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Papers
115 resultsShowing papers from University of the Basque Country
ClearThe recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt
Researchers analyzed 1,816 freshwater invertebrate community datasets from 22 European countries spanning 1968 to 2020, finding that biodiversity recovered steadily through the 1990s and 2000s thanks to water quality improvements, but has largely plateaued since the 2010s. Emerging threats including climate warming, emerging pollutants like microplastics, and invasive species are now offsetting earlier conservation gains, signaling that stronger protections are urgently needed.
Assessment of dietary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate exposure in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: Bioaccumulation, and effects on behaviour, growth, hematology and histology
Nile tilapia fish fed three common types of microplastics (PVC, polypropylene, and PET) showed reduced growth, abnormal behavior, blood cell damage, and tissue damage in their gills, liver, and intestines. The harmful effects increased with higher doses of microplastics and varied by plastic type. Since tilapia is one of the most widely consumed fish globally, these findings raise concerns about the health of fish that may carry microplastic contamination to human diets.
Occurrence and human health risks of microplastics in the Bay of Bengal using Perna viridis as sentinel species
Researchers found microplastics in water, sediment, and green mussel tissues at every site tested across five locations in the Bay of Bengal. The mussels showed tissue damage including inflammation and cell death linked to microplastic accumulation, with the digestive gland carrying the highest burden. Since these mussels are consumed by local communities, the findings raise direct concerns about human microplastic exposure through seafood.
The Anthropocene: Comparing Its Meaning in Geology (Chronostratigraphy) with Conceptual Approaches Arising in Other Disciplines
This article compares how the term "Anthropocene" is used in geology versus other academic disciplines like social sciences and humanities. In geology, the Anthropocene is proposed as a formal epoch beginning in the mid-twentieth century, marked by measurable changes in the geological record from industrialization and globalization. Other fields use the term more flexibly, often extending it much further back in time and applying it without reference to specific geological markers.
Analytical methodology for unveiling human exposure to (micro)plastic additives
Researchers reviewed laboratory and population-level methods for measuring human exposure to chemicals that leach from plastics — such as bisphenols and flame retardants — detailing how these toxic additives can be tracked through urine and blood tests after entering the body.
Evidence of internalized microplastics in mussel tissues detected by volumetric Raman imaging
Using advanced 3D Raman imaging, researchers confirmed that microplastics become internalized within mussel tissue cells, not just trapped in the gut. The technique allowed them to identify the specific plastic types embedded inside the tissue. This is significant for human health because it demonstrates that microplastics in seafood are not limited to the digestive system that might be removed before eating, but are present within the meat itself.
Depuration kinetics and accumulation of microplastics in tissues of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
This study tracked how mussels take in, accumulate, and eventually expel microplastics of different sizes over time. Larger microplastics accumulated more in the gills and digestive gland, while smaller particles spread more widely through the body. Since mussels are popular seafood eaten whole, understanding how they retain microplastics helps estimate how much plastic people may be consuming through shellfish.
Distinct toxicity profiles of conventional and biodegradable fishing nets’ leachates after artificial aging
Researchers compared the toxicity of chemical leachates released by conventional and biodegradable fishing nets after simulated aging. They found that biodegradable nets made from PBS-PBAT released compounds that were significantly more toxic to marine bacteria and disrupted fish larval behavior more than conventional net leachates. The study suggests that biodegradable fishing gear, while intended to reduce plastic waste, may pose its own environmental risks as it breaks down.
Mechanism of quiescent nanoplastic formation from semicrystalline polymers
Researchers uncovered the mechanism by which semicrystalline polymers, which make up about 70% of commercial plastics, spontaneously release nanoplastic particles even without mechanical force. They found that chemical bond-breaking events concentrate in the non-crystalline regions of the plastic, eventually causing those layers to fail and release stacks of crystalline fragments as nanoplastics. This discovery helps explain why plastics continuously shed tiny particles into the environment under normal conditions.
Paradigms to assess the human health risks of nano- and microplastics
Researchers proposed a new, comprehensive framework for assessing the health risks of nano- and microplastics (tiny plastic particles), addressing key gaps in how we analyze these particles, model their behavior, and use that information to protect human health — since no such standard risk assessment system currently exists.
Impacts of dietary exposure to different sized polystyrene microplastics alone and with sorbed benzo[a]pyrene on biomarkers and whole organism responses in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis
Researchers fed mussels polystyrene microplastics of two sizes, with and without sorbed benzo[a]pyrene, over 26 days and measured effects at cellular and whole-organism levels. They found that smaller microplastics caused more pronounced effects on immune cells and digestive tissue, and that the presence of sorbed pollutant amplified some impacts. The study provides evidence that microplastics can facilitate the transfer of hydrophobic pollutants to marine organisms with measurable biological consequences.
Effects of polystyrene nano- and microplastics and of microplastics with sorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in adult zebrafish
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to nano- and microplastic particles of different sizes, some carrying additional chemical pollutants, over a 21-day period. The study found that nanoplastics and microplastics triggered different stress responses in the fish, with nanoplastics altering antioxidant gene activity and microplastics causing liver changes. The findings suggest that particle size matters when it comes to the biological effects of plastic pollution in aquatic organisms.
Potential Benefits and Risks for Soil Health Derived From the Use of Organic Amendments in Agriculture
This review examines the benefits and risks of using organic amendments like compost, manure, and sewage sludge in agriculture. Researchers highlight that while these amendments improve soil health and crop productivity, they can also introduce pollutants including heavy metals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and microplastics into agricultural soils. The study identifies sewage sludge as a particularly significant source of microplastic contamination in farmland and calls for strategies to mitigate these risks.
Nanosafety: An Evolving Concept to Bring the Safest Possible Nanomaterials to Society and Environment
Researchers reviewed the evolving field of nanosafety, examining approaches to evaluate the potential toxicity and risks of nanomaterials used across industries including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, and agriculture. The study discusses how traditional toxicological methods are being adapted alongside new nanotoxicology approaches to assess immunotoxicity and genotoxicity of nanomaterials. The review highlights the need for comprehensive safety frameworks as the rapid development of new nanomaterials continues to outpace our understanding of their potential health effects.
Recent environmental and morphosedimentary evolution of the mining-impacted Nalón Estuary (Asturias, N Spain): Disentangling natural and anthropogenic processes
Researchers studied a mining-impacted estuary in northern Spain to separate the effects of natural processes like flooding from human activities like coal and mercury mining. They found that both natural events and mining waste caused significant changes to sediment buildup and erosion, with microplastics serving as one of several indicators used to track how the estuary has changed over the past century.
Microplastic concentration, distribution and dynamics along one of the largest Mediterranean-climate rivers: A whole watershed approach.
Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of microplastic pollution across the entire Biobio river watershed in Chile, one of the largest rivers in South America. They found microplastics at all 18 sampling sites, with concentrations linked to urbanization, wastewater discharge, and agricultural activities. The study reveals that both environmental and human factors drive microplastic distribution patterns throughout large river systems.
Embracing Nature’s Clockwork: Crafting Plastics for Degradation in Plant Agricultural Systems
This perspective examines the shift from conventional non-biodegradable plastics to biodegradable alternatives in agriculture, where plastic mulch films and other materials are widely used. Researchers discuss how bioplastics can be designed to break down on timescales that align with natural agricultural cycles. The study highlights both the promise and the remaining challenges of ensuring these materials truly degrade in soil without leaving harmful residues.
Classification and Quantification of Microplastics (<100 μm) Using a Focal Plane Array–Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging System and Machine Learning
Researchers developed a method using focal plane array Fourier transform infrared imaging to classify and quantify microplastics smaller than 100 micrometers. The technique allows simultaneous chemical identification and size measurement of individual particles across a filter sample, significantly improving throughput compared to manual analysis. The study demonstrates that automated spectroscopic imaging can reliably detect and categorize very small microplastics that are often missed by conventional methods.
Polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics can act as Trojan horse carriers of benzo(a)pyrene to mussel hemocytes in vitro
Researchers demonstrated that polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics can act as carriers to transfer the carcinogenic pollutant benzo(a)pyrene into mussel immune cells in laboratory experiments. The plastic particles were internalized by the cells and found both inside and outside lysosomes, with each contaminant contributing different toxic effects. The study raises concerns that microplastics combined with environmental pollutants may pose greater risks to marine organisms than either contaminant alone.
Joint effects of warming and salinization on instream leaf litter decomposition assessed through a microcosm experiment
Researchers tested how rising water temperature and increasing salinity together affect the breakdown of leaf litter in tropical streams, a key process for stream ecosystem health. They found that while moderate warming slightly sped up decomposition, higher salinity levels significantly slowed it down, especially the portion driven by shredding invertebrates. The study suggests that the combination of warming and salinization could impair nutrient cycling in tropical freshwater ecosystems.
Extraordinary human energy consumption and resultant geological impacts beginning around 1950 CE initiated the proposed Anthropocene Epoch
This study examines the extraordinary growth in human energy consumption beginning around 1950, proposing it as a key marker for the start of the Anthropocene epoch. Researchers found that total human energy expenditure since 1950 exceeds that of the entire preceding 11,700 years of the Holocene. The dramatic acceleration in energy use, economic activity, and population growth has driven geological-scale environmental changes including widespread pollution and ecosystem disruption.
Recent advances in biochar technology for aquatic pollution control: a critical review of applications, barriers, and future opportunities
Researchers reviewed two decades of research on biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — as a low-cost tool for removing pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, microplastics, and nutrients from water, achieving up to 80% pollutant removal. While promising, challenges in regeneration and scaling up production remain barriers to widespread use.
River ecosystem processes: A synthesis of approaches, criteria of use and sensitivity to environmental stressors
This synthesis reviewed approaches to studying river ecosystem processes, evaluating criteria for selecting sensitive indicators and methods for detecting ecological change driven by pollution and land-use pressures.
Entropy and Fractal Techniques for Monitoring Fish Behaviour and Welfare in Aquacultural Precision Fish Farming—A Review
This review explores how entropy and fractal analysis techniques can be applied to monitor fish behavior and welfare in aquaculture, revealing hidden behavioral patterns from non-linear biological systems that classical methods cannot detect.