We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
76 resultsShowing papers from Clemson University
ClearPolystyrene Nanoplastics Hitch-Hike the Gut–Brain Axis to Exacerbate Parkinson’s Pathology
Scientists found that polystyrene nanoplastics can travel from the gut to the brain along nerve pathways and worsen Parkinson's disease in mice. The nanoplastics accelerated the clumping of alpha-synuclein, a protein central to Parkinson's, which triggered brain inflammation, damaged mitochondria, and impaired the cellular cleanup system. Mice exposed to both nanoplastics and the disease protein showed progressive physical and motor decline resembling Parkinson's symptoms.
Micro(nano)plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystem: emphasis on impacts of polystyrene on soil biota, plants, animals, and humans
Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics can bioaccumulate through the food chain from soil organisms to plants to animals, raising human health concerns through food consumption. Agricultural soils showed significant contamination, with PS particles causing documented toxic effects on soil biota, plant uptake and growth, and animal health.
Endothelial leakiness elicited by amyloid protein aggregation
Scientists discovered that clumps of amyloid beta protein, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease, can physically pry open the junctions between cells lining blood vessels in a way similar to how nanoparticles do. This causes blood vessel leakiness in the brain, which may help explain how Alzheimer's disease spreads. While not directly about microplastics, the finding that tiny particles can breach blood vessel barriers is relevant to understanding how nanoplastics might also enter the brain.
Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds
Researchers combined ocean plastic density maps with GPS tracking data for over 7,000 seabirds across 77 petrel species to identify where birds are most likely to encounter and accidentally eat plastic debris. High-risk zones were identified in the Mediterranean, northeast Pacific, and South Atlantic, with threatened species facing disproportionately greater exposure — often in international waters beyond any single country's control.
Microglial clearance of Alzheimer's amyloid-beta obstructed by nanoplastics
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics interfere with the brain's ability to clear amyloid-beta, the protein that builds up in Alzheimer's disease. The nanoplastics accelerated amyloid clumping and drained the energy of brain immune cells that normally clean up these harmful proteins. This study suggests that nanoplastic exposure could worsen or contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Responses of <i>Hyalella azteca</i> to acute and chronic microplastic exposures
Researchers exposed the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca to polyethylene microplastics in both short-term and long-term laboratory tests. They found that chronic exposure over 10 days to high concentrations of the smallest microplastic particles reduced survival and reproduction. The study provides some of the first data on how microplastics affect freshwater invertebrates over extended periods, highlighting the importance of particle size and exposure duration.
Microplastics interaction with terrestrial plants and their impacts on agriculture
This review summarizes what is known about how microplastics interact with terrestrial plants, including how they are taken up, transported through plant tissues, and affect growth and agricultural productivity. Researchers note that while marine microplastic research is extensive, studies on soil ecosystems and crop impacts remain limited. The study highlights the need for more research on how microplastics in agricultural soils may ultimately affect food safety and human health.
Anionic nanoplastic exposure induces endothelial leakiness
Researchers discovered that nanoplastics made of anionic polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) can disrupt the junctions between blood vessel cells, causing increased vascular leakiness. This effect was dose-dependent and driven by biophysical interactions rather than typical cell toxicity like oxidative stress or cell death. The findings reveal a previously unknown way that nanoplastics could affect the body's circulatory system by making blood vessels more permeable.
Microplastic biofilms in water treatment systems: Fate and risks of pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes
This review examines how microplastics in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants develop biofilms that harbor dangerous bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. The biofilm-coated microplastics can protect pathogens from disinfection processes, allowing them to survive treatment and potentially reach tap water. This raises concerns about microplastics serving as vehicles for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in our water supply.
Transfer learning enables robust prediction of cellular toxicity from environmental micro- and nanoplastics
Researchers developed a transfer learning approach to predict cellular toxicity from micro- and nanoplastics, overcoming the challenge of limited experimental data. By pre-training a model on a large nanoparticle dataset and fine-tuning it on plastic-specific data, they achieved strong predictive accuracy. The tool allows researchers to estimate the toxicity of various plastic particles based on their physical and chemical properties without extensive new experiments.
Quantitative assessment on the distribution patterns of microplastics in global inland waters
Researchers compiled data from over 5,000 observations across 301 published studies to map microplastic levels in freshwater bodies worldwide, finding concentrations ranging from near zero to 4.3 million particles per cubic meter. Human development, farming activity, and water runoff were the strongest predictors of contamination, with China and parts of Asia showing particularly high levels.
Hyperspectral remote sensing as an environmental plastic pollution detection approach to determine occurrence of microplastics in diverse environments
Researchers tested whether hyperspectral remote sensing technology could detect microplastics mixed into different environmental surfaces like soil, water, concrete, and vegetation. Using near-infrared and short-wave infrared imaging, they achieved over 90% accuracy in detecting and classifying six common plastic types at concentrations as low as 0.15%. The study suggests that remote sensing could become a practical, large-scale tool for monitoring microplastic pollution across diverse environments.
Effects of organic additives on spectroscopic and molecular-level features of photo-induced dissolved organic matter from microplastics
Researchers studied how UV sunlight causes microplastics to release dissolved organic matter, and how chemical additives in commercial plastics affect this process. They found that commercial plastics with additives released significantly more organic compounds under UV light than pure polymer particles. The study suggests that as everyday plastic products break down in the environment, their built-in additives may amplify the release of potentially harmful dissolved chemicals into surrounding water.
UV aging of microplastic polymers promotes their chemical transformation and byproduct formation upon chlorination
Researchers studied how UV aging of different microplastic polymers affects their behavior during water chlorination treatment. They found that UV aging significantly increased the reactivity of polyamide and polyester microplastics, promoting the release of harmful organic compounds and the formation of disinfection byproducts by more than 10-fold. The study reveals that weathered microplastics in drinking water systems may generate more toxic byproducts during standard chlorination than their pristine counterparts.
Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Recyclable Composites Prepared from Bio-Olefins and Industrial Waste
Researchers developed a sulfur-based composite material from bio-olefins and industrial waste as an alternative to Portland cement. The material absorbed 84% less water and conducted 94% less heat than traditional cement, suggesting it could better withstand freeze-thaw and thermal stress. The study highlights a potential pathway for reducing the massive carbon emissions and water consumption associated with cement production.
Insight into the chemical transformation and organic release of polyurethane microplastics during chlorination
Scientists investigated what happens to polyurethane microplastics during water chlorination, a standard step in water treatment. They found that chlorination breaks down the plastic surface and releases organic chemicals, especially from UV-weathered particles, which produced significantly more leached compounds. The findings suggest that water treatment processes themselves may inadvertently release harmful byproducts from microplastics.
Emerging investigator series: microplastic sources, fate, toxicity, detection, and interactions with micropollutants in aquatic ecosystems – a review of reviews
This comprehensive review of reviews analyzed hundreds of studies on microplastic sources, fate, toxicity, and interactions with other pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. Researchers found contradictions among existing studies and emphasized the critical need to standardize methods for microplastic characterization to improve comparability and reproducibility of research.
Nanoplastic Stimulates the Amyloidogenesis of Parkinson's Alpha‐Synuclein NACore
This study found that nanoplastic particles can accelerate the clumping of a protein called alpha-synuclein, which is linked to Parkinson's disease. Using advanced mass spectrometry, researchers showed that nanoplastics sped up the formation of harmful protein clusters and increased their toxicity to brain cells. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could be a factor worth investigating in neurodegenerative disease research.
Chronic toxicity of tire crumb rubber particles to mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) in episodic exposures
Researchers exposed mummichog fish to tire crumb rubber particles in episodic exposures mimicking stormwater runoff and found chronic toxicity effects including altered behavior and physiological stress, highlighting environmental risks from tire-derived microplastics.
Remediation plan of nano/microplastic toxicity in food
This review discussed improved technologies for controlling nano- and microplastic contamination in food, including density separation, electrostatography, and magnetic extraction methods aimed at reducing human dietary exposure.
Mercury in Neotropical birds: a synthesis and prospectus on 13 years of exposure data
Researchers compiled the largest database of mercury contamination in Neotropical birds (2,316 samples across 322 species and 9 countries), finding that birds near artisanal gold mining sites had mercury levels more than four times higher than elsewhere — raising serious conservation concerns for the world's most biodiverse region.
Bioanalytical approaches for the detection, characterization, and risk assessment of micro/nanoplastics in agriculture and food systems
This review examines bioanalytical methods for detecting micro- and nanoplastics throughout the agricultural and food supply chain, covering techniques from microscopy and spectroscopy to emerging approaches for characterizing plastic contamination and assessing associated risks.
Fluvial Concentrations of Microplastics in a Suburban Micro-Watershed: Sampling Methodology and Analysis
Researchers designed a low-cost sampling station to collect and quantify microplastics in a shallow suburban stream in South Carolina. They found that microplastic abundance increased from the top of the watershed to the bottom, rising from about 269 to 715 particles per 10 cubic meters of surface water. Fibers were the dominant type, and the study highlights the need for standardized sampling methods for small freshwater streams.
The Relationship between Landscape Construction and Bird Diversity: A Bibliometric Analysis
This bibliometric analysis of over 4,000 papers examines the relationship between urban landscape construction and bird diversity, identifying key research trends and strategies for designing urban green spaces that support avian biodiversity.