Work

Dose-dependent proteomic profiling uncovers toxicity transformation of nanoplastics induced by simulated fenton oxidation in urban wastewater treatment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Nanoplastics can escape conventional wastewater treatment and undergo further transformation during advanced oxidation processes in wastewater treatment plants. However, this transformation and toxicity alterations remain poorly recognized and lack systematic investigation. This study simulated the environmental transformation of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) via Fenton treatment to mimic wastewater processing and compared the physicochemical properties and toxicological effects of Virgin and Fenton-treated PS-NPs. Fenton-treated PS-NPs showed increased surface roughness, reduced size, and more negative zeta potential, indicating enhanced dispersibility. In vitro, Virgin PS-NPs more strongly reduced neuronal viability, while Fenton-treated PS-NPs induced higher ROS levels. In Caenorhabditis elegans , Fenton-treated PS-NPs significantly impaired locomotion, development, and aging-related phenotypes. Dose-effect relationship analysis at the proteomic level revealed disruptions in ribosome function, carbon metabolism, and reproductive pathways. These findings highlight the complex toxicity mechanisms of transformed microplastics during wastewater treatment and provide insights for ecological risk assessment of microplastics in wastewater treatment processes. Schematic diagram of the toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of Virgin and Fenton-treated PS-NPs. After Fenton treatment, PS-NPs showed increased surface roughness, reduced particle size and enhanced zeta potential. In vitro, Virgin PS-NPs inhibited cell viability more strongly, while Fenton-treated PS-NPs induced ROS elevation more significantly; in vivo experiments showed that Fenton-treated PS-NPs could affect nematode movement, body length, ROS and lipofuscin levels. Proteomics revealed that it interfered with key pathways such as ribosomes, carbon metabolism, translation and reproduction. • Simulated Fenton reaction in wastewater treatment alters the surface properties of polystyrene nanoplastics. • Fenton-treated PS-NPs induce higher ROS but less cytotoxicity in neuronal cells. • Fenton-treated PS-NPs more strongly affect development and aging in C. elegans. • Proteome dynamics of C. elegans reveals disruptions in ribosome, metabolism, and reproduction pathways. • Wastewater-transformed nanoplastics pose distinct biological risks across systems.

Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119299