Papers

37 results
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Article Tier 2

Combined exposure with microplastics increases the toxic effects of PFOS and its alternative F-53B in adult zebrafish

Researchers found that when zebrafish were exposed to microplastics along with PFOS or its replacement chemical F-53B (both are "forever chemicals"), the combined toxic effects were worse than either pollutant alone. The microplastics worsened liver inflammation, disrupted energy metabolism, and altered gut bacteria. This is relevant to human health because people are simultaneously exposed to both microplastics and PFAS chemicals through food and water.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Biological Traits of the Japanese Carpenter Ant, Camponotus japonicus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Researchers exposed Japanese carpenter ants to polystyrene micro and nanoplastics of different sizes and found that exposure changed their foraging behavior, reduced food intake, and affected survival rates. Smaller nanoplastics caused more severe effects than larger microplastics, consistent with findings in other organisms. While this study focused on insects, it adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics are more biologically harmful than larger particles across many species.

2025 Insects 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Abamectin Causes Neurotoxicity in Zebrafish Embryos

This study found that abamectin, a widely used agricultural pesticide, caused brain damage and nerve cell death in developing zebrafish embryos through oxidative stress. While not about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastics can absorb and transport pesticides like abamectin through water systems, potentially delivering concentrated doses to aquatic organisms. Understanding pesticide neurotoxicity helps explain how chemical-laden microplastics could harm both wildlife and human nervous system development.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and cypermethrin enhanced the effects on hepatic phospholipid metabolism and gut microbes in adult zebrafish

When zebrafish were exposed to both polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide cypermethrin together, the combination caused significantly more liver damage than either pollutant alone. The mixture disrupted fat metabolism in the liver and altered gut bacteria in ways not seen with individual exposures. This matters because microplastics and pesticides frequently co-exist in waterways, and their combined effects on fish health could affect the safety of fish as food.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption–desorption and leaching behavior of benzovindiflupyr in different soil types

This study examined how the fungicide benzovindiflupyr behaves in different soil types, finding that microplastics in soil can change how the pesticide is absorbed and moves through the ground. The type and size of microplastics influenced whether the fungicide stayed in place or leached toward groundwater. This is relevant because when microplastics and agricultural chemicals coexist in farmland, they can interact in ways that may increase groundwater contamination and human exposure.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and nanoplastics released from injection syringe, solid and liquid dimethylpolysiloxane (PDMS)

This study found that using a standard plastic medical syringe can release thousands of microplastic and millions of nanoplastic particles from the stopper and lubricant into the injected fluid. The researchers used advanced imaging techniques to identify both solid and liquid plastic debris shed during normal syringe use. This is concerning because injectable medications bypass the body's digestive defenses, delivering microplastics directly into the bloodstream.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel Gordonia sp. PS3 isolated from the gut of Galleria mellonella larvae: Mechanism of polystyrene biodegradation and environmental toxicological evaluation

Researchers isolated a new bacterial strain, Gordonia sp. PS3, from the gut of wax moth larvae that can break down polystyrene microplastics with about a 34 percent degradation rate over 40 days. They identified specific enzymes responsible for the breakdown and confirmed the process produces non-toxic byproducts. The discovery points to a promising biological approach for addressing polystyrene plastic pollution in the environment.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Reduced Glutathione Promoted Growth Performance by Improving the Jejunal Barrier, Antioxidant Function, and Altering Proteomics of Weaned Piglets

A study of 180 weaned piglets showed that adding reduced glutathione to their diet improved growth, strengthened the intestinal barrier, and boosted antioxidant defenses in the gut. These findings suggest that glutathione supplementation could serve as a potential alternative to antibiotics for supporting young animal health during the stressful weaning period.

2025 Antioxidants 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The influence of digital village construction on agricultural green development-based on the mediate role of industrial structure upgrading

Using data from cities in China's Henan Province from 2013 to 2022, researchers found that digital village construction significantly promotes greener agricultural practices by upgrading industrial structures. The study suggests that digital technology adoption in rural areas can help shift farming toward more environmentally sustainable methods, though the benefits vary by region.

2025 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Paint has the potential to release microplastics, nanoplastics, inorganic nanoparticles, and hybrid materials

Researchers used Raman imaging to show that common house paint — which contains polymer binders — can release microplastics and nanoplastics when it ages, scratches, or peels, often carrying titanium dioxide nanoparticles along with it. This means everyday painted surfaces in our homes and offices are a previously underappreciated source of plastic particle pollution.

2024 Environmental Sciences Europe 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Multiple perspectives reveal the gut toxicity of polystyrene microplastics on Eisenia fetida: Insights into community signatures of gut bacteria and their translocation

Researchers studied the gut toxicity of polystyrene microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia fetida, examining gut barrier dysfunction, bacterial translocation, and pathogen invasion. The study found that microplastic exposure caused gut barrier damage, including injury to epithelial cells and reduced expression of tight junction genes. Evidence indicates that microplastics can disrupt earthworm gut integrity and alter gut bacterial communities, potentially facilitating pathogen entry.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and polychlorinated biphenyls to Eisenia fetida: Single and co-exposure effects with a focus on links between gut bacteria and bacterial translocation stemming from gut barrier damage

Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) affect the gut health of earthworms, both individually and in combination. They found that co-exposure caused more severe gut barrier damage and bacterial translocation than either pollutant alone, with significant disruption to the gut microbial community. The study highlights the importance of considering combined pollutant effects when assessing environmental risks to soil organisms.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of antimony in plants: Reasons and remediation possibilities—A review and future prospects

This review examines the toxic effects of antimony on plants, detailing how this heavy metal reduces germination, growth, and photosynthesis, and discusses remediation strategies including phytoremediation and soil amendments for contaminated environments.

2022 Frontiers in Plant Science 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Silicon mitigates combined cadmium and microplastics toxicity in rice by regulating glyoxalase system, and phytochelatin-mediated cadmium detoxification

Researchers demonstrated that foliar silicon application mitigates the combined toxicity of cadmium and microplastics in rice by enhancing antioxidant defenses, stimulating phytochelatin production to sequester cadmium, suppressing cadmium-uptake gene expression, and restoring chlorophyll content and hormone signaling to recover crop yield.

2026 BMC Plant Biology
Meta Analysis Tier 1

How to improve crop photosynthesis more efficiently using nanomaterials: Lessons from a meta-analysis

Researchers analyzed dozens of studies and found that applying nanomaterials to crops can boost photosynthesis — the process plants use to grow — especially under drought and salt stress conditions, though they caution that lab results may not always translate to real farm fields and that nanoplastics in the soil can reduce these benefits.

2026 Industrial Crops and Products
Article Tier 2

Understanding the ecological impacts of biodegradable microplastics

This review synthesizes literature on the ecological impacts of biodegradable microplastics, finding that despite their eco-friendly marketing, most published studies report significant negative effects on plant growth, animal reproduction, microbial diversity, and enrichment of pathogens.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Adsorption-desorption behavior of florpyrauxifen-benzyl on three microplastics in aqueous environment as well as its mechanism and various influencing factors

Researchers examined the adsorption and desorption behavior of florpyrauxifen-benzyl, a novel auxin herbicide, on three types of microplastics in aqueous environments. The study found that microplastics can sequester this pesticide and facilitate its long-range transport and combined toxicological effects in aquatic ecosystems.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Construction and degradation characteristics of high-efficiency polyethylene degrading composite microbial community

Researchers engineered a high-efficiency polyethylene-degrading microbial consortium and characterized its degradation pathways and kinetics, finding substantial mass loss and chemical modification of polyethylene under optimized conditions. The consortium outperformed previously described single-species degraders, advancing the development of biological solutions for hard-to-recycle plastic waste.

2024 ACTA AGRICULTURAE UNIVERSITATIS JIANGXIENSIS
Article Tier 2

Resveratrol Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Intestinal Barrier Injury through PI3K/Akt-Mediated Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

This study investigated the antioxidant compound resveratrol as a potential treatment for oxidative stress-induced intestinal barrier damage, finding it protected gut lining integrity through a specific cell signaling pathway. While focused on intestinal health generally, the mechanisms studied are relevant to how microplastic exposure can damage gut barriers.

2019 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 329 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydrolysis of propyrisulfuron in water: Kinetics, influence of 34 environmental factors, transformation products identification, mechanisms and toxicities

Researchers investigated the hydrolysis kinetics of propyrisulfuron herbicide in water under the influence of 34 environmental factors, including 12 types of microplastics and disposable face mask materials, finding that microplastics and mask materials significantly affected hydrolysis rates. The study identified transformation products and assessed their relative toxicities, highlighting how microplastics can alter the environmental fate of co-occurring pesticides.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption-desorption mechanisms and migration behavior of fluchlordiniliprole in four different soils under varied conditions

Researchers investigated the adsorption and desorption behavior of the novel insecticide fluchlordiniliprole across four soil types and how factors including pH, temperature, biochar amendments, and microplastic presence affected these dynamics. Microplastics altered fluchlordiniliprole adsorption capacity in soils, demonstrating that plastic particles modify the fate and mobility of co-occurring pesticides in agricultural environments.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Functional potential and applications of Ureibacillus massiliensis based on whole-genome sequencing analysis

Scientists sequenced the complete genome of a newly isolated strain of the bacterium Ureibacillus massiliensis and analyzed its genetic toolkit to identify potential uses, including the ability to break down microplastics. The genomic analysis revealed genes associated with plastic degradation, suggesting this microbe could be developed as a biological tool for cleaning up plastic-contaminated environments. Discovering bacteria capable of degrading plastics is a promising avenue for bioremediation of microplastic-polluted soils and water.

2025 BMC Microbiology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption-desorption of propyrisulfuron in six typical agricultural soils of China: Kinetics, thermodynamics, influence of 38 environmental factors and its mechanisms

This study investigated how the common herbicide propyrisulfuron behaves in six different Chinese agricultural soils, and notably found that microplastic contamination in the soil was one of 38 environmental factors influencing how much of the herbicide was adsorbed. The herbicide bound tightly enough to soil particles that residues could persist and potentially leach into groundwater with continued use. The incidental finding about microplastic influence on herbicide adsorption points to a broader issue: microplastics in farmland soils may alter the behavior of pesticides and other agrochemicals, with implications for both crop safety and water quality.

2025 Environmental Pollution 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Selenium-Modified Biochar Synergistically Achieves the Safe Use of Selenium and the Inhibition of Heavy Metal Cadmium

Despite its title referencing soil pollution, this paper studies selenium-modified rice husk biochar as a method for removing cadmium (a heavy metal) from contaminated soil — not microplastic pollution. It examines biochar chemistry and adsorption processes for heavy metal remediation and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

2025 Molecules 1 citations