Papers

Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Emerging Contaminants in Food

This systematic review focuses on microplastics and nanoplastics as emerging contaminants in our food supply. These tiny particles enter food through packaging, processing, and environmental contamination. Current detection methods are still limited, making it difficult to fully measure how much plastic we are eating — highlighting the need for better testing to protect food safety.

Combined toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics and lambda-cyhalothrin on gut of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics can adsorb the pesticide lambda-cyhalothrin from water and then release it in the guts of zebrafish, worsening its toxic effects. Fish exposed to both microplastics and the pesticide showed greater oxidative stress, immune disruption, and gut microbiome changes than those exposed to the pesticide alone. This demonstrates how microplastics can act as carriers that amplify the toxicity of other environmental pollutants in aquatic organisms consumed by humans.

Effects of single and combined exposure of virgin or aged polyethylene microplastics and penthiopyrad on zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study found that polyethylene microplastics can increase the toxicity of a common fungicide (penthiopyrad) in zebrafish by helping the chemical build up in their bodies. The combination caused more intestinal damage and disrupted gut bacteria than either pollutant alone. This highlights an important concern: microplastics in the environment can act as carriers for pesticides, potentially amplifying their harmful effects on organisms including those in the human food chain.

Effects of lakeshore landcover types and environmental factors on microplastic distribution in lakes on the Inner Mongolia Plateau, China

This study measured microplastic contamination in lakes across the Inner Mongolia Plateau and found levels ranging from 0.5 to 12.6 particles per liter in water, with polypropylene being the most common type. Lakes near farmland and human activity had the highest contamination, showing that agriculture and tourism are major sources of microplastic pollution. The findings are relevant because these lakes serve as water sources for surrounding communities.

Multifunctional materials with controllable superwettability for oil–water separation and removal of pollutants: Design, emerging applications, and challenges

This review covers the development of advanced materials with special surface properties that can simultaneously separate oil from water and remove pollutants like microplastics and heavy metals. These multifunctional materials work through filtration or absorption methods and can be tuned for different types of contaminants. The technology addresses the growing need for efficient water purification solutions that can handle the complex mix of pollutants in industrial wastewater.

Single and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and acetochlor on accumulation and intestinal toxicity of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study found that polyethylene microplastics significantly increased the toxicity of acetochlor, a common herbicide, in zebrafish. The microplastics boosted the accumulation of the pesticide in fish tissues and worsened intestinal damage including inflammation and disrupted gut barrier function. The findings are important because microplastics and pesticides frequently co-exist in agricultural waterways, and their combination may pose greater risks than either pollutant alone.

Occurrence, Bioaccumulation, and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review

This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic occurrence, bioaccumulation, and health risks in aquatic environments worldwide. Microplastics can absorb other pollutants and transfer them through the food chain, accumulating in organisms at higher levels. The authors call for standardized risk assessment methods and better monitoring to understand the full scope of microplastic threats to ecosystems and human health.

Polystyrene microplastics exacerbate acetochlor-induced reproductive toxicity and transgenerational effects in zebrafish

This zebrafish study found that polystyrene microplastics made the herbicide acetochlor significantly more toxic to the reproductive system, and the damage was passed down to the next generation. The microplastics acted as carriers for the pesticide, increasing its absorption and worsening hormone disruption and fertility problems. This is concerning because both microplastics and agricultural chemicals are commonly found together in waterways, where their combined effects may be greater than previously understood.

Revealing the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of different particle size microplastics on diethyl phthalate (DEP) in rye (Secale cereale L.)

Researchers studied how microplastics of different sizes interact with a common plasticizer chemical (DEP) in rye plants. Smaller nanoplastics were able to enter and move through the plant, disrupting leaf cells, while the plasticizer chemical increased the plant's uptake of nanoplastics. This suggests that microplastics and the chemicals they carry can work together to contaminate food crops, with smaller particles posing the greatest risk.

Neurotoxicity of Benzotriazole Ultraviolet Stabilizers in Teleost Fishes: A Review

This review examines the neurotoxic effects of benzotriazole UV stabilizers, chemicals added to plastics to prevent UV degradation, on fish. These additives have been found in waterways at concerning concentrations and can affect fish brain function and behavior. The findings are relevant to human health because these same chemicals can leach from microplastics into water and food, and the neurological pathways they disrupt in fish, including those linked to Alzheimer's disease, are shared with humans.

Combined Impact of Canada Goldenrod Invasion and Soil Microplastic Contamination on Seed Germination and Root Development of Wheat: Evaluating the Legacy of Toxicity

Researchers studied the combined effects of invasive Canada goldenrod and microplastic contamination on wheat seed germination and root growth. They found that both stressors individually and together impaired wheat development, with their combined impact being particularly concerning for agricultural productivity. The study highlights how multiple environmental stressors can interact to compound threats to food crops.

Polystyrene nanoplastics alter intestinal toxicity of 2,4-DTBP in a sex-dependent manner in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with an industrial chemical called 2,4-DTBP and found that the toxic effects on the intestines differed between males and females. In males, the nanoplastics made the chemical's gut damage worse, while in females the combination actually reduced harm compared to the chemical alone. The study highlights that sex-specific biological differences can significantly change how organisms respond to combined plastic and chemical pollution.

Rapid removal of small particle-sized microplastics utilizing superhydrophobic wood membranes

Researchers developed a superhydrophobic wood membrane that achieves 99.6% removal efficiency for microplastics smaller than 10 micrometers. The membrane, created by treating wood with methyltrichlorosilane, maintained its performance across varying water flow rates and demonstrated excellent reusability and environmental friendliness. The study offers a practical and sustainable filtration solution for removing the smallest and most difficult-to-capture microplastics from water.

The combined effect of pyrolysis temperature and surfactant on adsorption of microplastics by spontaneous magnetism biochar from sludge and red mud

Microplastics mineralization accelerates soil organic carbon decomposition by positive priming effects: A meta-analysis

Oppositely charged proteins lead to different effects on the bioaccumulation kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers studied how positively and negatively charged proteins in water affect the bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish. The study found that different protein types altered nanoplastic uptake kinetics in distinct ways, suggesting that the natural protein environment in water bodies plays an important role in determining how nanoplastics accumulate in aquatic organisms.

Diatomic Zn‐Functionalized Carbon Sphere for Microplastics Remediation in Natural Seawater at Environmentally Relevant Concentration

Researchers developed a zinc-functionalized carbon material that can capture and degrade polyester microplastics in natural seawater at environmentally realistic concentrations. The material works through a combination of surface interactions that trap the plastics and zinc-mediated chemical reactions that break them into biodegradable substances, achieving a 70% conversion rate in 15 weeks. The study demonstrates a promising approach for addressing microplastic pollution in real-world marine settings.

Pyraclostrobin-induced reproductive and intergenerational developmental toxicity in zebrafish: Modulatory effects of microplastics

Researchers assessed the reproductive and intergenerational developmental toxicity of the fungicide pyraclostrobin in zebrafish, with and without polyethylene microplastic co-exposure. The study found that pyraclostrobin bioaccumulated in multiple tissues with the highest levels in the intestine and liver, and co-exposure with microplastics modulated its toxicity and maternal transfer potential.

Bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and health risk assessment of microplastics in the food web of Wuliangsuhai Lake, China: Higher risk for children

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across the food web of Wuliangsuhai Lake in China and found that smaller organisms and omnivorous species accumulated the highest concentrations. The study found that microplastics accumulated in edible muscle tissue of aquatic organisms, with estimated daily intake values higher for children than adults, highlighting potential dietary exposure risks from consuming contaminated freshwater food products.

Ecotoxicoproteomic assessment of microplastics and plastic additives in aquatic organisms: A review

This review examines how proteomics — the large-scale study of proteins — is being applied to understand the toxic effects of microplastics and plastic additives on aquatic organisms, and how this data can feed into adverse outcome pathway frameworks for ecological risk assessment.

Detection and Fate of Microplastics and Nanoplastics and Technologies for Their Removal

This review covers the detection, environmental fate, and removal technologies for microplastics and nanoplastics across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems. Researchers summarize the current understanding of how these particles are distributed in environmental matrices and biota, from marine organisms to human tissues. The study highlights both the scale of the contamination problem and the emerging technologies being developed to address it.

Effects of compost as a soil amendment on bacterial community diversity in saline–alkali soil

Researchers found that adding compost as a soil amendment to saline-alkali soil effectively reduced pH while increasing enzyme activity and organic matter content. The study provides theoretical support for using compost to improve microbial diversity and soil quality in salt-affected agricultural lands.

Estimating the potential of climatic factors for global generation of microplastics from agricultural plastic films

Researchers combined national agricultural plastic film usage data with emission factor models and Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the global generation of microplastics from agricultural films. The resulting estimates highlight the large but uncertain scale of this contamination source for soil and food security.

Pyraclostrobin-induced reproductive and intergenerational developmental toxicity in zebrafish: modulatory effects of microplastics