Papers

Effect and mechanism of microplastics exposure against microalgae: Photosynthesis and oxidative stress

Meta-analysis of 55 studies (835 endpoints) found that microplastics reduce chlorophyll-a content and hinder electron transfer in microalgae photosynthetic systems, causing oxidative stress damage. Effects were concentration- and size-dependent, with freshwater microalgae more susceptible than marine species.

The adsorption of PAHs on microplastics and desorption in the simulated human digestive system

Portable Pyrolysis-Microplasma Carbon Optical Emission Spectrometric Device for Detection of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Water

Scientists developed a portable, low-cost device that can detect micro- and nanoplastics in water samples on-site, rather than requiring expensive lab equipment. The device uses a miniature pyrolyzer combined with an optical emission spectrometer to measure total plastic content in water, achieving detection limits as low as 0.43 micrograms of carbon per liter. This tool could make it much easier to monitor microplastic contamination in tap water, rivers, and wastewater in real time.

Microplastics in aquatic environments: Toxicity to trigger ecological consequences

This review draws on cross-disciplinary research to connect the toxic effects of microplastics on individual organisms to broader ecological consequences in aquatic environments. Researchers found that microplastics can disrupt nutrient cycling, alter metabolic processes, trigger immune responses, and threaten ecosystem composition. The study highlights how the ecological damage from microplastics depends on how their toxicity transfers and multiplies through aquatic food webs.

Single and combined toxicity effects of microplastics and perfluorooctanoic acid on submerged macrophytes and biofilms

Researchers tested the combined effects of four common microplastic types and PFOA (a forever chemical) on aquatic plants and their associated biofilms. The pollutants together caused more damage to plant growth, photosynthesis, and microbial communities than either pollutant alone. Since microplastics and PFOA frequently co-occur in the environment, their combined toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems could have downstream consequences for water quality and human exposure.

Toxicity and bioconversion: Meta-analytical insights into microplastic effects on black soldier fly rearing

This meta-analysis found that microplastics in organic waste can reduce black soldier fly larval growth and survival, though larvae demonstrated some capacity to biodegrade certain plastic polymers. The findings are important because black soldier fly larvae are increasingly used for sustainable waste processing, and microplastic contamination in waste streams could compromise this approach.

Microbial ecosystem disruption under persistent organic pollutant stress: Consequences for soil biogeochemistry and environmental sustainability – A review

This review examines how persistent organic pollutants disrupt soil microbial communities and the nutrient cycling processes they drive. Researchers found that these chemicals cause diversity loss, suppress beneficial microbes, and impair the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in soils. The study also explores how co-contamination with microplastics and heavy metals can produce compounding effects on soil health, creating risks for agricultural productivity and ecosystem stability.

Global trends and prospects in microplastics research: A bibliometric analysis

Researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis of global microplastics research using the Web of Science database from 1986 to 2019. The study found that publications on microplastics increased significantly since 2011, with research hotspots and trends shifting from marine contamination surveys toward understanding ecological impacts and human health implications.

A new quantitative insight: Interaction of polyethylene microplastics with soil - microbiome - crop

Researchers developed a new method to track and measure how polyethylene microplastics move through soil and into crops, and for the first time demonstrated that micron-sized particles can accumulate in plant tissues, with the highest concentrations found in roots. Weathered microplastics significantly reduced soil nutrients and inhibited plant growth in maize, while fresh microplastics had different effects on soil chemistry. The findings suggest that aging microplastics in agricultural soil may pose a greater risk to crop productivity than previously understood.

Freshwater microplastics pollution: Detecting and visualizing emerging trends based on Citespace II

Researchers used bibliometric analysis software to systematically map the emerging field of freshwater microplastic research. The study found a significant gap between freshwater and marine microplastic research, with most freshwater studies conducted in developed countries despite developing nations facing the most severe plastic pollution. The authors note that while rivers and lakes have received some attention, other freshwater sources like groundwater and reservoirs remain largely unstudied.

Effects of combined exposure of PVC and PFOA on the physiology and biochemistry of Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers examined the combined effects of PVC microplastics and the PFAS chemical PFOA on a common freshwater algae species. They found that the combination inhibited algal growth and promoted the release of microcystin toxins, while also causing physical damage to the cells. The study suggests that the co-presence of microplastics and PFAS in water bodies may create compounding risks for aquatic ecosystems.

Long-term PS micro/nano-plastic exposure: Particle size effects on hepatopancreas injury in Parasesarma pictum

Estuarine crabs were exposed to polystyrene particles of three different sizes for 21 days, and all sizes caused liver damage, though the effects varied depending on particle size. The research revealed that the largest particles caused the most severe injury through disruption of energy metabolism and immune suppression, while the mechanism of damage was cell death rather than programmed self-destruction.

The Release and Migration of Cr in the Soil under Alternating Wet–Dry Conditions

Researchers simulated three years of rainfall on chromium-contaminated soils to study how the metal moves through soil under wet-dry cycles. They found that while overall chromium release was low, the cycling converted more toxic forms of chromium into less toxic ones and changed how the metal binds to soil particles. The study suggests that natural rainfall patterns play an important role in reducing chromium mobility and toxicity in contaminated soils.

Urbanization and the Emerging Water Crisis: Identifying Water Scarcity and Environmental Risk with Multiple Applications in Urban Agglomerations in Western China

Researchers developed a comprehensive index system to evaluate water scarcity and environmental risk across three major urban regions in Western China. They found that rapid urbanization has significantly worsened water resource shortages and ecological vulnerability in these areas. The study provides a framework for understanding how urban growth intensifies water stress and suggests approaches for sustainable water resource management.

Polyethylene microplastics interfere with MICP-based cadmium remediation: A dual-system evaluation of microbial performance and environmental response

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interfere with microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), a sustainable technique for immobilizing cadmium in contaminated environments. They found that microplastics caused oxidative stress in the remediation bacteria, inhibited their growth, and delayed cadmium immobilization in both liquid and soil systems. The study reveals that co-existing microplastic pollution may significantly undermine biological approaches to heavy metal remediation in the environment.

Microplastics in the Typical Mulched Farmland of Sichuan Province: Characteristics That Vary Across Farming Scales and the Risk Significantly Contributed by Priority Polymers

Researchers investigated microplastic characteristics in mulched agricultural soils across different farming scales in Sichuan Province, China. The study found average microplastic abundances of nearly 20,000 particles per kilogram, with larger farms primarily contaminated from plastic mulch film while smaller farms received microplastics from diverse non-agricultural sources, and risk assessments identified polyamide and polyphenylene sulfide as priority high-risk polymers.

Pollution level and distribution characteristics of heavy metals and microplastics in the soils from the Qionghai Lake Wetland, Southwest China

Adsorption of Different Pollutants by Using Microplastic with Different Influencing Factors and Mechanisms in Wastewater: A Review

This review examines how microplastics adsorb various pollutants including heavy metals, antibiotics, and organic contaminants in wastewater, analyzing the key factors and mechanisms that influence their adsorption capacity and environmental behavior.

Microbial Transformation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics by Wetland-Derived Microbial Communities: Implications for Coastal Sediment Systems

Researchers exposed PET plastic fibers to a wetland sediment microbial consortium for 60 days, finding 13.7% weight loss driven by synergistic interactions among taxa like Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, suggesting coastal wetlands harbor natural PET-degrading communities with potential for nature-based plastic remediation strategies.

Studies on the transfer effect of aged polyethylene microplastics in soil-plant system

Researchers studied how aged and unaged polyethylene microplastics move through soil-plant systems using maize as a model crop. They confirmed that micrometer-sized particles (26 micrometers) can be transported within plant tissues from roots to stems and leaves, expanding the known upper size limit for microplastic uptake in plants. The study quantitatively assessed microplastic accumulation at each transfer point, finding that aging of the plastic particles affected their ecological interactions in the soil.

COVID-19 and surface water quality: Improved lake water quality during the lockdown

Researchers used satellite imagery to show that suspended particle pollution in India's largest freshwater lake dropped by nearly 16% during COVID-19 lockdowns, providing rare real-world evidence that reduced human activity directly and quickly improves water quality.

Soil bacterial community and vanadium fate shaped by co-exposure to polyethylene microplastics and native vanadium pollution

Principles, performance and emerging trends for optical detection of environmental microplastics: A review

This review summarizes recent advances in optical detection methods for identifying microplastics in environmental samples, covering both spectroscopic techniques like Raman and infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence-based approaches using dyes such as Nile red. Researchers highlight how machine learning is improving the accuracy and efficiency of spectroscopic identification. The study also evaluates emerging fluorescent materials like carbon dots for specific microplastic identification and environmental behavior tracing.

Effects of different concentrations and particle sizes of microplastics on the full life history of freshwater Chlorella

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different concentrations and particle sizes affect the complete life cycle of freshwater Chlorella algae. The study found that microplastics can inhibit algal growth by up to 68%, while also altering chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, indicating that microplastic pollution may pose significant risks to the base of aquatic food webs.