Exposure of true to life microplastics to Donax faba under two different pH conditions: A microcosm approach

Environmental behavior and toxic effects of micro(nano)plastics and engineered nanoparticles on marine organisms under ocean acidification: A review

Ocean acidification (OA) driven by human activities and climate change presents new challenges to marine ecosystems. At the same time, the risks posed by micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) to marine ecosystems are receiving increasing attention. Although previous studies have uncovered the environmental behavior and the toxic effects of MNPs and ENPs under OA, there is a lack of comprehensive literature reviews in this field. Therefore, this paper reviews how OA affects the environmental behavior of MNPs and ENPs, and summarizes the effects and the potential mechanisms of their co-exposure on marine organisms. The review indicates that OA changes the marine chemical environment, thereby altering the behavior of MNPs and ENPs. These changes affect their bioavailability and lead to co-exposure effects. This impacts marine organisms' energy metabolism, growth and development, antioxidant systems, reproduction and immunity. The potential mechanisms involved the regulation of signaling pathways, abnormalities in energy metabolism, energy allocation, oxidative stress, decreased enzyme activity, and disruptions in immune and reproductive functions. Finally, based on the limitations of existing research, actual environment and hot issues, we have outlined future research needs and identified key priorities and directions for further investigation. This review deepens our understanding of the potential effects of MNPs and ENPs on marine organisms under OA, while also aiming to promote further research and development in related fields.

Microplastic interactions in the agroecosystems: methodological advances and limitations in quantifying microplastics from agricultural soil

The instantaneous growth of the world population is intensifying the pressure on the agricultural sector. On the other hand, the critical climate changes and increasing load of pollutants in the soil are imposing formidable challenges on agroecosystems, affecting productivity and quality of the crops. Microplastics are among the most prevalent pollutants that have already invaded all terrestrial and aquatic zones. The increasing microplastic concentration in soil critically impacts crop plants growth and yield. The current review elaborates on the behaviors of microplastics in soil and their impact on soil quality and plant growth. The study shows that microplastics alter the soil's biophysical properties, including water-holding capacity, bulk density, aeration, texture, and microbial composition. In addition, microplastics interact with multiple pollutants, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals, making them more bioavailable to crop plants. The study also provides a detailed insight into the current techniques available for the isolation and identification of soil microplastics, providing solutions to some of the critical challenges faced and highlighting the research gaps. In our study, we have taken a holistic, comprehensive approach by analysing and comparing various interconnected aspects to provide a deeper understanding of all research perspectives on microplastics in agroecosystems.