Papers

Recent advances and future technologies in nano-microplastics detection

Researchers reviewed the latest technologies for detecting microplastics and nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles found even in remote environments), including AI-driven classification and advanced microscopy techniques. As particle sizes shrink, detection becomes harder, and the lack of standardized methods remains a major barrier to understanding their full impact on ecosystems and human health.

Placental and fetal enrichment of microplastics from disposable paper cups: implications for metabolic and reproductive health during pregnancy

When researchers gave pregnant mice microplastics extracted from disposable paper cups at levels matching normal daily use, the particles accumulated in 13 different tissues including the placenta and fetal organs. The exposed mice showed disrupted metabolism and reproductive hormone changes, with female offspring developing ovarian damage, suggesting that something as routine as drinking hot beverages from paper cups could expose developing babies to harmful microplastics.

Polystyrene microplastics exacerbate mitophagy through mitochondrial dysfunction in the duck lung

Ducks fed polystyrene microplastics developed lung inflammation and damage through a process where the plastics disrupted the energy-producing mitochondria in lung cells, triggering excessive cell self-destruction. The study confirmed these findings in both live ducks and lab-grown lung cells, showing that the microplastics activated inflammatory pathways and disrupted normal energy metabolism. Since ducks are widely consumed as food, the research highlights how microplastics can damage poultry lung health and provides insights into how inhaled or ingested microplastics might similarly harm human lungs.

Microplastics in the Atmosphere and Water Bodies of Coastal Agglomerations: A Mini-Review

This review summarizes research on microplastic pollution in the atmosphere and water bodies of coastal cities, which act as both sources and collection points for plastic contamination. Researchers found that fibers and fragments are the most common microplastic shapes in these environments, with concentrations varying based on population density and local activities. The study highlights knowledge gaps in understanding how microplastics cycle between urban, marine, and atmospheric environments in coastal areas.

Acute toxicity of tire wear particles, leachates and toxicity identification evaluation of leachates to the marine copepod, Tigriopus japonicus

Researchers tested the toxicity of tire wear particles and their chemical leachates on a marine copepod species and found that both caused significant harm at measurable concentrations. They used toxicity identification methods to determine that metals, specifically zinc, were the primary toxic component in the leachate. The findings highlight that tire wear particles are a concerning source of microplastic and chemical pollution in coastal marine environments.

Standardizing pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry for nanoplastics and microplastics detection to advance environmental research

Researchers proposed four key recommendations for standardizing how pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is used to detect nano- and microplastics in environmental samples. The recommendations cover sample preparation, scalable heating methods, product selection for measurement, and AI-assisted data analysis. Standardizing these techniques is important because inconsistent methods across laboratories make it difficult to compare microplastic pollution data worldwide.

Designing poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes with narrow pore size distribution for microplastics removal from water

Scientists developed an improved method for making water filtration membranes with very uniform pore sizes, specifically designed to capture tiny microplastic particles. Using a common polymer (PVDF) and a straightforward manufacturing process, the membranes achieved over 97 percent removal of microplastic particles as small as 500 nanometers. The study suggests this approach could offer a practical and scalable solution for filtering microplastics from drinking water and wastewater.

Size-classifiable quantification of nanoplastic by rate zonal centrifugation coupled with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers combined rate-zonal centrifugation with pyrolysis-GC-MS to separately quantify nanoplastics of three distinct size classes (100, 300, and 600 nm) in water samples with high recovery rates (81–89%), providing a scalable analytical method for size-resolved environmental nanoplastic monitoring.

Non-Destructive Extraction and Separation of Nano- and Microplastics from Environmental Samples by Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation

Researchers developed a non-destructive method using density gradient ultracentrifugation to extract and separate different types of nano- and microplastics from environmental samples. The study demonstrates that this approach can effectively separate various plastic polymer types from complex environmental matrices based on their density differences, offering a promising new tool for microplastic analysis.

A Power Management and Control System for Environmental Monitoring Devices

Researchers developed a universal power management system for automated environmental monitoring devices used in smart agriculture. The system is designed to efficiently handle solar energy input and power distribution to sensors and processing units for continuous field operation. While not directly about microplastics, the technology could support the kind of continuous environmental monitoring needed to track pollution levels including microplastic contamination.

Huperzine A ameliorates neurological deficits after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage through endothelial cell pyroptosis inhibition

Researchers investigated how the compound Huperzine A affects brain damage following spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats. They found that the treatment reduced blood-brain barrier damage and brain swelling by blocking a type of inflammatory cell death in blood vessel cells. The study suggests that Huperzine A may offer protective benefits for brain health after hemorrhagic stroke through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

A Review on Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Wastewater Treatment

This review summarizes how artificial intelligence models are being applied to improve wastewater treatment processes, including the removal of microplastics and other pollutants. Researchers found that machine learning and neural networks can effectively predict treatment efficiency, optimize operations, and reduce energy costs. The study suggests that AI-driven approaches could make water treatment systems more adaptive and cost-effective in handling emerging contaminants.

Polyvinyl chloride degradation by a bacterium isolated from the gut of insect larvae

Researchers isolated a PVC-degrading bacterium (Klebsiella sp. EMBL-1) from the gut of Spodoptera frugiperda insect larvae that had survived feeding on PVC film. Using genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses, the study identified genes and proteins potentially involved in PVC depolymerization, offering new insights into biological plastic degradation pathways.

A Review on the Modification of Cellulose and Its Applications

This review summarizes recent advances in cellulose modification techniques and applications, including its use as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers. The study discusses how modified cellulose materials could help address plastic pollution by providing biodegradable substitutes for conventional plastic products.

Bibliometrics and visualization analysis regarding research on the development of microplastics

Researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis of microplastic research published from 2009 to 2019 using visualization software. The study found that publications grew exponentially during this period, with research hotspots shifting from zooplankton ingestion and surface water surveys toward adsorption, biodegradation, and toxicity analysis, and predicts that constructed wetlands, biotechnology, and photocatalysis for microplastic removal will become emerging research areas.

Air pollution could drive global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes

Researchers analyzed data from multiple studies worldwide and found that antibiotic resistance genes are present in atmospheric particles, suggesting that air pollution could serve as a pathway for global dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The abundance of these resistance genes in air correlated with particulate matter levels, indicating that airborne particles act as carriers. The study highlights a previously underappreciated mechanism by which antibiotic resistance could spread across geographic boundaries.

Developmental toxicity of functionalized polystyrene microplastics and their inhibitory effects on fin regeneration in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics with different surface modifications and found that all types caused developmental toxicity, including increased mortality, reduced body length, and impaired swimming ability. The amino-modified particles were generally the most harmful, also inhibiting fin regeneration after injury. The study suggests that surface chemistry plays a critical role in determining how microplastics interact with biological systems.

Unveiling gut microbiota and metabolic functions contributed to polyvinyl chloride degradation in Spodoptera frugiperda larvae

Researchers discovered that gut bacteria of fall armyworm larvae (Spodoptera frugiperda) can degrade polyvinyl chloride, identifying an Enterococcus casseliflavus strain encoding a NAD-dependent oxidoreductase that directly dechlorinates PVC — the first documented case of enzymatic polymer dechlorination, offering a potential biocatalyst for plastic waste remediation.

Real-Time Visualization of Infiltration and Retention of Microplastics with Different Shapes in Porous Media

Researchers used an improved refractive index matching method to visualize in real time how microplastics of different shapes infiltrate and become retained in porous media under water flow. They found that spherical microplastics penetrated deepest with the most vertical trajectories, while cylindrical and flaky particles showed more lateral movement and frequent deceleration. The study reveals how microplastic shape significantly influences their transport behavior in soil-like environments.

Diversification mitigates pesticide but not microplastic effects on bees without compromising rapeseed yield in China

Researchers conducted a large-scale mesocosm study to test whether agricultural diversification could mitigate the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides and microplastics on solitary bees over multiple generations. They found that diversified floral resources successfully offset negative effects of neonicotinoids on bee reproduction, but microplastics showed no significant individual or synergistic toxicity at realistic environmental levels. The results support agricultural diversification as a practical strategy for protecting pollinators from pesticide pollution without compromising crop yields.

Microplastics from disposable paper cups are enriched in the placenta and fetus, leading to metabolic and reproductive toxicity during pregnancy

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to microplastics released from disposable paper cups filled with hot water, simulating human daily intake levels. They found dose-dependent accumulation of microplastic particles across 13 tissues including the placenta and fetus, with the smallest particles concentrating in brain tissue. The study suggests that even moderate exposure levels during pregnancy may lead to metabolic and reproductive effects, as indicated by changes in gut microbiome composition and gene expression patterns.

Mass Balance Tracing of <i>In Vivo</i> Biodistribution, Relocation, and Excretion of Europium-Doped Micro/Nanoplastics in Rats

Scientists injected tiny plastic particles into rats and tracked where they went in the body for three months. Most plastic particles collected in the liver and spleen, with smaller particles being harder for the body to get rid of—only 80% of the smallest particles were eliminated compared to just 15% of larger ones. This suggests that microplastics from food, water, and air could build up in our organs over time, though the long-term health effects are still unknown.

Depth distribution of nano- and microplastics and their contribution to carbon storage in Chinese agricultural soils

Researchers measured nano- and microplastic concentrations at different depths in Chinese agricultural soils and found that levels were highest near the surface, declining with depth. The study estimates that carbon from these plastic particles contributes between 0.004% and 5.6% to the agricultural soil carbon pool, depending on depth. These findings highlight that plastic contamination is subtly influencing soil carbon storage, though the overall contribution remains relatively low.

Deciphering the adsorption mechanisms between microplastics and antibiotics: A tree-based stacking machine learning approach