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Papers
246 resultsShowing papers from City University of Hong Kong
ClearMicroplastics in seafood: Navigating the silent health threat and intestinal implications through a One Health food safety lens
This systematic review and meta-analysis found microplastic contamination across fish, crustaceans, and mollusks globally, with flathead lobsters from Iran carrying the highest individual load (460 MPs per animal). PET fibers in the 100-1500 micron range were the most common type, and microplastics were shown to alter gut microbial communities, increase intestinal permeability, and promote inflammation.
Biodegradable plastics in soils: sources, degradation, and effects
This review examines whether biodegradable plastics are truly a safe alternative to conventional plastics in soil. While they do break down faster, the degradation process releases microplastics and potentially toxic byproducts that can harm soil organisms, reduce plant growth, and disrupt the microbial communities that maintain soil health.
Human Exposure to Microplastics and Its Associated Health Risks
This review examines how microplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin, and have been detected in stool, blood, and tissues. Research in lab animals and human cells shows that microplastics can disrupt digestion, immunity, the nervous system, and reproduction, and can also amplify the toxicity of other environmental pollutants they carry.
Advanced nanobubble flotation for enhanced removal of sub-10 µm microplastics from wastewater
Scientists developed a nanobubble-assisted flotation technique that improves removal of very small microplastics (under 10 micrometers) from wastewater by up to 17% compared to traditional methods. Removing these tiny particles is especially important because their small size makes them more likely to pass through water treatment and eventually be consumed by humans.
Metal–organic framework applications for microplastic remediation: exploring pathways and future potential
This review examines how metal-organic frameworks (specialized porous materials) can be used to capture and remove microplastics from water. Microplastics are emerging contaminants that threaten aquatic ecosystems and human health. The paper explores different remediation pathways and the future potential of these advanced materials for cleaning up microplastic pollution.
Reproductive toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics
This review summarizes existing research on how micro- and nanoplastics harm reproduction across many species, from marine invertebrates to mammals. The particles can cause oxidative stress and hormone disruption, leading to reduced fertility, abnormal embryo development, and toxic effects that pass to offspring. The findings raise concerns that human reproductive health could be similarly affected given our increasing exposure to these particles.
Which Micropollutants in Water Environments Deserve More Attention Globally?
This review analyzed over 80 studies to determine which chemical micropollutants in water deserve the most attention for cleanup efforts worldwide. Using risk-based methods, researchers identified hundreds of compounds from pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals that pose risks to aquatic life and human health. While not focused on microplastics directly, the findings are relevant because microplastics can absorb and concentrate many of these same chemicals, potentially increasing human exposure through contaminated water.
Cell Cycle Control of Nanoplastics Internalization in Phytoplankton
This study found that tiny nanoplastic particles are taken up by cells at different rates depending on the cell's growth stage, with cells in the dividing phase absorbing the most. This matters for human health because it suggests that actively growing tissues may be more vulnerable to nanoplastic accumulation.
Distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in water, sediment and brine shrimps in a remote salt lake on the Tibetan Plateau, China
Microplastics were found in the water, sediment, and brine shrimp of a remote salt lake on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most isolated ecosystems on Earth. Over 93% of the particles were tiny fragments under 0.5 mm, mostly polypropylene, carried to the lake by runoff. The finding demonstrates that microplastic pollution reaches even the most pristine environments, where salt layers in the water may actually increase how much plastic tiny organisms consume.
Plastic takeaway food containers may cause human intestinal damage in routine life usage: Microplastics formation and cytotoxic effect
Plastic takeaway food containers released hundreds of thousands of microplastics per square centimeter when filled with hot water, with polystyrene containers releasing the most. Both the microplastic particles and the chemical substances leached from the containers damaged human intestinal cells in lab tests, reducing cell survival and disrupting energy metabolism. This suggests that everyday use of plastic food containers -- especially with hot food and drinks -- exposes people to potentially harmful levels of microplastics.
Microplastics in aquatic environments: A comprehensive review of toxicity, removal, and remediation strategies
This comprehensive review covers the toxicity of microplastics on aquatic life at every level of the food chain, from algae to fish, as well as current methods for removing microplastics from water. Treatment methods like filtration and electrocoagulation can remove over 86-90% of microplastics, but no single method eliminates them completely. The review highlights the urgent need for better water treatment to protect both aquatic ecosystems and the humans who rely on them for food and water.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Profiling Cellular Heterogeneity and Specific Responses of Fish Gills to Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Using advanced single-cell sequencing, researchers mapped how individual cell types in fish gills respond differently to micro- and nanoplastic exposure. Microplastics mainly affected immune cells called macrophages, while nanoplastics primarily targeted T cells, and a structural cell type called fibroblasts was especially sensitive to microplastics. This detailed cell-level view reveals that plastic particles of different sizes can trigger distinct immune and tissue responses.
Physiological response of mussel to rayon microfibers and PCB's exposure: Overlooked semi-synthetic micropollutant?
Researchers found that rayon microfibers — semi-synthetic plastic-like fibers common in marine environments — made the toxic effects of PCBs (a type of industrial chemical pollutant) worse in mussels, damaging their immune and digestive systems and disrupting their gut bacteria in ways that didn't fully recover. This suggests rayon fibers deserve the same regulatory attention as conventional microplastics.
Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: A review
This review covers how plastics break down in the environment through sunlight, heat, water, and microbial action to form microplastics smaller than 5 millimeters. The process depends on both the type of plastic and environmental conditions, but knowledge about real-world degradation rates and pathways is still limited. Understanding how microplastics form is essential for predicting where they accumulate and how they might enter the food chain and drinking water.
Recent advances in biodegradation of emerging contaminants - microplastics (MPs): Feasibility, mechanism, and future prospects
This review explores biological approaches to breaking down microplastics, including using bacteria, fungi, and enzymes. While some organisms can partially degrade certain plastic types, the process is slow and incomplete compared to the scale of pollution. The research is promising for future cleanup efforts but shows that biodegradation alone cannot yet solve the microplastic contamination problem.
Accumulation Kinetics and Gut Microenvironment Responses to Environmentally Relevant Doses of Micro/Nanoplastics by Zooplankton Daphnia Magna
This study tracked how tiny zooplankton (Daphnia magna) accumulate micro and nanoplastics of different sizes and surface charges at environmentally realistic concentrations. The organisms readily consumed all particle types, with larger and positively charged plastics accumulating the most, and the particles disrupted their gut microbiome. Since zooplankton are a key food source for fish, this accumulation could transfer microplastics up the food chain toward humans.
Polystyrene microplastics induce size-dependent multi-organ damage in mice: Insights into gut microbiota and fecal metabolites
A mouse study found that microplastics of different sizes cause damage to multiple organs, but in different ways. Smaller particles (0.5 micrometers) spread more widely through the body and caused more inflammation in the spleen, kidneys, heart, lungs, and liver, while larger particles (5 micrometers) caused worse gut damage and disrupted gut bacteria linked to brain inflammation. This suggests that the size of microplastics we are exposed to matters for which organs are most affected.
Application of Machine Learning in Nanotoxicology: A Critical Review and Perspective
This review evaluates how machine learning and artificial intelligence are being used to predict the toxic effects of nanomaterials, including nanoplastics, on human health and the environment. These computational tools can help screen thousands of materials for potential hazards much faster than traditional lab experiments, though the authors note that better data quality and standardized methods are still needed.
A review on the combined toxicological effects of microplastics and their attached pollutants
Researchers reviewed how microplastics act as carriers for other environmental pollutants — including heavy metals and persistent organic chemicals — and how these combinations produce toxic effects in organisms that are more severe than either contaminant alone. The findings highlight a complex, layered toxicity problem that affects microbes, invertebrates, and vertebrates across marine and terrestrial environments.
Nanoplastics transport in zebrafish brain: Molecular and phenotypic behavioral impacts
This study tracked how nanoplastics of two sizes (50 nm and 200 nm) accumulate in and clear from zebrafish brains. Smaller nanoplastics built up more and lasted longer in the brain, causing greater damage to neurons and more behavioral changes like reduced activity and impaired learning. The findings suggest that the tiniest plastic particles may pose the most risk to brain health because they are harder for the body to remove.
Combined effects of polyamide microplastics and the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus on the immune parameters of Mytilus coruscus
When mussels were exposed to nylon microplastics along with harmful Vibrio bacteria, they suffered gill damage, increased oxidative stress, and weakened immune defenses compared to either stressor alone. The combined exposure suppressed key immune enzymes that mussels need to fight infection. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, this study raises concerns that microplastic-contaminated shellfish could carry more pathogens and be less safe to eat.
Subcellular toxicity assessments of microplastics released from food containers
Researchers tested microplastic particles released from common plastic food containers under heating and freezing conditions and found that each container shed roughly 100,000 to 260,000 particles. When human intestinal cells were exposed to these particles, frozen food containers released the most harmful microplastics, causing damage to cell structures and increased production of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. This study suggests that everyday food storage practices, especially freezing in plastic containers, may be an important source of microplastic exposure.
Ostracoda (Crustacea) as indicators of anthropogenic impacts – A review
This review examines how ostracods, tiny crustaceans found in lakes, rivers, and oceans, can serve as living indicators of water pollution from human activities including heavy metals, pesticides, and nutrient runoff. The authors note that ostracods have barely been studied in relation to microplastic contamination, presenting an opportunity for future research. Since these organisms are sensitive to water quality changes, they could become useful biological tools for monitoring microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Photodegradation Controls of Potential Toxicity of Secondary Sunscreen-Derived Microplastics and Associated Leachates
Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down microplastics from sunscreen products and whether this makes them more or less toxic. They found that sunlight aging caused chemical changes on the plastic surfaces and released harmful compounds into the water, increasing toxicity to aquatic organisms. This is relevant because sunscreen microplastics are commonly washed into oceans and lakes, where sun exposure could make them more dangerous over time.