| Microplastics (MPs) released into aquatic environments are becoming more and more serious problems, because the production and use of plastics has been increased since the 1950s. Polyamide (nylon polymers) particles, which are a type of MP, used in personal care products such as face powders and eyeshadow. Nylon polymers are likely to be introduced into freshwater environment, though effects on algal cells have not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of two types of micrometer-sized nylon polymers, i.e., nylon 6 (Ny6) and nylon 12 (Ny12) on the model phytoplankton Raphidocelis subcapitata, in addition to four other micrometer-sized MPs [low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHPE)]. |
