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Papers
68 resultsShowing papers from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
ClearNanoplastics and Microplastics in Agricultural Systems: Effects on Plants and Implications for Human Consumption
This review summarizes existing research on how nanoplastics and microplastics enter agricultural soil through irrigation, plastic mulch, and sewage sludge, then accumulate in crops that people eat. The particles can also carry other harmful substances like pesticides and heavy metals into plants, raising concerns about long-term health effects from chronic dietary exposure.
Advances in Chitosan-Based Materials for Application in Catalysis and Adsorption of Emerging Contaminants
This review covers how chitosan, a natural material derived from shellfish shells, can be used to remove emerging contaminants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS chemicals from water. Chitosan-based materials can be shaped into particles, membranes, and gels that effectively absorb a wide range of pollutants, offering a more sustainable alternative to conventional water treatment methods for reducing human exposure to harmful contaminants.
Fibrous microplastics released from textiles: Occurrence, fate, and remediation strategies
This review focuses on fibrous microplastics released from synthetic textiles like polyester, which are the most common type of microplastic found in the environment. These fibers are shed during washing and wearing, are too small for most wastewater filters to catch, and persist in ecosystems for long periods. The review warns that data on the long-term health effects of fibrous microplastic exposure in humans is still very limited.
Individual and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and clothianidin toward <i>Daphnia magna</i>, <i>Lemna minor</i>, <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>, and <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i>
Scientists tested polystyrene nanoplastics and a common insecticide (clothianidin) both alone and together on four different freshwater organisms. Surprisingly, the combined exposure was generally less toxic than predicted, showing antagonistic interactions where the two pollutants partially canceled out each other's effects. However, the nanoplastics alone still caused long-lasting harm to water flea reproduction that carried over to offspring born after exposure ended, suggesting nanoplastics can have multi-generational effects.
Graphene and gold nanoparticle-based bionanocomposite for the voltammetric determination of bisphenol A in (micro)plastics
Researchers developed a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor using graphene and gold nanoparticles to detect bisphenol A leaching from plastics and microplastics in water. The sensor achieved very low detection limits and worked reliably in real water samples. This tool could help environmental scientists and regulators better monitor harmful chemical release from plastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments.
The potential influence of microplastics on the microbiome and disease susceptibility in sea turtles
This review explores how microplastics disrupt the gut microbiome of sea turtles, potentially making them more vulnerable to diseases like fibropapillomatosis (a tumor-causing virus). Microplastics can alter gene expression and weaken immune defenses by changing the balance of beneficial gut bacteria. While focused on sea turtles, the study illustrates how microplastics may increase disease risk by disrupting the gut microbiome in animals.
Reporting Guidelines to Increase the Reproducibility and Comparability of Research on Microplastics
A group of 23 researchers developed standardized reporting guidelines to improve the reproducibility and comparability of microplastic studies across different laboratories and settings. They created a detailed checklist covering best practices for materials, sampling, sample preparation, identification, and quantification of microplastics. The guidelines aim to address a major bottleneck in the field where inconsistent methods have made it difficult to compare findings or conduct reliable large-scale analyses.
A Review on the Use of Metal Oxide-Based Nanocomposites for the Remediation of Organics-Contaminated Water via Photocatalysis: Fundamentals, Bibliometric Study and Recent Advances
This review examines how metal oxide nanocomposite materials can be used as photocatalysts to break down toxic organic pollutants in contaminated water using light energy. While focused on cleaning up dyes, drugs, and pesticides, the technology is relevant to microplastics because similar photocatalytic approaches are being explored to degrade plastic particles in water. Improving water treatment technologies like these could help reduce human exposure to the cocktail of pollutants, including microplastics, found in water supplies.
Biopolymer-based nanocarriers for sustained release of agrochemicals: A review on materials and social science perspectives for a sustainable future of agri- and horticulture
This review examines how biopolymer-based nanocarriers can deliver fertilizers and pesticides more efficiently in agriculture, reducing the need for excessive chemical applications. Unlike conventional plastic-based delivery systems, these biodegradable carriers do not generate persistent microplastic pollution in farmland. The study also considers the social and economic factors that influence whether these environmentally friendly alternatives can successfully compete with conventional approaches.
Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environments: Impacts on Aquatic Species and Interactions with Environmental Factors and Pollutants
This review examines how nanoplastics affect aquatic species, focusing on their cellular and molecular toxicity as well as how environmental factors like temperature, salinity, and co-existing pollutants influence their harmful effects. Researchers found that nanoplastics can be absorbed more easily than larger plastic particles, transfer through food webs, and disrupt cellular function in aquatic organisms. The study highlights the need to consider real-world environmental conditions when assessing nanoplastic risks.
Reviewing Perovskite Oxide-Based Materials for the Effective Treatment of Antibiotic-Polluted Environments: Challenges, Trends, and New Insights
This review covers perovskite oxide materials as catalysts for breaking down antibiotic pollution in water through advanced photocatalysis. While focused on antibiotic removal rather than microplastics directly, the technology is relevant because microplastics in water can carry antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Better water treatment methods that address multiple contaminants could help reduce overall human exposure to both antibiotics and microplastics.
Integrated assessment of the chemical, microbiological and ecotoxicological effects of a bio-packaging end-of-life in compost
This study tested what happens when a new type of biodegradable packaging breaks down during composting and how the residues affect earthworms. The bioplastic residues altered the earthworms' gut bacteria and caused measurable toxic effects, even though the packaging was designed to be environmentally friendly. The findings suggest that even compostable bioplastics may leave behind fragments that could affect soil organisms and potentially enter the food chain.
Micropollutants and Their Interactions With Relevant Environmental Viruses
This review examined how microplastics and other micropollutants interact with viruses in aquatic environments, particularly within the One Health framework linking environmental, animal, and human health. Researchers found that viruses can adsorb onto microplastic surfaces and their biofilms, potentially aiding viral transport and persistence in water. The study highlights the need for more research on how these pollutant-virus interactions could affect disease transmission.
In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Ulvan Polysaccharides from Ulva rigida
Researchers investigated the biological activity of ulvan polysaccharides extracted from the seaweed Ulva rigida, testing them against cancer cell lines and zebrafish embryos. The study found that ulvan showed cytotoxic effects on human colon cancer cells in vitro, but the in vivo zebrafish assays revealed potential toxicity at higher concentrations, suggesting further safety evaluation is needed before therapeutic applications.
Individual and combined multigenerational effects induced by polystyrene nanoplastic and glyphosate in Daphnia magna (Strauss, 1820)
Researchers investigated the individual and combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the herbicide glyphosate on the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna across multiple generations. They found synergistic toxicity when the two contaminants were combined, increasing immobility and reactive oxygen species production. Notably, parental exposure to the mixture caused reproductive effects that persisted into subsequent generations even without continued exposure.
Nanoplastics: Unveiling Contamination Routes and Toxicological Implications for Human Health
This review examined how nanoplastics, the tiniest plastic particles, enter the human body through breathing, eating, drinking, and skin contact. Evidence indicates these particles may contribute to a range of health concerns across multiple body systems, including the lungs, gut, heart, brain, and immune system, highlighting the need for more research into their long-term effects.
A review of plastic debris in the South American Atlantic Ocean coast – Distribution, characteristics, policies and legal aspects
Researchers compiled and reviewed studies on plastic debris along the entire South American Atlantic coast, covering distribution patterns, types of plastic, and existing policies. They found that macroplastic items like packaging and cigarette butts dominate beach litter, while microplastic contamination is widespread in water and sediment across the region. The review highlights significant gaps in research coverage and inconsistencies in national regulations that hinder effective plastic pollution management.
Training and evaluating machine learning algorithms for ocean microplastics classification through vibrational spectroscopy
Researchers evaluated multiple machine learning algorithms for automatically classifying ocean microplastics using infrared spectroscopy data across 13 polymer types. The study found that Support Vector Machine classifiers provided the best balance of simplicity and accuracy, offering a practical tool for faster and more reliable identification of microplastic contaminants.
Harvesting the benefits of nutritional research to address global challenges in the 21st century
Researchers reviewed progress in aquaculture nutrition over the past 20 years, highlighting improvements in feed conversion efficiency and the expanded use of diverse feed ingredients. The study identifies ongoing challenges including the need for better understanding of nutrient requirements across aquaculture species and the importance of addressing global food security through continued nutritional research.
Understanding the interactions between cephalopods and marine litter: A research evaluation with identification of gaps and future perspectives
Researchers reviewed the scientific literature on interactions between cephalopods (squid, octopus, and related species) and marine litter to evaluate impacts and identify knowledge gaps. The study found 30 papers documenting microplastic ingestion and synthetic microfiber transfer along food chains, but concluded that significant gaps remain in understanding how marine debris affects these ecologically and economically important animals.
Thermal, Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Multifunctional Composites Based on Biodegradable Polymers/Bentonite Clay: A Review
This review examines how adding bentonite clay nanofillers to biodegradable polymers can improve their mechanical strength, heat resistance, and barrier properties. Researchers found that bentonite-enhanced composites show promise as replacements for conventional plastics in packaging and other applications. The study highlights that these materials could help reduce plastic pollution while overcoming the performance limitations that have held back biodegradable alternatives.
Occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals accumulation in native oysters Crassostrea Gasar in the Paranaguá estuarine system, Brazil
Researchers examined native oysters from the Paranagua estuarine system in Brazil for both microplastic contamination and heavy metal accumulation. They found high levels of microplastics in all oyster samples, along with elevated concentrations of several heavy metals, and observed potential interactions between the two pollutant types. The study raises concerns about the combined exposure risks from microplastics and heavy metals in seafood harvested from polluted estuaries.
Effect of urbanization and water quality on microplastic distribution in Conceição Lagoon watershed, Brazil
Researchers assessed microplastic distribution across urbanized and non-urbanized tributaries of Conceicao Lagoon watershed in Brazil. The study found that while urbanization significantly affected water quality parameters, it did not always correspond to higher microplastic concentrations. Evidence indicates that microplastic pollution in freshwater systems is influenced by multiple factors beyond urbanization alone, complicating simple predictions about contamination patterns.
Stimulation of Human Adenovirus Infection Modulated by Emerging Micropollutants
Researchers tested how pharmaceuticals and nanoplastics affect human adenovirus replication in lung cells under various exposure scenarios. They found that while individual pre- or post-infection exposure had no significant effect, co-incubating the contaminants with viral particles at body temperature significantly increased viral replication by up to 30-fold. The study suggests that emerging contaminants in water environments may enhance viral infectivity through direct physical and chemical interactions.