Papers

Nano-arrayed Cu2S@MoS2 heterojunction SERS sensor for highly sensitive and visual detection of polystyrene in environmental matrices

Researchers developed a noble-metal-free semiconductor heterojunction sensor using Cu2S and MoS2 that can detect polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) down to 50 µg/mL, offering a cost-effective and visually interpretable alternative to conventional plastic detection methods.

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes anxiety and depressive-like behavior and down-regulates EAAT2 expression in mice

Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for two months developed anxiety and depression-like behaviors linked to reduced brain cell communication in the prefrontal cortex, caused by overactive support cells blocking a key brain chemical recycling system. When researchers activated the blocked recycling protein (EAAT2), the anxiety and depression symptoms were reversed, suggesting a potential treatment approach for nanoplastic-related mental health effects.

Distribution characteristics and transport pathways of soil microplastics in coral reef islands with different developmental stages and human activities

Researchers mapped microplastic contamination in the soil of coral reef islands in the South China Sea and found 1,068 to 1,616 particles per kilogram across islands at different stages of development. More developed islands with greater human activity had higher contamination levels, and ocean currents and monsoons were the main forces spreading microplastics to less developed islands. The study shows that even remote island ecosystems are not safe from microplastic pollution, which can affect the soil and water these communities depend on.

The state-of-the-art review on biochar as green additives in cementitious composites: performance, applications, machine learning predictions, and environmental and economic implications

Researchers reviewed how biochar — a carbon-rich material made by heating biomass — can be added to cement to reduce carbon emissions and improve building material performance, while also examining how machine learning models can predict composite properties and support more sustainable construction practices.

NiO/AgNPs nanowell enhanced SERS sensor for efficient detection of micro/nanoplastics in beverages

Researchers developed a new sensor using nickel oxide and silver nanoparticles that can detect tiny micro and nanoplastics in beverages at very low concentrations. The sensor uses a technique called SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) to identify plastic particles that are too small for conventional methods to catch. This tool could help monitor microplastic contamination in drinks, providing better data about how much plastic people are consuming.

Comprehensive understanding of microplastics in compost: Ecological risks and degradation mechanisms

This review examines how microplastics enter soil through compost made from household waste, sewage sludge, and agricultural waste. Microplastics in compost can disrupt soil structure, reduce fertility, and persist in the environment long after application. Since compost is widely used in farming, this represents a significant pathway for microplastics to contaminate agricultural soil and potentially enter the food chain.

Occurrence, sustainable treatment technologies, potential sources, and future prospects of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: a review

This review covers emerging contaminants in water, including microplastics, PFAS, antibiotics, and other persistent pollutants, along with the latest treatment technologies for removing them. Methods like membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, and biochar adsorption show promise but each has limitations in real-world application. The review highlights the urgent need for effective water treatment solutions, since these pollutants increasingly contaminate drinking water sources and pose risks to human health.

Using artificial intelligence to rapidly identify microplastics pollution and predict microplastics environmental behaviors

This review summarizes how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used to identify, track, and predict the environmental behavior of microplastics in soil and water. AI methods can analyze the chemical composition, shape, and distribution of microplastics faster and more accurately than traditional techniques. The technology could help scientists better understand where microplastics accumulate and what risks they pose to ecosystems and human health.

Biomimetic Ag/ZnO@PDMS Hybrid Nanorod Array-Mediated Photo-induced Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Sensor for Quantitative and Visualized Analysis of Microplastics

Researchers created a dragonfly-wing-inspired sensor that uses silver and zinc oxide nanostructures to detect trace amounts of microplastics through enhanced light-based spectroscopy. The sensor can both identify the type of microplastic and measure its concentration at very low levels. This kind of sensitive detection technology is important for monitoring microplastic contamination in water and food sources that affect human health.

Mechanisms of polyethylene microplastics on microbial community assembly and carbon-nitrogen transformation potentials in soils with different textures

Researchers used DNA sequencing to examine how polyethylene microplastics affect soil microbial communities and carbon-nitrogen cycling across soils with different textures. They found that microplastics significantly shifted microbial community composition and altered the abundance of genes involved in carbon and nitrogen transformation, with effects varying by soil type. The study suggests that microplastic contamination may disrupt fundamental nutrient cycling processes differently depending on soil characteristics.

Microplastic biofilm: An important microniche that may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes via natural transformation

Researchers discovered that biofilms forming on microplastics can accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes through a process called natural transformation. They found that transformation rates on microplastic surfaces were up to 1,000 times higher than on natural substrates. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may create hotspots where bacteria more readily pick up and share genes for antibiotic resistance.

Hotspots lurking underwater: Insights into the contamination characteristics, environmental fates and impacts on biogeochemical cycling of microplastics in freshwater sediments

This review examines how microplastics accumulate in freshwater lake and river sediments, which act as major collection points for these particles. Researchers found that microplastic distribution in sediments varies significantly depending on local conditions, and that the particles can alter nutrient cycling and affect sediment-dwelling organisms. The study highlights freshwater sediments as critical but understudied hotspots for microplastic contamination.

Record of microplastic deposition revealed by ornithogenic soil and sediment profiles from Ross Island, Antarctica

Researchers analyzed soil and sediment layers on Ross Island, Antarctica, to create a historical record of microplastic deposition in the region. They found microplastics present throughout the profiles, with concentrations increasing in more recent layers, suggesting growing contamination over time. The study demonstrates that even one of the most remote places on Earth shows clear evidence of escalating microplastic pollution.

Emerging isolation and degradation technology of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment

This review surveys emerging technologies for isolating and breaking down microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment, including advanced filtration, chemical degradation, and biological methods. Researchers compared the effectiveness, costs, and limitations of various approaches currently under development. The study highlights that while promising techniques exist, no single method yet provides a comprehensive solution for removing these tiny plastic particles from water, soil, and air.

High-sensitivity SERS sensor leveraging three-dimensional Ti3C2Tx/TiO2/W18O49 semiconductor heterostructures for reliable detection of trace micro/nanoplastics in environmental matrices

Researchers developed a new sensor that can detect trace amounts of micro- and nanoplastics in environmental samples like rainwater, soil, and wastewater. The sensor uses a layered semiconductor structure to enhance Raman spectroscopy signals, achieving high sensitivity and the ability to identify multiple plastic types at once. This technology could make it faster and more practical to monitor plastic pollution in real-world settings.

Phanerochaete chrysosporium hyphae bio-crack, endocytose and metabolize plastic films

Researchers mapped the complete mineralization pathway of polyethylene plastic film by white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, showing that the fungus first colonizes the film using plastic additives as carbon sources, then secretes enzymes that crack and oxidize the polymer, before sub-microplastic fragments enter fungal cells for final breakdown via beta-oxidation.

Additive release and prediction of biofilm-colonized microplastics in three typical freshwater ecosystems

Researchers investigated how biofilm colonization on microplastics affects the release of plastic additives in three different freshwater ecosystems. They found that biofilm growth influenced the rate and extent of additive leaching, with the specific microbial communities varying by ecosystem type. The study raises concerns that biofilm-covered microplastics in natural waters may release hazardous chemical additives at different rates than expected from laboratory studies.

Liquid Interfacial Coassembly of Plasmonic Arrays and Trace Hydrophobic Nanoplastics in Edible Oils for Robust Identification and Classification by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers developed a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy method that uses liquid interface coassembly of gold nanoparticles to detect trace amounts of nanoplastics in edible oils and aqueous environments. The technique achieved detection limits at the microgram-per-milliliter level and, combined with principal component analysis, enabled differentiation and classification of multiple nanoplastic types.

Honeycomb-like AgNPs@TiO2 array SERS sensor for the quantification of micro/nanoplastics in the environmental water samples

Researchers developed a honeycomb-like silver nanoparticle and titanium dioxide array sensor using surface-enhanced Raman scattering for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in environmental water. The sensor could identify polystyrene microplastics at concentrations as low as 100 micrograms per milliliter across tap water, lake water, soil water, and seawater, with recovery rates ranging from 97.6% to 109.7%.

High-performance biochar-loaded MgAl-layered double oxide adsorbents derived from sewage sludge towards nanoplastics removal: Mechanism elucidation and QSAR modeling

Researchers fabricated a biochar-layered double oxide composite from sewage sludge and used quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling to predict and confirm its high adsorption capacity for polystyrene nanoplastics — up to 360 mg/g — demonstrating a route to convert waste sludge into high-performance nanoplastic remediation materials.

Semiconductor Heterojunction-AgNPs Mediated Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Sensor for Portable Miniaturized Detection Platform

Researchers developed a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensor for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in water, achieving detection of polystyrene particles as small as 1 nanometer. The sensor uses a semiconductor heterojunction with silver nanoparticle array that provides high sensitivity and signal repeatability. The study demonstrated successful trace detection of nanoplastics in real lake and city water samples using a portable spectrometer, making field-based monitoring more feasible.

Engineering Branched Au@Ag Nanostar Plasmonic Array for Coupling Electromagnetic Enhancement and SERS Trace Detection of Polystyrene in Aquatic Environments

Researchers engineered a branched gold-silver nanostar array as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate for detecting polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in water. The hydrophobic sensor achieved sensitive detection of polystyrene particles at concentrations as low as 2.5 micrograms per milliliter with a nearly linear concentration-intensity relationship, and was successfully applied to environmental water samples including tap water, seawater, and soil water.

Do microplastic biofilms promote the evolution and co-selection of antibiotic and metal resistance genes and their associations with bacterial communities under antibiotic and metal pressures?

Researchers investigated whether microplastic biofilms promote the evolution and co-selection of antibiotic and metal resistance genes compared to natural substrates, examining how combined antibiotic and metal pressures shape resistant bacterial communities on plastic surfaces.

Plasmonic nanostar@metal organic frameworks as strong adsorber, enricher, and sensor for trace nanoplastics via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy