We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
213 resultsShowing papers from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
ClearMicroplastic diagnostics in humans: “The 3Ps” Progress, problems, and prospects
Microplastics have now been detected in a wide range of human biological samples including blood, liver, lung, placenta, kidney, spleen, sputum, and feces using advanced analytical methods. This first systematic review of human microplastic diagnostics revealed that contamination control procedures remain inconsistent across studies, complicating cross-study comparison of exposure levels.
The response of aquatic ecosystems to the interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change
This assessment reviews how changes in UV radiation and climate interact to affect aquatic ecosystems, including impacts on water chemistry and organisms. The breakdown of plastics by UV light is highlighted as a growing concern, since sunlight accelerates the creation of microplastics and nanoplastics in water. These smaller plastic fragments are more easily taken up by aquatic life, increasing the potential for microplastics to enter the human food chain.
Soil contamination in nearby natural areas mirrors that in urban greenspaces worldwide
A global study found that soil contamination in natural areas is just as bad as in nearby urban green spaces, with similar levels of heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, and antibiotic resistance genes. Human activity was the main driver of contamination regardless of whether the area was urban or natural. The findings show that microplastic pollution and other contaminants have spread far beyond cities, potentially affecting soil health and the food grown in these areas.
Macroecotoxicological approaches to emerging patterns of microplastic bioaccumulation in crabs from estuarine and marine environments
Smaller, shorter-lived crabs and those from estuarine intertidal/muddy habitats accumulated significantly more microplastics, with burrowing species holding more particles than omnivorous ones. Crabs at lower latitudes -- likely due to mangrove trapping effects -- and non-human-consumed species showed higher microplastic loads, with colorless PA, PP, and PET fibers (1-5 mm) predominating.
Ionic Liquid-Assisted Thermal Evaporation of Bimetallic Ag–Au Nanoparticle Films as a Highly Reproducible SERS Substrate for Sensitive Nanoplastic Detection in Complex Environments
Scientists developed a highly sensitive sensor using silver-gold nanoparticle films that can detect tiny PET nanoplastics in complex liquids like tap water, lake water, milk, and wine. The sensor could identify nanoplastics at concentrations as low as 1 microgram per milliliter using a light-based technique called SERS. This kind of detection tool is important for monitoring nanoplastic contamination in food and drinking water to better understand human exposure levels.
Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond
This review examines the health and safety risks of airborne soil dust across the Americas, including its role in carrying heavy metals, pathogens, and microplastics. Dust exposure is linked to asthma, allergies, fungal infections, and premature death, with microplastics now recognized as one of the contaminants transported by wind-blown dust. The findings highlight that airborne dust is an underappreciated pathway for microplastic exposure, especially in dusty regions.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoparticles and the physiological effect on intestinal tissue contraction. Ex-vivo approaches
Researchers tested PET nanoplastic particles on rat intestinal tissue and found that the particles quickly crossed the intestinal barrier and accumulated in the tissue. At certain concentrations, the nanoplastics disrupted normal muscle contractions involved in digestion. This is one of the first studies to directly show that plastic nanoparticles can penetrate the gut wall and interfere with intestinal function, suggesting a potential health risk from ingesting nanoplastics in food and water.
Review and future outlook for the removal of microplastics by physical, biological and chemical methods in water bodies and wastewaters
This review compares physical, biological, and chemical methods for removing microplastics from water and wastewater, including newer approaches like advanced membranes, bacterial degradation, and electrochemical treatment. Each method has trade-offs between removal efficiency, cost, and environmental impact, and no single technique currently solves the problem completely. The review emphasizes that developing effective microplastic removal technology is urgent for protecting both ecosystems and human drinking water supplies.
Microplastic contamination in three environmental compartments of a coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico
Researchers documented microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and tiny marine animals in a protected lagoon in Mexico's Gulf coast. Even though the site has protected status, microplastics were found in all three environmental compartments, with polyester and acrylic fibers being the most common types. The study shows that even remote, protected waterways are not immune to microplastic pollution.
Continuing benefits of the Montreal Protocol and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer for human health and the environment
This assessment reviews the continuing health and environmental benefits of the Montreal Protocol, which protects the ozone layer. While primarily focused on UV radiation, skin cancer, and air quality, the review notes that UV light accelerates the breakdown of plastics into microplastics in the environment. The interaction between ozone protection, climate change, and plastic degradation highlights the complex relationship between atmospheric changes and microplastic pollution.
Chemical reactivity theory to analyze possible toxicity of microplastics: Polyethylene and polyester as examples
Using computer modeling of molecular chemistry, researchers found that polyester (PET) microplastics are more chemically reactive and potentially more toxic than polyethylene (PE) microplastics. PET was shown to be a stronger electron acceptor with negatively charged atoms that can interact with biological molecules, and it was able to disrupt the bonding between DNA base pairs in simulations. While these are theoretical predictions, the findings suggest that PET microplastics from clothing and packaging may pose greater risks to cellular health than plastic bag microplastics.
Hazardous microplastic characteristics and its role as a vector of heavy metal in groundwater and surface water of coastal south India
Researchers conducted the first baseline study of microplastics in groundwater and surface water along coastal south India and tested how different plastic polymers absorb heavy metals. They found microplastics at concentrations up to 19.9 particles per liter, with polypropylene showing the highest capacity to adsorb toxic metals like cadmium and manganese. The findings suggest microplastics may act as significant carriers of heavy metals through water systems, raising concerns about contamination of drinking water sources.
Feces and molting as microplastic sinks in a mangrove crab
Researchers tracked how mangrove crabs handle microplastics they ingest from contaminated water over a 56-day experiment. Most of the ingested microplastics passed through the crabs quickly via feces and were also shed during molting, though some accumulated in the liver-like organ. While crabs can expel most microplastics, the study shows they still serve as temporary carriers that could transfer plastic particles to other animals, including humans, through the food web.
Farmed stage (age)-dependent accumulation and size of microplastics in Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp reared in a super-intensive controlled system
Researchers tracked microplastic accumulation in farmed shrimp over their entire growth cycle and found that both the number and size of microplastic particles increased as the shrimp grew older. Shrimp raised in super-intensive indoor systems had higher microplastic contamination than those from traditional ponds or wild environments, likely due to the extensive plastic materials used in the farming infrastructure. Since shrimp is widely consumed seafood, these findings mean that people eating farmed shrimp are likely consuming microplastics that accumulated throughout the animals' lives.
Metal Oxide-based Nanoparticles for Environmental Remediation: Drawbacks and Opportunities
This review examines how metal oxide nanoparticles can be used to remove pollutants, including microplastics, from the environment. These tiny engineered particles show promise for cleaning contaminated water and soil, and can also be built into sensors that detect pollution in real time. While not directly about health effects, the technology could help reduce the amount of microplastics that reach people through water and food.
Accelerating microplastic contamination in 210Pb dated sediment cores from an urbanized coastal lagoon (NW Mexico) since the 1990s
Using lead-210 dating of sediment cores, researchers tracked microplastic accumulation over the past century in a coastal lagoon in northwestern Mexico. They found that microplastic levels have increased dramatically since the 1990s, closely following the global rise in plastic production. This historical record shows that microplastic pollution in coastal waters used for fishing and recreation has been accelerating for decades.
Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023
Researchers from the UN Environment Programme reviewed how sunlight and climate change accelerate the breakdown of plastic debris into micro- and nanoplastics, which have now been detected in every ecosystem on Earth — including inside the human body. They conclude that new plastics should be designed to break down harmlessly at the end of their useful life, rather than persisting indefinitely as pollution.
Current status on the biodegradability of acrylic polymers: microorganisms, enzymes and metabolic pathways involved
Researchers reviewed the biodegradability of acrylic polymers — including polyacrylamide, polyacrylonitrile, and polymethyl methacrylates — identifying the enzymes and metabolic pathways microorganisms use to degrade them, while stressing that standardized measurement methods and stricter regulations are urgently needed given that most acrylic wastes cannot be recycled.
Occurrence and characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in Mexico City
Researchers conducted the first study of atmospheric microplastics in Mexico City, sampling air at seven monitoring stations across urban, residential, and industrial areas during dry and wet seasons. Microplastics were found in every sample, with higher concentrations near industrial and urban centers and during the dry season. The predominant type was blue fibers, and many particles were small enough to be inhaled, raising concerns about airborne microplastic exposure in densely populated cities.
Potential ecological risk assessment of microplastics in environmental compartments in Mexico: A meta-analysis
A meta-analysis of microplastic contamination across Mexico's environmental compartments found that 71% of sites assessed by the Polymer Risk Index showed dangerous or high risk levels, driven by hazardous polymer compositions. Marine, estuarine, freshwater, beach, sediment, and biota compartments all showed significant contamination, making this the first comprehensive ecological risk assessment of microplastics in Mexico.
Environmental risk of microplastics in a Mexican coastal lagoon ecosystem: Anthropogenic inputs and its possible human food risk
Researchers found extremely high microplastic concentrations in a Mexican coastal lagoon, with levels hundreds of thousands of times above those in other protected areas. Fishing and urban activities were the main sources, contributing polyethylene and PET fragments. The study estimated that a single serving of locally harvested oysters could expose a person to over 800 microplastic particles.
First insight into microplastic groundwater pollution in Latin America: the case of a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico
This is the first study to investigate microplastic contamination in groundwater in Latin America, examining a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico. Researchers found microplastics at all six sampled locations and at multiple depths, confirming that groundwater is not immune to this type of pollution. Since millions of people depend on groundwater for drinking water, these findings raise important questions about microplastic exposure through water supplies.
Plastic debris in lakes and reservoirs
Researchers conducted the first standardized cross-national survey of plastic debris in 38 lakes and reservoirs, finding plastic in every water body sampled and showing that densely populated urban lakes and large reservoirs with long water-retention times accumulate plastic at concentrations rivaling the most polluted ocean garbage patches.
Metathesis of butadiene rubber for the sustainable production of polyesters and polyols
Researchers developed a chemical method to break down butadiene rubber, the second most produced synthetic rubber, into useful polyester and polyol products with up to 97% yield. This process offers a way to recycle rubber waste that would otherwise contribute to microplastic pollution as it degrades in the environment. While not a health study, this kind of recycling technology could help reduce the amount of synthetic rubber entering ecosystems as microplastics.