Papers

Biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and genotoxicity to assess exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. A literature review

This systematic review summarizes research on biomarkers that can measure oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage caused by micro and nanoplastic exposure. Identifying reliable biomarkers is a crucial step toward understanding exactly how microplastics affect human health and developing tools to monitor exposure in people.

Pulmonary hazards of nanoplastic particles: a study using polystyrene in in vitro models of the alveolar and bronchial epithelium

Lab tests on human lung cell models found that polystyrene nanoplastics did not cause immediate cell death but did interfere with key lung functions like surfactant and mucus production and immune signaling. This means standard toxicity tests may underestimate the real danger of inhaling nanoplastics, and researchers need to look beyond simple cell survival to understand the true health effects on the lungs.

Current challenges on the widespread adoption of new bio-based fertilizers: insights to move forward toward more circular food systems

This review examines the challenges of adopting bio-based fertilizers made from food and agricultural waste as replacements for synthetic mineral fertilizers. While bio-based fertilizers can improve soil health and reduce reliance on finite resources, barriers include inconsistent nutrient content, concerns about contaminants like microplastics and heavy metals in waste-derived products, and the need for farmer-friendly application methods. The study is relevant because sewage sludge used in some fertilizers is a known source of microplastic contamination in farmland.

Groundwater is a hidden global keystone ecosystem

This study argues that groundwater should be recognized as a "keystone ecosystem" because of its critical role in sustaining surface environments, biodiversity, and human water supplies. Over half of the world's land surface has significant interaction with groundwater, yet it remains overlooked in conservation planning. Protecting groundwater is essential for planetary health, including safeguarding water sources from emerging contaminants like microplastics.

Nano- and microplastics: a comprehensive review on their exposure routes, translocation, and fate in humans

This comprehensive review traces the journey of nano- and microplastics through the human body, covering how they enter through breathing, eating, drinking, and skin contact. Once inside, the smallest particles can cross the gut and lung barriers, enter the bloodstream, and accumulate in organs including the liver, kidneys, and placenta. The review highlights significant knowledge gaps about long-term health effects but notes that the evidence for internal accumulation in humans is growing.

Microplastics interaction with bisphenol A: Adsorption, desorption, and in vitro biological effects

Researchers studied how microplastics interact with bisphenol A (BPA), a known hormone disruptor, and found that weathered microplastics absorb and release more BPA than fresh ones. When BPA-loaded microplastics were tested on fat cells, liver cells, brain cells, and blood vessel cells, they triggered harmful effects including fat accumulation and inflammation. This shows that microplastics can act as delivery vehicles for harmful chemicals into the body, amplifying health risks beyond the plastic itself.

Pollution profiling in Italian honeys: Elements and microplastics as comprehensive indicators of environmental contamination and food safety

Researchers analyzed 28 Italian honey samples and found microplastic contamination alongside various trace elements, making this the first comprehensive dual-contamination study of Italian honey. Microplastics were found in all samples, with fibers being the most common type, and their presence correlated with certain geographic and botanical factors. The findings show that honey, often considered a natural and pure food, can serve as an indicator of broader environmental contamination that affects food safety.

Interaction of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Biomolecules and Environmental Pollutants: Effects on Human Hepatocytes

This lab study tested how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with cadmium and fatty acids in human liver cells. While the nanoplastics alone showed minimal toxicity at realistic concentrations, they actually reduced cadmium's toxic effects by binding to the metal. However, the nanoplastics also grabbed onto fatty acids in the cell environment, reducing their availability to cells, which suggests nanoplastics could interfere with normal nutrient absorption in the body.

Microplastics contamination in ruminant feeds of Northwestern Italy: a preliminary assessment

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in common cattle feeds at dairy farms in northwestern Italy, including corn silage, hay, and high-protein feedstuff. All feed types contained microplastics, with corn silage being the most contaminated at about 38 particles per gram. Since microplastics in animal feed can transfer into meat and dairy products, this finding highlights a potential route of human exposure through the food we eat.

Simulated Environmental Nanoplastics Induce Zebrafish Developmental Toxicity and Stress Response

A decade of advances in black soldier fly research: from genetics to sustainability

This review summarizes a decade of research on the black soldier fly, an insect increasingly used for animal feed, human food, and waste processing. The review covers how these insects can help manage organic waste, including research into their ability to break down certain plastics. This is relevant to microplastics research because black soldier flies are being explored as a biological tool for processing plastic waste, though questions remain about whether plastic residues could transfer through the food chain.

Development and application of a novel extraction protocol for the monitoring of microplastic contamination in widely consumed ruminant feeds

Researchers developed the first specialized method for detecting microplastics in cattle feed, including corn silage, hay, and mixed rations. They found that 50-60% of foreign objects in slaughtered cattle are plastic-based, and microplastics have been detected in ruminant tissues and feces. Since contaminated feed is a likely source, this detection method is important for understanding how microplastics enter the meat supply chain and potentially reach human consumers.

Amorphous silica nanoparticles and the human gut microbiota: a relationship with multiple implications

This review examines how amorphous silica nanoparticles, which are widely used in food, toothpaste, and medications, interact with the human gut microbiome. Although these particles have low acute toxicity, prolonged exposure in the gut can affect intestinal barrier function, immune responses, and the composition of gut bacteria. The findings parallel concerns about microplastics and nanoplastics, which similarly pass through the digestive system and have been shown to disrupt gut microbiota and intestinal health.

The Essentials of Marine Biotechnology

This comprehensive article reviews the field of marine biotechnology, which harnesses ocean organisms for applications in medicine, food, cosmetics, agriculture, and energy. Researchers describe the enormous diversity of marine life, from microorganisms to deep-sea species, and the promising biomolecules they produce. The study outlines both the opportunities and the environmental responsibilities involved in developing products inspired by or derived from marine resources.

Embryotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics, alone and conjugated with bisphenol A, in the black sea urchin Arbacia lixula: A multi-biomarker approach

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics and the chemical bisphenol A, both alone and combined, on sea urchin embryo development. While bisphenol A caused severe skeletal abnormalities and developmental arrest, its toxicity was actually reduced when attached to microplastic surfaces rather than amplified. The study found no synergistic toxic effect between the two pollutants under acute exposure conditions, though both individually disrupted metabolic and oxidative stress pathways.

The potential of nature-based solutions for urban soils: focus on green infrastructure and bioremediation

This review explores how nature-based solutions like green infrastructure and bioremediation can address pollution in urban soils, including contamination from microplastics. Researchers found that parks, green roofs, and constructed wetlands can improve soil quality and support microorganism communities that break down pollutants. The study suggests that working with natural systems rather than against them offers a sustainable path for cleaning up contaminated urban environments.

Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) exposure to nylon microfibers leads to a shift in digestive gland microbiota

Researchers exposed blue mussels to nylon microfibers for 52 days and found significant shifts in the bacterial communities living in their digestive glands. Beneficial bacterial groups declined while potentially harmful genera, including Vibrio, increased in abundance. The findings suggest that microplastic accumulation poses a dual threat to filter-feeding shellfish by both physically burdening them and disrupting the gut bacteria they depend on for digestion and immune defense.

Degradation of Microplastics in an In Vitro Ruminal Environment

Researchers tested whether rumen microbes from cattle could break down common microplastics in a lab setting. They found modest degradation of low-density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate over 14 days, particularly with certain bacterial and fungal species. The study suggests that the rumen's microbial community may have limited but real potential to help reduce microplastic pollution in the livestock production chain.

Rapid detection of nanoplastics and small microplastics by Nile-Red staining and flow cytometry

Researchers developed a rapid method for detecting nanoplastics and small microplastics by combining Nile-Red fluorescent staining with flow cytometry. The technique can quantify plastic particles in the 0.6 to 15 micrometer range in just 90 seconds, which is hundreds of times faster than conventional spectroscopic methods. The approach showed high detection efficiency for polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, and polystyrene, offering a practical tool for environmental nanoplastic monitoring.

Multidimensional Ecosystem Mapping: Towards a More Comprehensive Spatial Assessment of Nature’s Contributions to People in France

Researchers developed a multidimensional approach to mapping ecosystem services across France, going beyond traditional land-cover methods to incorporate soil, water, and biodiversity data. By combining multiple data layers, they created more accurate spatial assessments of the benefits nature provides to people, from carbon storage to pollination. The study demonstrates that considering multiple ecosystem dimensions simultaneously leads to more reliable conservation and land-use planning decisions.

Micro- and Nanoplastics’ Effects on Protein Folding and Amyloidosis

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastic particles may interact with proteins in the body, potentially influencing protein folding and triggering the formation of abnormal amyloid structures. The study suggests that plastic particles can cross the blood-brain barrier in animal models and interact with neurons, raising questions about possible links between plastic exposure and protein misfolding conditions.

In Vitro and In Vivo Genotoxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics: Evaluation of a Possible Synergistic Action with Bisphenol A

Researchers tested whether polystyrene microplastics cause genetic damage, both in human blood cells in the lab and in freshwater snails. They found that at higher concentrations, microplastics caused DNA damage on their own, and when combined with bisphenol A (a common plastic chemical), the damage was even greater. The study suggests that microplastics and the chemicals they carry may work together to increase the risk of genetic harm.

Plastic mulch film residues in agriculture: impact on soil suppressiveness, plant growth, and microbial communities

Researchers tested the effects of low-density polyethylene and biodegradable mulch film residues on soil disease suppressiveness, plant growth, and microbial communities. They found that while 1% plastic residues did not affect the soil's ability to suppress Fusarium disease, plant biomass decreased and nutrient status changed in the presence of plastic. Notably, the microbial communities on the plastic surfaces (the plastisphere) were distinct from those in the rhizosphere and included potential plant pathogens like Rhizoctonia.

Rapid detection of microplastics in feed using near-infrared spectroscopy

Researchers tested whether near-infrared spectroscopy could rapidly detect microplastic contamination in animal feed products like corn silage, hay, and soybean meal. The technique successfully identified polyethylene and polystyrene contaminants at concentrations as low as 1 milligram per gram of feed. The study offers a practical, non-destructive screening method that could help protect the food chain from microplastic contamination in livestock nutrition.