We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
366 resultsShowing papers from Ministry of Natural Resources
ClearA global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution
This meta-analysis pooled data from over 3,200 measurements and found that microplastic pollution reduces photosynthesis by 7–12% in plants and algae worldwide. This matters because less photosynthesis means lower crop yields and disrupted ecosystems, which can ultimately affect food security and human nutrition.
Global occurrence characteristics, drivers, and environmental risk assessment of microplastics in lakes: A meta-analysis
This meta-analysis of 42 studies found significant heterogeneity in microplastic pollution levels across global lakes, driven by geographical location and sampling methods. Small microplastics (under 1 mm) were disproportionately concentrated in sediment compared to water, and while most lakes showed low overall environmental risk, pollution levels in lake sediments were generally higher than in surrounding water.
Soil microplastic characteristics and the effects on soil properties and biota: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Meta-analysis of 2,886 experimental groups found that microplastics significantly decreased soil bulk density and aggregate stability, indicating structural damage, while also reducing plant root biomass and soil phosphatase activity. Invertebrates were more sensitive to microplastics than other soil organisms, as particles can pass through nematode gut walls causing oxidative stress and altered gene expression.
Biodegradation of Typical Plastics: From Microbial Diversity to Metabolic Mechanisms
This review examines how marine microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, can naturally break down common plastics like PET, polystyrene, and polyethylene. Marine microbes may be better adapted than land-based organisms for this task because they already thrive in harsh conditions, offering a potential environmentally friendly approach to addressing ocean plastic pollution.
Unlocking the combined impact of microplastics and emerging contaminants on fish: A review and meta-analysis
This meta-analysis found that combined exposure to microplastics and emerging contaminants adversely affects fish reproduction, development, and neurotoxicity beyond what either pollutant causes alone. Microplastics with higher adsorption capacities led to more severe outcomes by concentrating and delivering co-contaminants, though exposure duration did not correlate with oxidative stress levels.
Microplastics in plant-soil ecosystems: A meta-analysis
This first formal meta-analysis of microplastics in plant-soil systems found that microplastics made soils more porous and water-retentive but decreased aggregate stability and microbial diversity, suggesting plastics occupy physical space without integrating into the soil biophysical matrix. Maize was more sensitive than rice or wheat, and microplastics enhanced soil CO2 flux and evapotranspiration while reducing N2O flux.
Is microplastic an oxidative stressor? Evidence from a meta-analysis on bivalves
Microplastics induce time-dependent oxidative stress in bivalves, with antioxidant enzymes (GPx, GST, SOD) increasing during short-term exposure but declining after long-term exposure, while glutathione levels and catalase activity remained elevated throughout and may serve as reliable biomarkers of sublethal microplastic effects.
Toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on plants: A global meta-analysis
This meta-analysis of 101 studies found that micro- and nanoplastics negatively affect plant physiology, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) showing the strongest impact on fresh weight, chlorophyll, and reactive oxygen species. Microplastics inhibited most growth and photosynthetic indicators more strongly than nanoplastics, and exposure consistently triggered increased biochemical stress enzyme activity.
New Horizons in Micro/Nanoplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress: Overlooked Free Radical Contributions and Microbial Metabolic Dysregulations in Anaerobic Digestion
Researchers found that polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics generate persistent free radicals that produce harmful reactive oxygen species, reducing the effectiveness of anaerobic digestion (a common waste treatment process) by up to 50%. This means microplastic contamination could undermine waste treatment systems, potentially allowing more pollutants to reach waterways and increase human exposure.
Current scenario of emerging pollutants in farmlands and water reservoirs: Prospects and challenges
This review looks at how pollutants like microplastics and pharmaceutical residues end up in farmland and water supplies, with global plastic production exceeding 400 million metric tons per year. The authors warn that these contaminants can enter the food chain through soil and water, potentially affecting human health, and call for better monitoring and cleanup strategies.
Combined effects of norfloxacin and polystyrene nanoparticles on the oxidative stress and gut health of the juvenile horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus
Researchers exposed juvenile horseshoe crabs to an antibiotic (norfloxacin) and polystyrene nanoparticles, finding that both pollutants disrupted gut microbiota composition and suppressed key metabolic pathways in the microbiome, while antioxidant defenses eventually compensated for initial oxidative stress after extended exposure.
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.
A framework for systematic microplastic ecological risk assessment at a national scale
This study developed a framework for assessing the ecological risks of microplastic pollution across China by analyzing data from 128 studies and over 3,400 sites. The research found that microplastic contamination is widespread in Chinese soil, water, and sediments, with some areas reaching concerning levels. This kind of large-scale risk assessment is important for understanding how widespread microplastic pollution may affect ecosystems and, ultimately, human health through contaminated food and water.
Differential physiological response of marine and freshwater microalgae to polystyrene microplastics
Researchers compared how polystyrene microplastics affect marine versus freshwater algae species and found that freshwater algae were more severely harmed. While both types showed reduced photosynthesis and increased stress responses, marine algae recovered better over time, possibly due to differences in their cell membranes and ability to handle oxidative damage. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains, greater damage to freshwater species could have cascading effects on the ecosystems that supply human drinking water and freshwater fish.
Microplastics in remote coral reef environments of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea: Source, accumulation and potential risk
Scientists mapped microplastic contamination across 13 islands in the remote Xisha Islands of the South China Sea and found an average of 682 particles per kilogram of sediment. The study identified local sewage, fishing waste, and industrial runoff from nearby countries as the main sources. This shows that even remote coral reef ecosystems far from population centers are not safe from microplastic pollution.
Microplastics in four bivalve species and basis for using bivalves as bioindicators of microplastic pollution
Researchers found microplastics in 80% of shellfish samples (scallops, mussels, oysters, and clams) collected across four seasons in Qingdao, China. PVC and rayon fibers were the most common plastic types, with different shellfish species accumulating different sizes and types of particles. Since these shellfish are commonly eaten by people, the findings highlight a direct route for microplastics to enter the human diet through seafood.
Divergent responses in microbial metabolic limitations and carbon use efficiency to variably sized polystyrene microplastics in soil
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics of all sizes disrupted soil microbe metabolism, but the smallest particles (nanoscale, 0.1 micrometers) caused the most stress. Smaller particles were more likely to enter microbial cells directly and reduce the efficiency with which soil microbes process carbon. This matters because soil microbes play a critical role in carbon cycling, and widespread microplastic contamination could affect how soil stores and releases carbon.
Size-dependent effects of plastic particles on antioxidant and immune responses of the thick-shelled mussel Mytilus coruscus
Mussels exposed to plastic particles ranging from 70 nanometers to 100 micrometers showed that smaller particles caused more severe damage, including higher oxidative stress and greater immune system suppression. After 30 days of exposure, the mussels' immune cells had reduced ability to fight off threats through phagocytosis (the process of engulfing invaders). A seven-day recovery period reversed some effects, but the study highlights how chronic nanoplastic exposure may weaken marine organisms' defenses.
Biochemical and transcriptomic responses of buckwheat to polyethylene microplastics
Researchers grew buckwheat in soil contaminated with polyethylene microplastics and found that higher concentrations disrupted the plant's growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant defenses. The microplastics were able to invade the roots and lodge in the plant's internal transport tissues. This is concerning for food safety because buckwheat is a widely consumed crop, and microplastics entering through the roots could potentially reach the parts of the plant that people eat.
Interpretable machine learning reveals transport of aged microplastics in porous media: Multiple factors co-effect
Using machine learning, researchers discovered that microplastics that have been weathered by sunlight and environmental exposure move through soil significantly faster than fresh ones. The aging process changes the plastic surface chemistry, making particles more mobile and more likely to reach deeper soil layers and groundwater. This means microplastics in agricultural soil and landfills may contaminate underground water supplies more quickly than previously thought.
Phosphate solubilizing fungi enhance insoluble phosphate dissolution via organic acid production: mechanisms and applications
This review explores how certain fungi can dissolve locked-up phosphorus in soil by producing organic acids, making it available for plants to absorb. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastics in soil can alter microbial communities, potentially disrupting these natural phosphorus-recycling processes. Understanding how soil fungi support plant nutrition helps explain the broader consequences of microplastic contamination on food production.
Identification of potentially contaminated areas of soil microplastic based on machine learning: A case study in Taihu Lake region, China
Researchers applied machine learning models — including random forest and support vector regression — to predict the spatial distribution of soil microplastic pollution in China's Taihu Lake region, finding that soil texture, population density, and proximity to known plastic sources were the dominant drivers, with nearly half of urban soils showing serious contamination.
Application of cold-adapted microbial agents in soil contaminate remediation: biodegradation mechanisms, case studies, and safety assessments
This review covers how cold-adapted microorganisms can break down toxic chemical pollutants in farmland soil, particularly in low-temperature environments. While focused on nitro-aromatic compounds rather than microplastics, the bioremediation strategies discussed could potentially be applied to plastic-contaminated soil. The research highlights the importance of safe, non-pathogenic microbes in cleaning up soil pollution, a principle that extends to addressing microplastic contamination in agricultural land.
The processes and transport fluxes of land-based macroplastics and microplastics entering the ocean via rivers
This review traces the full journey of plastic waste from land to ocean via rivers, covering how plastics enter waterways and the methods scientists use to estimate how much reaches the sea. About 80% of marine plastic pollution comes from land-based sources, and better monitoring and modeling are needed to improve estimates. Understanding these transport pathways is essential for reducing the microplastic contamination that ultimately enters the seafood supply and affects human health.