcikova
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the interactions between microplastics and aquatic plants and their effects on the plants. The results showed that microplastics had significant damage effects on plant leaves, with polyethylene (PE) fragments having the greatest damage. However, microplastics did not have a significant impact on plant growth and biochemical content, except for increased metal content in some cases.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hong Fu, Pierre Gauzere, Jorge Garcia Molinos, Peiyu Zhang, Huan Zhang, Min Zhang, Yuan Niu, Hui Yu, Lee E. Brown, Jun Xu
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of 440 aquatic restoration projects in the northwest Taihu basin, China, finding significant improvements in water quality and benthic invertebrate biological indices across most of the study area, mainly due to projects targeting pollution sources.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Junaid, Junaid Ali Siddiqui, Mamona Sadaf, Shulin Liu, Jun Wang
Summary: Microplastic pollution and its associated impacts are spreading rapidly in aquatic environments worldwide. Microplastics serve as vectors for pathogen transmission and can cause ecological and human health issues. Future research is needed to ensure the integrity and safety of ecological and human health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tamyris Pegado, Lucio Brabo, Kurt Schmid, Francesco Sarti, Thais T. Gava, Jorge Nunes, David Chelazzi, Alessandra Cincinelli, Tommaso Giarrizzo
Summary: This study is the first to document the ingestion of microplastics by Longnose stingrays in the Western Atlantic Ocean. It found that fibers were the most common type of microplastic ingested and provided a baseline for future research on microplastic ingestion by dasyatid rays in the Atlantic Ocean.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mehmood Aslam, Abdul Qadir, Saba Hafeez, Hafiz Muhammad Umer Aslam, Sajid Rashid Ahmad
Summary: This study examines the spatial distribution of microplastics (MPs) in River Ravi in Pakistan during different seasons. The results show that the concentrations of MPs in both water and sediment samples are relatively high, with urban sprawl, industrialization, improper solid waste management, and overuse of plastic products being major contributors. This study provides important scientific information for policymakers and river managers to effectively address plastic pollution.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zhihao Yuan, Rajat Nag, Enda Cummins
Summary: Marine plastic waste pollution is a pressing global environmental issue that has attracted attention worldwide. This study conducts a review of microplastics, providing insight into their definition, characterization, and their presence in marine and food systems. The study reveals that plastic waste does not biodegrade but breaks down into small particles that can be ingested by organisms, posing potential risks to both human health and the environment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongwei Yu, Jianfeng Peng, Xiaofeng Cao, Yajun Wang, Zhiqiang Zhang, Yan Xu, Weixiao Qi
Summary: Glyphosate and microplastics have specific ecotoxicity effects on aquatic plants, with glyphosate reducing growth rate, photosynthetic capacity, and root activity of S. cucullata, while microplastics mainly affect growth rate and root activity. Both pollutants activate antioxidant defense systems in plants. Synergistic effects of glyphosate and microplastics were observed in leaf yellowing under high concentrations. Overall, the study highlights the potential impact of pervasive microplastics and herbicide contamination on the growth of aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Esther Hoyo-Alvarez, Pablo Arechavala-Lopez, Manuel Jimenez-Garcia, Antonia Solomando, Carmen Alomar, Antoni Sureda, David Moranta, Salud Deudero
Summary: This study investigates the effects of pollutants and microplastics ingestion on fish brains, specifically looking at oxidative stress biomarkers and monoaminergic neurotransmitters in gilthead seabream. The results show that a diet enriched with microplastics and pollutants increases oxidative stress biomarker activity and leads to changes in dopaminergic and serotonergic system activity in seabream brains. However, after a detoxification period, there is a tendency for enzymatic and neurotransmitter levels to recover.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rone S. Barbosa, Fabianne Ribeiro, Aline Silvestre Pereira Dornelas, Althieris de Souza Saraiva, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Renato Almeida Sarmento, Carlos Gravato
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a thiamethoxam-based formulation on a population of insects and found that the offspring showed higher tolerance to the formulation, suggesting that insect resistance to neonicotinoids may be associated with improved biological functions in the progeny.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
M. Blonc, I. Brandts, M. Canovas, L. Franco-Martinez, C. P. Rubio, L. Tort, A. Tvarijonaviciute, C. Gravato, M. Teles
Summary: The present study aimed to validate a series of automated assays to monitor the effects of chronic exposure to nanoplastics on fish. Adult goldfish were exposed to 100 μg/L polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) for 30 days. The results showed that NPs triggered immune and antioxidant responses in the gills, but had no significant effect on the brain and muscle. These findings suggest that gills may be the primary target for NPs and further investigation is needed to understand the cascading effects on gas exchange and osmo-ionic regulation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Helena Barbosa, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Eduarda Pereira, Rosa Freitas
Summary: Coastal areas, especially estuaries and coastal lagoons, are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic activities and climate change-related factors. The release of lithium (Li) into aquatic systems from industries and the lack of understanding of its consequences pose a significant concern. This study assessed the effects of temperature rise and salinity changes on the impacts of Li pollution in clams (Venerupis corrugata) collected from a coastal lagoon in Portugal. Salinity variations had a greater impact on biochemical responses than temperature increase, even in the presence of Li. The combination of Li with low salinity was the most stressful treatment, suggesting potential imbalances in coastal ecosystems under extreme weather events.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Evila Pinheiro Damasceno, Fabianne Ribeiro, Leticia Costa-Lotufo, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Maria D. Pavlaki, Susana Loureiro
Summary: Since the late 70s, the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals, especially antineoplastic agents, has raised concerns about human and environmental health. In this study, a systematic review was conducted to gather ecotoxicological information of antineoplastic agents on freshwater species from microorganisms to vertebrates. The study also analyzed the sensitivity distribution curves and estimated the hazard concentration to assess the ecological risk. Lastly, suggestions were made to improve the Environmental Risk Assessment of antineoplastic agents, including adopting toxicity endpoints, testing duration, metabolites testing, and mixture exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Helena Barbosa, Carla Leite, Joao Pinto, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Eduarda Pereira, Rosa Freitas
Summary: Lithium (Li) is widely used in green energies/clean technologies but inefficient recycling and treatment have made it an emerging contaminant in aquatic systems. We evaluated the biochemical effects of Li in the clam Venerupis corrugata, observing activated antioxidant and detoxification defenses and a loss of redox balance at higher Li concentrations. This study emphasizes the importance of preventing and regulating Li discharges to avoid adverse consequences to aquatic ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosa Freitas, Federica Arrigo, Francesca Coppola, Valentina Meucci, Federica Battaglia, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Carlo Pretti, Caterina Faggio
Summary: The present study investigated the influence of temperature on the effects of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in the mussel species Mytilus galloprovincialis. Higher biochemical alterations were observed in SLS-exposed mussels and warming enhanced the impacts. These results highlight the potential harm of SLS pollution to mussels and the importance of considering climate changes.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Aline Silvestre Pereira Dornelas, Joao L. T. Pestana, Althieris de Souza Saraiva, Rone Silva Barbosa, Grasiele Soares Cavallini, Carlos Gravato, Amadeu Mortagua Velho da Maia Soares, Renato Almeida Sarmento
Summary: This study assessed the chronic effects of increasing salinity and microbial insecticides on a species of mosquito larvae. The results showed that these insecticides have detrimental impacts on nontarget freshwater insects, potentially leading to cascading effects in freshwater ecosystems.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara A. M. Silva, Joana C. Prata, Patricia Dias-Pereira, Andreia C. M. Rodrigues, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Renato A. Sarmento, Teresa Rocha-Santos, Carlos Gravato, Ana L. Patricio Silva
Summary: Freshwater benthic environments are major sinks of microplastics sourced on inland anthropogenic activities. The effects of microplastics on macroinvertebrates with predator behavior, such as planarians, were evaluated in terms of their behavior, physiology, and biochemistry. It was found that consuming contaminated prey did not cause oxidative damage but slightly increased aerobic metabolism and energy reserves. However, feeding on contaminated prey resulted in a significant delay in planarians' regeneration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diogo N. Cardoso, Sandra F. Gonsalves, Ana Rita R. Silva, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Frederick J. Wrona, Susana Loureiro
Summary: In order to understand the ecological effects of mining activities on aquatic systems in the Canadian oil sands region, it is important to understand the consequences of exposure to natural bitumen-containing soils/sediments. This study conducted laboratory-based bioassays to evaluate the potential ecotoxicological effects of eroded riverbank bitumen soils on different organisms. The results showed that the elutriates produced from natural bitumen had negative effects on tested organisms, indicating that eroded and transported bitumen-containing soils could be a source of contamination to aquatic biota.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vanessa Queiros, Ulisses M. Azeiteiro, Marta Casado Belloso, Juan Luis Santos, Esteban Alonso, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Rosa Freitas, Benjamin Pina, Carlos Barata
Summary: Coastal ecosystems are facing threats from pollutants and climate change, particularly the increasing use of antineoplastic drugs and their potential release into aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the transcription of specific genes in Mytilus galloprovincialis gills exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of Ifosfamide and cisplatin under different temperature scenarios. The results showed that the drugs upregulated genes related to DNA damage and apoptosis, and warmer temperatures further enhanced these effects.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tania Russo, Francesca Coppola, Carla Leite, Marianna Carbone, Debora Paris, Andrea Motta, Anna Di Cosmo, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Ernesto Mollo, Rosa Freitas, Gianluca Polese
Summary: Bioactive natural products from marine invasive species and synthetic pharmaceutical drugs released into the marine environment may have similar ecotoxicological impacts. In this study, the alkaloid caulerpin (CAU) from the invasive green algae Caulerpa cylindracea and the synthetic lipid-lowering drug fenofibrate (FFB) were compared for their effects on Mytilus galloprovincialis. The results showed that FFB had harmful effects on the mussels, causing metabolic impairments, cellular damage, and changes in enzyme activity. In contrast, CAU did not produce any significant alterations. These findings highlight the importance of avoiding the release of synthetic drugs into the environment and suggest the potential use of CAU as a natural product in drug discovery.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Sofia Quina, Andreia C. M. Rodrigues, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Maria da Luz Mathias, Carlos Gravato
Summary: The greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula has been used as a sentinel species to assess environmental risks to human populations. Previous studies focused on the liver as the main target of physiological and metabolic changes due to heavy metal pollution, but the shrews still persisted despite liver damage. This study investigates the skeletal muscle tissue of C. russula as an alternative site for detoxification and survival in polluted areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ana M. Oliveira, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Damia Barcelo, Armando C. Duarte, Teresa Rocha-Santos
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increased use of disposable face masks has led to a significant environmental burden. This critical review discusses the degradation and toxicity of face mask contaminants and emphasizes the need for more research in this area. The lack of studies on biodegradation and ecotoxicity, as well as the uncertainties in experimental procedures, hinder the comparison with conventional plastic debris. Further studies on the abundance and composition of face mask-released contaminants and the development of methodological strategies are crucial to understand their environmental impact.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Paco, Ana M. Oliveira, Diogo A. Ferreira-Filipe, Andreia C. M. Rodrigues, Rui J. M. Rocha, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Armando C. Duarte, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Teresa Rocha-Santos
Summary: Disposable facemasks are found in high abundance in wetlands and can be biodegraded by naturally occurring fungi. The microfibres released from these facemasks can have ecotoxic effects on local bivalves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)