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dc.contributor.authorAbbasi, S
dc.contributor.authorAmiranipour, S
dc.contributor.authorKarimi, J
dc.contributor.authorMohsenzadeh, S
dc.contributor.authorTurner, A
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-07T08:39:07Z
dc.date.available2023-08-07T08:39:07Z
dc.date.issued2023-06
dc.identifier.issn0269-7491
dc.identifier.issn1873-6424
dc.identifier.other121611
dc.identifier.urihttps://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/21164
dc.description.abstract

Microalgae play a critical role in the food web and biogeochemical cycling and produce compounds that are commercially exploited. However, their reactions and responses to microplastic contamination are not well understood. In this study, the widely distributed and commercially important cyanobacterium, Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), was exposed to different concentrations (1–100 mg L−1) of low-density polyethylene microplastics (<5 μm) over a 20-d period. Various end-points were combined with different microscopic techniques in order to examine physiological and biochemical effects and interactions between the plastic and microalga. Growth rate and photosynthetic activity decreased with increasing microplastic concentration, and a maximum inhibition ratio of about 9% was calculated from optical density measurements. Plastic concentrations above 10 mg L−1 resulted in oxidative stress and the intracellular production of proline. Fragmentation and swelling of trichomes and attachment of microplastics was observed in the exposures, and microplastics appeared to adhere or aggregate around fragmented or fragmenting regions. The latter effect may indicate trichome weakening by microplastics or their concentration around cytosolic debris; nevertheless, it provides a potential mechanism for internalisation of small particles. Although unrealistically high concentrations of well-defined microplastics have been employed, relatively small disruptions at the population level incurred by lower concentrations could have more serious implications for ecosystem services and functioning.

dc.format.extent121611-121611
dc.format.mediumPrint-Electronic
dc.languageen
dc.publisherElsevier BV
dc.subjectCyanobacteria
dc.subjectGrowth inhibition
dc.subjectPhotosynthesis
dc.subjectNanoplastics
dc.subjectFragmentation
dc.subjectEcosystem services
dc.titleImpacts of polyethylene microplastics on the microalga, Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)
dc.typejournal-article
dc.typeArticle
plymouth.author-urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37037278
plymouth.volume327
plymouth.publisher-urlhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121611
plymouth.publication-statusPublished
plymouth.journalEnvironmental Pollution
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121611
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|Research Groups
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|Faculty of Science and Engineering
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|Faculty of Science and Engineering|School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|Research Groups|Marine Institute
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|REF 2021 Researchers by UoA
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|Users by role
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|Users by role|Academics
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|Research Groups|BEACh
plymouth.organisational-group|Plymouth|REF 2021 Researchers by UoA|UoA07 Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
dc.publisher.placeEngland
dcterms.dateAccepted2023-04-08
dc.date.updated2023-08-07T08:39:06Z
dc.rights.embargodate2024-4-7
dc.identifier.eissn1873-6424
dc.rights.embargoperiodforever
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121611


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