Papers

Microplastic sources, formation, toxicity and remediation: a review

This review covers where microplastics come from, how they form, and their toxic effects on humans, noting that microplastics have been found in blood, stool, sputum, saliva, and placenta. The paper links microplastic exposure to cancer, intestinal disease, cardiovascular problems, and inflammatory conditions, and describes cleanup methods including filtration, adsorption, and photocatalytic degradation.

Orthodox Christian Teaching on Eco-theology, Psychological and Legal Facets, and the Crisis of Microplastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans

This paper examines microplastic pollution in the world's oceans through an unusual interdisciplinary lens, combining environmental science with Orthodox Christian eco-theology and legal perspectives. Researchers discuss how microplastics accumulate throughout marine food webs and threaten biodiversity and food security, while arguing that ethical and spiritual frameworks can motivate stronger environmental action. The study calls for integrating religious, psychological, and legal approaches with scientific evidence to address ocean plastic pollution more effectively.

Quantification and characterisation of microplastics ingested by selected juvenile fish species associated with mangroves in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Researchers quantified microplastic ingestion in four species of juvenile fish from mangrove habitats along the South African coast. They found that 52% of fish sampled contained microplastics, predominantly rayon and polyester fibers, with an average of 0.79 particles per fish. The study provides evidence that juvenile fish in mangrove nursery habitats are consuming significant quantities of microplastics, which could affect their development during a critical growth stage.

Sensitive Gold Nanostar-Based Adsorption Sensor for the Determination of Dexamethasone

Researchers developed a gold nanostar-based electrochemical sensor for detecting dexamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid, in biological fluids. While not directly focused on microplastics, the study demonstrates advances in sensitive detection methods for monitoring pharmaceutical contaminants that can interact with environmental pollutants in biological systems.

Towards Characterising Microplastic Abundance, Typology and Retention in Mangrove-Dominated Estuaries

Microplastic pollution levels, morphotype diversity, and polymer composition were compared across four South African estuaries, finding that open estuaries with high surrounding population densities and diverse land use had the highest MP contamination, with microfibres dominating in all systems.

Microplastics in the Indian and South Atlantic oceans translocate to gills, digestive glands, and muscle of the chokka squid Loligo reynaudii

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in chokka squid from the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans off South Africa. The study found that squid from both oceans contained microplastics in their gills, digestive glands, and muscle tissue, with blue polyethylene fibers being the dominant type, suggesting that marine microplastic pollution affects commercially important cephalopod species.

Application and Efficacy of Management Interventions for the Control of Microplastics in Freshwater Bodies: A Systematic Review

This systematic review summarizes existing research on management strategies for controlling microplastics in freshwater bodies, comparing approaches for both prevention and removal. The findings reveal that while various interventions show promise, more research is needed to determine which methods work best for protecting the waterways that supply our drinking water.

Chlorophyll-a unveiled: unlocking reservoir insights through remote sensing in a subtropical reservoir

Researchers used satellite data from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 combined with machine learning to estimate chlorophyll-a concentrations — a measure of algae levels — in a South African reservoir. This remote sensing approach enables water managers to monitor reservoir health continuously without costly field sampling, helping detect harmful algal blooms earlier.

Macrophages bend long fibres with flexural rigidity lower than 3 mN·nm2 to avoid frustrated phagocytosis

Researchers observed and modeled macrophages internalizing long fibers by bending them into arcs and spirals, determining that fibers with flexural rigidity below approximately 3 mN·nm² can be fully phagocytized, establishing rigidity as a critical parameter for predicting fiber-cell interactions and material safety.

Happy Feet in a Hostile World? The Future of Penguins Depends on Proactive Management of Current and Expected Threats

This global review of threats facing all 18 penguin species found that climate change and fisheries-driven food web alterations are the dominant drivers of population decline, with 11 of 18 species currently decreasing. The authors also document emerging threats from microplastic and chemical pollution and argue that proactive conservation management is essential to prevent further species losses.

An Advanced Approach of MOF-Mediated Microplastic Degradation After Confiscating Microplastics by MOFs

This review proposed using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as an advanced approach for capturing and degrading microplastics in aquatic environments, discussing MOF characteristics tailored for adsorption and the mechanisms underlying capture and degradation. The paper highlighted MOF interaction sites, photocatalytic degradation pathways, and challenges for scaling these approaches.

Microplastic abundance in urban vs. peri-urban mangroves: The feasibility of using invertebrates as biomonitors of microplastic pollution in two mangrove dominated estuaries of southern Africa

This study compared microplastic pollution across urban and peri-urban mangrove forests in South Africa using FT-IR analysis, finding higher MP abundance in the urban Durban Bay mangroves and evaluating invertebrate species as potential bioindicators of MP contamination.

Plastic pollution in five urban estuaries of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Researchers measured microplastic levels in sediment, surface water, and beach sand across five estuaries near Durban, South Africa, finding that an urban harbor area (Bayhead) had by far the highest concentrations and that plastic types shifted from fragments near the city to fiber dominance in more distant estuaries, confirming estuaries as conduits for terrestrial plastic entering the ocean.

Fabrication and Characterization of Electrospun Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Blended with Chitosan: A Potential Single-Use Material

This study combined waste PET plastic with chitosan biopolymer to fabricate electrospun fibers designed as water-soluble single-use textile materials, demonstrating a way to repurpose plastic waste into a product that disperses safely in sewerage systems without contributing to persistent microplastic pollution.

Microplastics Pollution: Global Challenge and Future Potential Solution

This review summarizes the global challenge of microplastic pollution, attributing it to increasing plastic demand across all sectors combined with poor waste management, and explores potential future solutions for reducing microplastic inputs to water, soil, and air.

An octo-aesthetic figuration for learning in times of crisis

This theoretical paper proposes an "octo-aesthetic" framework for higher education pedagogy during times of crisis, using eight conceptual tools — inspired by the octopus's independently operating arms — to promote ethically and ecologically engaged approaches to learning.

Hydro-acoustic classification and abundance estimation of mesopelagic fish in deep scattering layers (DSL) of the Indian Ocean

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper uses multi-frequency acoustic backscatter to classify mesopelagic fish and other organisms in deep scattering layers of the Indian Ocean.

Disposable Diaper Usage and Disposal Practices in Samora Machel Township, South Africa

Not relevant to microplastics — this study examines disposable diaper disposal practices in a South African township, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions from landfill and open dumping, rather than microplastic pollution specifically.

Microbial Ecology of the Plastisphere in Soil Plant Uptake

Applying science to pressing conservation needs for penguins

More than half of the world's 18 penguin species are declining, and this paper from conservation scientists identifies the species most in need of intervention and key threats, including plastic pollution. It calls for targeted conservation action backed by science.

Criteria for Citizen Science – A source of community empowerment or a barrier?

This study examines criteria frameworks developed by the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) working group to define what constitutes legitimate citizen science, addressing confusion among researchers, funders, and practitioners about the boundaries of the field. The authors explore whether transparent, co-created criteria for citizen science project listing serve as a tool for community empowerment or function as an exclusionary barrier for diverse forms of participatory research.

Instrumental Techniques for Characterization of Molybdenum Disulphide Nanostructures

This article reviews instrumental techniques used to characterize molybdenum disulfide nanostructures, whose unique electronic and chemical properties make them useful in industrial applications. This materials science paper is not directly related to microplastic research.

Marine Litter Sources and Distribution Pathways

This book chapter reviews the sources and distribution pathways of marine litter in African coastal environments, highlighting gaps in research and the need for targeted policies to address plastic pollution along African coastlines.

Policy Implementation for Water Resources Protection: Assessing Spatio-Temporal Trends of Results from Process-Based Outcomes of Resource-Directed Measures Projects in South Africa

This study evaluated the effectiveness of South Africa's resource-directed measures policy framework for protecting water resources by mapping spatial and temporal trends in outcomes. Results showed uneven implementation across the country and gaps between policy intent and practice. The findings highlight the need for stronger enforcement and adaptive management in water governance.