Are the primary characteristics of polystyrene nanoplastics responsible for toxicity and ad/absorption in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum?

Nowadays, the occurrence of a large volume of plastic litter in oceanic and coastal zones has increased concern about its impacts on marine organisms. The degradation of plastic polymers leads to the formation of smaller fragments at both micro and nano scale (<5 mm and <1 μm respectively). Nanoplastics (NPs), due to their smaller size and high specific surface area can establish colloidal interactions with marine microalgae, therefore potential toxicity can be led. . To assess this hypothesis, the aim of the present study is to examine the behaviour of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) of different sizes (50 and 100 nm) in marine water and their possible effects at different physiological and cellular levels in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Different biomarkers and stress responses in P. tricornutum were analysed when organisms were exposed to environmentally relevant PS NPs concentrations between 0.1 and 50 mg L

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