Papers

Microplastics and PAHs mixed contamination: An in-depth review on the sources, co-occurrence, and fate in marine ecosystems

This review examines how microplastics and PAHs (cancer-causing chemicals from fossil fuel burning) interact in ocean environments, with microplastics acting as carriers that help spread these toxic chemicals through marine ecosystems. This combined contamination matters for human health because both pollutants can accumulate in seafood and potentially reach people through diet.

Revisiting microplastic removal and release by point-of-use ultrafiltration membranes: 1-year monitoring and interpretable machine learning

A year-long study of household water filters found that ultrafiltration membranes begin effectively removing microplastics after about 3 to 6 months of use, as buildup on the filter surface actually helps trap plastic particles. However, the filters may also release some microplastics from their own materials, highlighting that while home filtration can reduce exposure, the technology still needs improvement.

Microbiomes of coastal sediments and plastispheres shaped by microplastics and decabrominated diphenyl ether

This two-year study examined how microplastics and a common flame retardant pollutant interact in coastal sediments and found that microplastics accelerated the breakdown of the flame retardant while creating specialized communities of bacteria on their surfaces. The findings show that microplastics in the environment do not act alone but change how other pollutants behave and spread, potentially affecting the broader ecosystem and food web.

Tiny trouble: microplastics, nanoplastics, and their heartfelt impact on cardiovascular health

This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human heart tissue, arterial plaques, and blood, and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lab studies show these particles can damage blood vessel walls, disrupt cholesterol processing, trigger inflammation, and promote blood clot formation, raising serious concerns about heart health.

Recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries for a sustainable future: recent advancements

This review examines methods for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries, which are critical for recovering valuable metals like cobalt and lithium and preventing environmental pollution. The paper compares approaches including direct recycling, high-heat processing, and biological methods, evaluating their environmental impact and cost-effectiveness for a more sustainable circular economy.

Microplastics in the environment: An urgent need for coordinated waste management policies and strategies

This review highlights that microplastic pollution affects marine ecosystems, farmland, and human health, but current waste management policies are fragmented and insufficient. The authors evaluate existing strategies and propose practical solutions including better recycling programs, product redesign to reduce plastic use, and coordinated international policy. Addressing the microplastic problem requires not just cleanup technology but systemic changes in how we produce, use, and dispose of plastics.

Quantitative assessment and monitoring of microplastics and nanoplastics distributions and lipid metabolism in live zebrafish using hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

Researchers developed a new imaging technique to watch microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in live zebrafish in real time, without needing dyes or labels. They found that these tiny plastic particles built up in the fish's digestive system and disrupted fat metabolism, providing direct visual evidence of how micro- and nanoplastics can interfere with basic biological processes.

Conversion of PET Bottle Waste into a Terephthalic Acid-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Removing Plastic Nanoparticles from Water

Researchers found a way to turn waste PET plastic bottles into a special material (metal-organic framework) that can remove nanoplastic particles from water with up to 97% efficiency. This approach solves two problems at once: it recycles plastic bottle waste and uses the resulting material to clean plastic nanoparticles from contaminated water. The technology offers a promising circular solution for addressing both plastic waste and nanoplastic water pollution.

Size-dependent effects of microplastics on intestinal microbiome for Perna viridis

Researchers found that the size of microplastic particles determines how they change the gut bacteria of green mussels, with the smallest particles causing the most disruption to beneficial bacteria and promoting potentially harmful species. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, changes to their gut health and the bacteria they carry could affect human food safety.

Release of microplastics from polymeric ultrafiltration membrane system for drinking water treatment under different operating conditions

Researchers discovered that the plastic membrane filters used to purify drinking water can actually release microplastics into the treated water. The particles came not just from the membrane itself but also from plastic equipment in the system, meaning that water treatment technology designed to remove contaminants may inadvertently be adding new plastic particles to our drinking water.

The degradation of single-use plastics and commercially viable bioplastics in the environment: A review

Researchers reviewed how conventional single-use plastics degrade over decades in natural environments versus how bioplastics biodegrade, finding that while alternatives like PBS and PHA show genuine biodegradation potential, most require specific industrial composting conditions that are rarely available in practice.

Endothelial leakiness elicited by amyloid protein aggregation

Scientists discovered that clumps of amyloid beta protein, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease, can physically pry open the junctions between cells lining blood vessels in a way similar to how nanoparticles do. This causes blood vessel leakiness in the brain, which may help explain how Alzheimer's disease spreads. While not directly about microplastics, the finding that tiny particles can breach blood vessel barriers is relevant to understanding how nanoplastics might also enter the brain.

Microplastics in aquatic environment: Challenges and perspectives

This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution in water environments, covering sources, transport, health effects, detection methods, and control strategies. Microplastics enter waterways from everyday plastic products, industrial discharge, and wastewater treatment plants, where aquatic organisms ingest them and pass them up the food chain. The review highlights the urgent need for better analytical techniques and global policies to reduce microplastic contamination that ultimately reaches human food and drinking water.

Characteristics and behaviors of microplastics undergoing photoaging and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) initiated aging

This review examines how microplastics change as they age in the environment through sunlight exposure and chemical processes. Aging alters the surface properties of microplastics, making them better at absorbing toxic chemicals and heavy metals from the surrounding environment. Since nearly all microplastics found in nature have undergone some degree of aging, understanding these changes is essential for accurately assessing how dangerous real-world microplastic pollution is to human health.

MOF Catalysts for Plastic Depolymerization

This review highlights how metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of highly customizable porous materials, can be used as catalysts to break down plastic waste into reusable chemical building blocks. MOFs offer advantages over traditional recycling methods because they can be precisely designed to target specific plastic types. While focused on plastic waste solutions rather than health effects, this technology could help reduce the amount of plastic that eventually breaks down into microplastics in the environment.

Health Impacts of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Humans: Systematic Review of <i>In Vivo</i> Evidence

This meta-analysis reviews 25 studies that directly measured micro- and nanoplastics in living human tissues and fluids. The evidence confirms that plastic particles accumulate in multiple organ systems, including the heart, reproductive organs, and gut, and are associated with inflammation and functional problems. This is some of the strongest direct evidence that microplastics are present inside our bodies and may be affecting our health.

Man-made natural and regenerated cellulosic fibres greatly outnumber microplastic fibres in the atmosphere

Analysis of 33 studies found that man-made cellulosic microfibers are currently 2.5 times more abundant than synthetic (plastic) microfibers in the atmosphere, comprising 57% of all microfibers versus 23% synthetic. However, the proportion of cellulosic fibers is declining while synthetic fibers are increasing, with a projected crossover to synthetic dominance by 2030.

Using artificial intelligence to rapidly identify microplastics pollution and predict microplastics environmental behaviors

This review summarizes how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used to identify, track, and predict the environmental behavior of microplastics in soil and water. AI methods can analyze the chemical composition, shape, and distribution of microplastics faster and more accurately than traditional techniques. The technology could help scientists better understand where microplastics accumulate and what risks they pose to ecosystems and human health.

Microplastic detection and remediation through efficient interfacial solar evaporation for immaculate water production

Researchers developed a solar-powered water purification system that simultaneously produces clean water and removes microplastics, achieving up to 5.5 times better microplastic removal than previous methods. The system uses sunlight to evaporate water, leaving contaminants including microplastics behind. This dual-purpose technology could help address both water scarcity and microplastic pollution, ultimately reducing human exposure through drinking water.

Microbial colonization of microplastic (MP) in aquatic environments: MP toxicity, microbial degradation potential and their interactions

Anionic nanoplastic exposure induces endothelial leakiness

Researchers discovered that nanoplastics made of anionic polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) can disrupt the junctions between blood vessel cells, causing increased vascular leakiness. This effect was dose-dependent and driven by biophysical interactions rather than typical cell toxicity like oxidative stress or cell death. The findings reveal a previously unknown way that nanoplastics could affect the body's circulatory system by making blood vessels more permeable.

Toxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Mammalian Systems

This review summarizes recent findings on how micro- and nanoplastics affect mammalian health, drawing on mouse model experiments and human cell line studies. Researchers found evidence that these tiny plastic particles can disrupt gut microbiota, cause metabolic toxicity, and accumulate in tissues after ingestion or inhalation. The study suggests that long-term accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues could have negative health consequences that are not yet fully understood.

Diet preference of zebrafish (Danio rerio) for bio-based polylactic acid microplastics and induced intestinal damage and microbiota dysbiosis

Researchers found that zebrafish actively preferred to eat bio-based polylactic acid microplastics over conventional petroleum-based polyethylene terephthalate microplastics, accumulating roughly 170 times more of the bio-based particles in their intestines. Both types of microplastics caused intestinal damage and disrupted the gut microbiome, but the higher ingestion rate of bio-based plastics led to greater harm. The study raises important questions about whether biodegradable plastics may actually pose equal or greater risks to aquatic life due to their attractiveness as a food source.

Microplastics released from food containers can suppress lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages

Researchers found that microplastics released from common food containers could suppress immune cell function by impairing lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages. The study tested particles from real commercial packaging materials rather than standard laboratory microplastics, making the findings more relevant to everyday exposure scenarios. These results suggest that microplastic contamination from food packaging may directly affect immune system function.