Papers

Photocatalytic Degradation of Food and Juices Dyes via Photocatalytic Nanomaterials Synthesized through Green Synthetic Route: A Systematic Review

This systematic review highlights how green-synthesized nanoparticles can effectively degrade toxic food dyes through photocatalysis. These eco-friendly nanomaterials offer a promising alternative to conventional chemical methods for removing harmful colorants from food industry wastewater.

The threat of microplastics: Exploring pollution in coastal ecosystems and migratory shorebirds along the west coast of India

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across ten coastal sites on India's west coast, testing water, sediment, invertebrate prey, and shorebird droppings. Microplastics, mostly fibers, were found in all sample types, with water identified as the primary pathway for spreading plastics through the food chain. The study demonstrates how microplastics move from water through prey animals to top predators, illustrating the food chain transfer that ultimately could affect human seafood consumption.

Advancements in Biodegradable Active Films for Food Packaging: Effects of Nano/Microcapsule Incorporation

This review examines how incorporating nano- and microcapsules containing natural antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds into biodegradable packaging films can extend food shelf life. Researchers found that these capsules protect the active compounds during processing and allow their controlled release over time. The technology offers a promising alternative to synthetic preservatives while also reducing reliance on conventional plastics in food packaging.

Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and biomass for stabilizing heavy metals and reducing biochar toxicity: A review

This review examines how mixing sewage sludge with plant-based biomass during pyrolysis can produce safer biochar by stabilizing heavy metals and reducing toxicity. Researchers found that co-pyrolysis improves the quality of the resulting biochar, making it more suitable for use in soil applications compared to sludge-only biochar. The approach offers a promising solution for managing sewage sludge waste while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

Quality of drinking water in the United Arab Emirates: a systematic review

A review of 14 studies found that tap water in the United Arab Emirates contains unhealthy levels of chemicals, metals (including cancer-causing substances), and bacteria, while bottled water had fewer problems but still contained some concerning chemicals. Many people in the UAE drink bottled water instead of tap water, but this creates environmental problems like plastic waste and microplastic pollution. The researchers say the government needs to take action to improve tap water quality so people can have safe drinking water without harming the environment.

Design, fabrication, and application of electrochemical sensors for microplastic detection: a state-of-the-art review and future perspectives

This review covers recent advances in electrochemical sensors for detecting microplastics in environmental samples, which offer advantages in sensitivity and portability over conventional laboratory methods. Researchers highlight strategies using nanomaterials, molecular imprinting, and surface-enhanced techniques to improve detection capabilities. The study suggests that electrochemical sensors represent a promising path toward affordable, rapid, on-site monitoring of microplastic pollution.

Utilizing the potential of Saussurea lappa in aquaculture industry: a review on immune enhancement and pollution remediation

This review examines the potential of Saussurea lappa, a medicinal plant, as a natural immune booster and pollution remediation tool in aquaculture. Researchers found that compounds from the plant show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties that could help farmed fish resist disease. The study highlights the plant as a promising eco-friendly alternative to synthetic chemicals in fish farming.

Drying in the low-latitude Atlantic Ocean contributed to terrestrial water storage depletion across Eurasia

This study investigates the atmospheric mechanisms linking drying in the low-latitude North Atlantic Ocean to terrestrial water storage depletion across mid-latitude Eurasia. While not directly related to microplastics, the research addresses large-scale environmental changes affecting water availability for a significant portion of the global population.

Microplastics and Wastewater Treatment Plants—A Review

This review examines the role of wastewater treatment plants in retaining microplastics before they enter the environment. Studies show that no wastewater treatment method achieves complete microplastic removal, making treatment plants themselves point sources of microplastic discharge into aquatic environments. The review also discusses concerns about microplastic-laden sewage sludge being applied to agricultural land.

Microplastic in the Marine Environment of the Indian Ocean

This review summarizes research from 2015 to 2022 on microplastic contamination in commercially important fish species across the Indian Ocean. Researchers found that microplastics have been detected in fish throughout the region, raising concerns about contamination entering the human food chain through seafood consumption. The study highlights that while significant plastic pollution is known to exist in parts of the Indian Ocean, systematic research on microplastic abundance is still relatively recent.

Microbial Immobilized Enzyme Biocatalysts for Multipollutant Mitigation: Harnessing Nature’s Toolkit for Environmental Sustainability

This review examines how enzymes from microorganisms can be anchored onto support materials to create reusable tools for breaking down environmental pollutants, including microplastics, pesticides, and pharmaceutical chemicals. Researchers found that immobilizing these enzymes significantly improves their stability and allows them to be used repeatedly, making cleanup processes more cost-effective. The approach represents a promising green technology for tackling multiple types of pollution simultaneously.

Dynamic succession and biodegradation potential of microplastic prokaryotic microbial communities in the Pearl River estuary

Researchers conducted a 35-day field experiment in the Pearl River Estuary to study how microbial communities colonize and change over time on different types of microplastic surfaces. They found that the bacterial communities on microplastics underwent distinct succession phases and differed significantly from those in surrounding water and sediment. The study identified several microorganisms with potential plastic-degrading capabilities, suggesting that microplastic surfaces in estuarine environments may harbor unique biodegradation-relevant microbial communities.

Oxidative Degradation of Plastic Bottle Tops in an Arid, Terrestrial Environment—Identifying Oxidative Degradation by Infrared Spectroscopy

Researchers monitored the photo-oxidation of polythene and polypropylene bottle tops placed on soil in a hot, arid environment using FT-IR spectroscopy. The study found that all bottle top types showed appreciable oxidation after just six months of environmental exposure, leading to brittleness and fissure formation that contributes to microplastic fragmentation.

Polystyrene microplastics exacerbate experimental chronic kidney disease via inflammatory and oxidative pathways involving NF-κB, ERK/p38 MAPK, and sirtuin-1

Researchers examined the effects of polystyrene microplastics on mice with chronic kidney disease and found that microplastic exposure worsened kidney dysfunction, inflammation, and tissue scarring. Even in healthy mice, microplastics reduced kidney filtration and increased markers of kidney damage. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may aggravate existing kidney conditions through inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.

Pharmaceutical-microplastic interactions in soil environments: a critical review of emerging co-contamination dynamics

This review examines the understudied interactions between pharmaceutical compounds and microplastics when they co-occur in soil environments. Researchers found that while aquatic studies have explored how microplastics transport pharmaceuticals, terrestrial research remains limited and sometimes contradictory. The study highlights that current risk assessment frameworks treat these contaminants independently, potentially underestimating the combined environmental risks in agricultural soils.

A minireview on the bioremediative potential of microbial enzymes as solution to emerging microplastic pollution

This mini review explores the potential of microbial enzymes as a sustainable solution for degrading microplastics, discussing recent advances in identifying plastic-degrading enzymes and the challenges remaining for practical bioremediation applications.

Individual and Combined Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics and Chromium in Artemia franciscana: Impacts on Survival, Growth, Biochemical and Physiological Responses

Treated wastewater irrigation: unlocking sustainability in agriculture and food security—a comprehensive review

This comprehensive review explores treated wastewater as an alternative irrigation source for agriculture in water-scarce regions. While treated wastewater can improve soil fertility and crop growth, the review notes concerns about contaminants including microplastics that can accumulate in soil and potentially enter the food chain, emphasizing the need for effective treatment technologies.

Scoping Review on Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Species Across Indonesian Waters

This review of 13 studies found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are widespread in fish, shellfish, and other sea creatures that people eat from Indonesian waters. The plastic contamination was especially high in filter-feeding animals like clams and in species living near polluted areas. This is concerning because it means people in Indonesia may be eating seafood contaminated with plastic particles, though more research is needed to understand the health risks.

Enzyme-immobilized hierarchically porous covalent organic framework biocomposite for catalytic degradation of broad-range emerging pollutants in water

Researchers developed an enzyme-immobilized covalent organic framework biocomposite that achieved high enzyme loading with minimal leaching, enabling efficient catalytic degradation of a broad range of emerging water pollutants including microplastics and pharmaceuticals.

Uncertainty quantification of granular computing-neural network model for prediction of pollutant longitudinal dispersion coefficient in aquatic streams

Researchers developed an AI model combining granular computing and neural networks to better predict how pollutants spread through rivers, achieving highly accurate estimates of the longitudinal dispersion coefficient across a wide range of stream conditions. Improved predictions of pollutant mixing are critical for protecting water quality in natural waterways.

Updated review on microplastics in water, their occurrence, detection, measurement, environmental pollution, and the need for regulatory standards

This review examines microplastic occurrence, detection methods, and measurement techniques in aquatic environments, highlighting the urgent need for explicit regulatory frameworks to address the growing threat of microplastic pollution in water systems.

Eco-Friendly Degradation of Natural Rubber Powder Waste Using Some Microorganisms with Focus on Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Biodegraded Rubber

Researchers demonstrated that E. coli and Aspergillus oryzae can biodegrade natural rubber waste through biofilm formation, with the degraded rubber showing antioxidant and antibacterial properties, offering an eco-friendly approach to rubber waste management.

Low-Density Microplastics in Recreational Parks of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates: Abundance, Composition, and Potential Effects on Soil Health

Researchers collected soil samples from recreational parks in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates and found varying levels of low-density microplastics caused by activities such as sludge application and use of reclaimed wastewater. The most common types were fibers and fragments made of polyethylene and polypropylene. The study suggests that urban recreational parks serve as accumulation sites for microplastic debris, raising concerns about soil health and the potential for human exposure in public spaces.