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Papers
144 resultsShowing papers from RMIT University
ClearPlastic Waste: Challenges and Opportunities to Mitigate Pollution and Effective Management
Researchers reviewed plastic waste generation and management strategies globally, identifying lack of technical skills, inadequate recycling infrastructure, and poor regulatory awareness as the main barriers to addressing the ~400 million tons of plastic produced annually.
The missing link: A systematic review of microplastics and its neglected role in life-cycle assessment
This systematic review found that life-cycle assessments of plastic products almost never account for microplastic pollution. This means the true environmental and health impacts of plastics are being significantly underestimated in the tools used to guide policy decisions. The researchers call for better data on microplastic release and its effects so that the full cost of plastic products can be properly measured.
Recent Progress in Micro- and Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors for Biomedical and Environmental Challenges
This review covers advances in tiny sensors built with micro- and nanotechnology that can detect pollutants in air, water, soil, and food, as well as diagnose diseases. These sensor technologies are relevant to microplastic research because they could enable faster and more sensitive detection of plastic particles in environmental and biological samples.
Contaminant containment for sustainable remediation of persistent contaminants in soil and groundwater
This review examines different strategies for containing persistent contaminants in soil and groundwater, including physical barriers, chemical stabilization, and plant-based methods. While focused broadly on contamination cleanup, these containment approaches are relevant to microplastic pollution because they can help prevent plastic particles and the toxic chemicals they carry from spreading through soil and into water supplies.
Release of microplastics from commonly used plastic containers: Combined meta-analysis and case study
This meta-analysis pooled data from 30 studies and found that plastic cups and containers release significantly more microplastics at higher temperatures. Hot drinks and heated food containers can release hundreds to millions of particles per use, depending on the plastic type. This is a practical health concern — it suggests that letting hot beverages cool before drinking from plastic containers, or switching to glass or ceramic, could reduce your microplastic intake.
A Double‐Edged Sword of Biodegradable Microplastics on the Soil Microbial Carbon Pump
Researchers found that biodegradable microplastics in soil had a double-edged effect: they increased carbon dioxide emissions (contributing to greenhouse gases) but also boosted the efficiency of soil microbes at storing carbon in stable forms. This suggests microplastic pollution in farmland has complex environmental consequences that go beyond simple contamination, potentially affecting both climate change and long-term soil health.
Contamination of coastal and marine bird species with plastics: Global analysis and synthesis
This review summarizes global data on plastic contamination in coastal and marine bird species across all seven continents, finding that seabirds like fulmars, shearwaters, and albatrosses are the most heavily affected. Birds ingest microplastics, mesoplastics, and macroplastics that can cause death directly through gut blockage and indirectly through toxic chemicals absorbed onto or released from the plastic. Several contaminated species are already classified as endangered.
Invertebrate responses to microplastic ingestion: Reviewing the role of the antioxidant system
Microplastic ingestion poses an oxidative challenge to invertebrates requiring upregulation of antioxidant defenses, but studies are limited to only seven taxa, dominated by polystyrene spheres <10 µm, and the lack of systematic experiments prevents identifying which specific microplastic characteristics drive the oxidative stress response.
Impacts of microplastic on fisheries and seafood security — Global analysis and synthesis
A global review of 10 years of research found that microplastics contaminate over 900 seafood species worldwide, with Asian seafood being the most affected. Microplastics accumulate in fish skin, gills, organs, and muscles, and are even found in dried and canned fish products. Since microplastics can carry heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals, eating contaminated seafood is a significant pathway for human exposure to these pollutants.
Microplastics in the third pole of the world: Abundance and ecological risk assessment
Researchers measured microplastic contamination across the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most remote regions on Earth. While overall levels were lower than in more populated areas, concentrations increased downstream near human settlements, with sewage treatment plants identified as a significant entry point. The study shows that even the world's highest and most isolated ecosystems are not free from microplastic pollution.
Fabrication of dual-charged MOF-based ultrafiltration membrane to remove charged nanoplastics from wastewater
Researchers developed a new type of water filter membrane that can remove over 99% of nanoplastics from wastewater while maintaining high water flow. The membrane uses metal-organic framework nanoparticles that repel plastic particles through electrical charges and physical filtering. This technology could help prevent nanoplastics, which are too small for conventional filters, from reaching drinking water sources.
Evaluating the performance of the metal organic framework-based ultrafiltration membrane for nanoplastics removal
Researchers created an advanced membrane filter using metal-organic framework nanoparticles that removed over 99% of nanoplastics from water while maintaining high water flow rates. The membrane resisted fouling and worked reliably across multiple cycles and different water conditions. This type of technology could improve wastewater treatment plants' ability to prevent nanoplastics from reaching drinking water supplies.
Nano/microplastics: Fragmentation, interaction with co-existing pollutants and their removal from wastewater using membrane processes
This review explores how nano- and microplastics fragment from larger plastic debris and interact with other pollutants like heavy metals and pharmaceuticals in water environments. Researchers examined how these tiny particles can adsorb hazardous substances onto their surfaces, potentially increasing health risks for humans and aquatic organisms. The study also evaluates membrane-based filtration technologies as promising methods for removing these combined contaminants from wastewater.
Fatigue behaviour of load-bearing polymeric bone scaffolds: A review
This review examines how polymeric bone scaffolds used in tissue engineering perform under repeated mechanical stress, focusing on their fatigue behavior. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because it explores how polymer materials break down under physical stress, which is similar to how plastic products degrade into microplastics in the environment. Understanding polymer fatigue helps explain why plastic materials fragment over time and contribute to micro- and nanoplastic pollution.
Post-pandemic micro/nanoplastic pollution: Toward a sustainable management
Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to micro- and nanoplastic pollution through the massive use of disposable personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. The study found that weathering of these items releases microplastics into the environment and may even serve as carriers for pathogens. The review calls for more sustainable waste management approaches in preparing for future health crises.
Detection of microplastics in human colectomy specimens
Researchers examined tissue samples from patients who had colon surgery and detected microplastics in the specimens. The findings suggest that microplastics are commonly present in the human colon, adding to a growing body of evidence that these particles accumulate in the human digestive system.
Transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of maize under conventional and biodegradable microplastic stress
Researchers studied how both conventional and biodegradable microplastics affect maize at the molecular level, finding that both types altered plant metabolism and triggered stress responses. The microplastics changed how the plants handled energy, photosynthesis, and hormone signaling, with effects varying by plastic type. This is concerning for food safety because microplastic-contaminated soil could change the nutritional quality or safety of crops that people eat.
The occurrence of microplastic in specific organs in commercially caught fishes from coast and estuary area of east China
Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics interact with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in aquatic environments and found that the plastic particles can absorb and concentrate the drug on their surface. The adsorption capacity increased with weathering of the plastic, suggesting that aged microplastics in the environment are more effective carriers of pharmaceutical pollutants. The findings raise concerns that microplastics could transport antibiotics through water systems, potentially contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
Current understanding on the fate of contaminants during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
This review examines how hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge handles various contaminants including microplastics, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals. While the high-temperature water treatment can break down many pollutants, its effectiveness against microplastics specifically is still being studied. Since sewage sludge is often spread on farmland, understanding how well treatment destroys microplastics is important for preventing them from entering the food supply.
Reporting Guidelines to Increase the Reproducibility and Comparability of Research on Microplastics
A group of 23 researchers developed standardized reporting guidelines to improve the reproducibility and comparability of microplastic studies across different laboratories and settings. They created a detailed checklist covering best practices for materials, sampling, sample preparation, identification, and quantification of microplastics. The guidelines aim to address a major bottleneck in the field where inconsistent methods have made it difficult to compare findings or conduct reliable large-scale analyses.
The Challenges and Opportunities of Protein Coronas for Nanoscale Biomolecular Sensing
Researchers reviewed how protein layers that naturally form around nanoscale objects in biological fluids affect the performance of tiny biosensors. They found that this protein coating can block sensors from detecting target molecules, but new strategies are emerging to work around or even take advantage of this effect. The study is relevant to understanding how nanoplastics behave in the body, since similar protein layers form around plastic nanoparticles and influence their biological interactions.
Responses of syntrophic microbial communities and their interactions with polystyrene nanoplastics in a microbial electrolysis cell
Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect microbial communities in a microbial electrolysis cell, a technology used for energy recovery during wastewater treatment. They found that nanoplastics disrupted the biofilm structure and altered the composition of the microbial communities responsible for breaking down waste. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in wastewater could reduce the efficiency of these promising electrochemical treatment systems.
Chemical Pollutants Sorbed to Ingested Microbeads from Personal Care Products Accumulate in Fish
Researchers investigated whether organic pollutants sorbed to microbeads from personal care products could accumulate in fish after ingestion. The study found that chemical pollutants adsorbed onto microplastic beads were indeed assimilated by rainbow fish following ingestion, providing evidence that microplastics can serve as a pathway for contaminant transfer through the food chain.
Dual-Doped Nickel Sulfide for Electro-Upgrading Polyethylene Terephthalate into Valuable Chemicals and Hydrogen Fuel
Researchers developed a catalyst that can convert PET plastic waste into valuable chemicals and clean hydrogen fuel using electricity. By doping nickel sulfide with cobalt and chloride, they achieved high efficiency and selectivity in breaking down a key PET building block. The study demonstrates a promising approach for upcycling plastic waste into useful products rather than sending it to landfills.