Papers

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.

Tracing microplastics in marine fish: Ecological threats and human exposure in the Bay of Bengal

Researchers analyzed microplastics in nine fish species from the Bay of Bengal, finding an average of about 33 microplastic items per fish, mostly fibers. Bottom-dwelling and meat-eating fish had higher contamination levels, and the pollution was linked to untreated industrial and municipal waste. The study raises concerns about human health exposure through seafood consumption in a region where millions of people depend on fishing for food and livelihood.

Integrated analysis of microplastics origins and impact on prominent aquaculture ecosystems in Bangladesh

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in aquaculture ponds in Bangladesh, finding widespread particles in both the water and farmed fish including tilapia and pangas. Fibers were the most common type, likely from textile and fishing net waste, and the contamination levels posed potential health risks to consumers. Since farmed fish is a major protein source in Bangladesh and many developing countries, these findings highlight a direct pathway for microplastics to reach people through their diet.

Size-dependent effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on autophagy response in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics of two different sizes affect human umbilical vein endothelial cells, focusing on a cellular cleanup process called autophagy. They found that smaller nanoplastics were taken up by cells more readily and caused greater disruption to autophagy function than larger particles. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining cardiovascular health risks, as these particles can impair the cells lining blood vessels.

Microplastic pollution and ecological risk assessment in an estuarine environment: The Dongshan Bay of China

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic pollution in Dongshan Bay, a Chinese estuary, and found concentrations averaging 1.66 particles per cubic meter of surface water. The most common plastics were polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene foam, likely originating from local fishing and aquaculture activities. An ecological risk assessment rated the bay at a moderate hazard level, establishing important baseline data for future monitoring.

Microplastic abundance, characteristics, and removal in wastewater treatment plants in a coastal city of China

Researchers studied microplastic contamination across seven wastewater treatment plants in the coastal Chinese city of Xiamen and found that while treatment removed the vast majority of particles, the remaining microplastics still entered coastal waters in significant quantities due to high effluent volumes. Fibers and fragments were the most common microplastic types detected. The study underscores that wastewater treatment plants are both a barrier to and a source of marine microplastic pollution.

Identification of quorum sensing-regulated Vibrio fortis as potential pathogenic bacteria for coral bleaching and the effects on the microbial shift

Researchers identified a species of Vibrio bacteria regulated by quorum sensing that can cause coral bleaching when it infects reef corals. Infection led to significant shifts in the coral's microbial community, disrupting the balance of beneficial symbionts. The study suggests that bacterial pathogens driven by coastal pollution may play a key role in coral reef degradation.

Distribution and Structure of China–ASEAN’s Intertidal Ecosystems: Insights from High-Precision, Satellite-Based Mapping

Researchers used multi-source satellite data to create high-precision maps of intertidal ecosystems across the China-ASEAN region, distinguishing between mangroves, salt marshes, and tidal flats. They developed an improved classification framework to address inconsistencies in previous mapping efforts. The study provides a valuable baseline for monitoring how climate change and human activities are affecting these ecologically important coastal zones.

Current status and emerging techniques for sampling, separating, and identifying microplastics in freshwater environments

The effects of organic and inorganic colloids on the aggregation and settling of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics in mimicked ocean temperature conditions

Researchers studied how naturally occurring minerals and biological compounds affect the clumping and sinking behavior of nanoplastics in ocean-like conditions. They found that clay minerals caused up to 70% of nanoplastics to settle out of the water at warm temperatures, but certain biological polymers produced by marine organisms could block this process entirely, keeping the plastics suspended. These findings matter because they help explain why nanoplastics may persist in surface waters rather than sinking to the ocean floor.

Assessment of microplastic hazards in Penaeus vannamei shrimp in a typical estuary of China: polymer composition, risk assessment, and health implications

Microplastic contamination in seafood from Dongshan Bay in southeastern China and its health risk implication for human consumption

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in eight popular seafood species from Dongshan Bay in southeastern China and assessed potential human health risks. The study characterized the abundance, size, shape, and polymer type of microplastics found in the seafood samples. The findings suggest that consuming contaminated seafood represents a meaningful exposure pathway for microplastic ingestion, though the specific health implications require further study.

High-sensitive determination of tetracycline antibiotics adsorbed on microplastics in mariculture water using pre-COF/monolith composite-based in-tube solid phase microextraction on-line coupled to HPLC-MS/MS

Researchers developed a highly sensitive method to detect antibiotic residues adsorbed onto microplastics in mariculture water, capable of measuring amounts as small as fractions of a picogram. Using this technique, they found that microplastics of different sizes carry varying amounts of tetracycline antibiotics, and that algal biofilms on the particles may influence antibiotic levels. The method opens new possibilities for understanding how microplastics transport chemical contaminants in aquatic environments.

Riverine microplastic pollution matters: A case study in the Zhangjiang River of Southeastern China

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic pollution in the Zhangjiang River in southeastern China, finding concentrations ranging from 50 to 725 particles per cubic meter. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymer types, accounting for about 75% of all particles, with fragments being the most common shape. The study establishes baseline data on riverine microplastic pollution in this watershed and its potential role in transporting plastics to coastal waters.

Microplastics in a pelagic dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) from the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the implications for fish health

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 15 wild-caught dolphinfish from the Eastern Pacific Ocean and found microplastics in 100% of the fish studied, averaging 9.3 particles per individual. Particles were detected across gills, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and muscle tissue, with polyester and PET being the most common polymer types. Molecular docking analysis suggested that dominant microplastic polymers could interact with key cellular proteins, indicating potential health implications for both the fish and humans who consume them.

Polystyrene-degrading bacteria in the gut microbiome of marine benthic polychaetes support enhanced digestion of plastic fragments

Researchers found that marine worms called clamworms harbor gut bacteria capable of breaking down polystyrene foam, but this digestion also generates microplastics averaging 0.6 mm in diameter, meaning these worms both degrade and produce microplastics — complicating their role in marine plastic pollution.

Comparison of microplastic contamination in fish and bivalves from two major cities in Fujian province, China and the implications for human health

Biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) by deep-sea psychrophilic bacteria of Pseudoalteromonas in accompany with simultaneous release of microplastics and nanoplastics

Researchers discovered that deep-sea bacteria from the genus Pseudoalteromonas can break down polystyrene and polypropylene plastics, though the process also releases smaller micro- and nanoplastic fragments. The bacteria were enriched over a year-long experiment at deep-sea conditions using plastic as their sole carbon source. The study suggests that while microbial degradation of ocean plastics is possible, it may simultaneously generate secondary nanoplastic pollution.

Continuous generation and release of microplastics and nanoplastics from polystyrene by plastic-degrading marine bacteria

Researchers discovered that marine bacteria capable of degrading plastics continuously generate and release microplastics and nanoplastics as they break down polystyrene. Rather than fully eliminating the plastic, the bacterial degradation process fragments it into smaller particles. The findings reveal an overlooked source of secondary micro- and nanoplastic pollution in ocean environments.

Reinforced human intervention drives microplastic pollution in estuarine beaches and nearshore sediments of Dongshan Bay, China

Fate and mass budget of microplastic in the Beibu Gulf, the northern South China sea

Researchers mapped the distribution and mass budget of microplastics across the Beibu Gulf in the northern South China Sea, sampling both water and sediment. They found microplastics in all samples, with sediments containing the highest concentrations and river input being a major source. The study provides a comprehensive picture of how microplastics accumulate and move through a semi-enclosed tropical marine ecosystem.

The prevalence and potential implications of microplastic contamination in marine fishes from Xiamen Bay, China

Researchers found microplastic contamination in nine fish species from Xiamen Bay, China, with abundances of 1-8 items per individual, dominated by fibers (59%) and polymers like polyamide and rayon, highlighting seafood contamination risks.

Biodegradation and disintegration of expanded polystyrene by sphaeromatid isopods Sphaeroma via their gut bacteria

Researchers discovered that wood-boring marine isopods (Sphaeroma) actively gnaw, ingest, and partially digest expanded polystyrene foam used in aquaculture floats. Each isopod consumed about 4.4 milligrams of polystyrene over 7 days while generating approximately 25,000 microplastic particles through fragmentation. Gut bacteria from the genera Exiguobacterium and Brevibacterium were identified as key players in polystyrene degradation, though the overall process creates significant microplastic pollution.