Papers

Effects of microplastics on dissipation of oxytetracycline and its relevant resistance genes in soil without and with Serratia marcescens: Comparison between biodegradable and conventional microplastics

This study found that biodegradable plastic (PBAT) microplastics actually slowed the breakdown of the antibiotic oxytetracycline in soil more than conventional polyethylene microplastics did, and both types promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. This matters for human health because antibiotic-resistant bacteria from contaminated soils can eventually reach people through food or water.

Insight into response characteristics and inhibition mechanisms of anammox granular sludge to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics exposure

This study tested how PET microplastics affect the anammox process, a key biological method used in wastewater treatment to remove nitrogen. At higher concentrations, PET particles reduced treatment efficiency by about 16% and weakened the structure of the bacterial granules that perform the process. The findings matter because microplastics in sewage could impair the very systems designed to clean our wastewater.

Synergy of plastics and heavy metals weakened soil bacterial diversity by regulating microbial functions in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Researchers studying soils on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau found that the combined presence of microplastics and heavy metals reduced soil bacterial diversity more than either pollutant alone. The synergy between plastic-derived chemicals like phthalates and metals disrupted key microbial functions, which could affect soil health and ecosystem services in this sensitive high-altitude environment.

Chitosan nanoparticles alleviate nanoplastics toxicity by modulating polyamine metabolism and re-establishing redox homeostasis in maize seedlings

Researchers found that chitosan nanoparticles can alleviate the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on maize seedlings by modulating polyamine metabolism and restoring redox balance. The treatment significantly reduced nanoplastic accumulation in plant tissues by 32-56%, suggesting that this sustainable polymeric material could help protect crops from nanoplastic contamination in agricultural settings.

Aging enhancement and synergistic effect on toxicity to soil fauna by polystyrene microplastics-tetrabromobisphenol A toxicity exposure

Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of aged polystyrene microplastics and the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A on earthworms, finding that aging enhanced the microplastics' ability to adsorb and deliver the toxic chemical. The co-exposure produced synergistic effects including increased oxidative stress, gut microbiome disruption, and tissue damage beyond what either contaminant caused alone. The study highlights that weathered microplastics in contaminated soils may amplify the toxicity of co-occurring industrial chemicals.

Deciphering the inhibitory mechanisms of polystyrene microplastics on thermophilic methanogens from the insights of microbial metabolite profiling and metagenomic analyses

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics affect methane production during the thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste. They found that increasing microplastic concentrations reduced methane yield by up to 47.8%, driven by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species that inhibited key enzymes in the digestion process. Metagenomic analysis revealed that microplastics downregulated genes involved in methane metabolism, providing new insights into how plastic contamination can disrupt waste treatment systems.

Interactive effects of microplastics, heavy metals, and soil microecology under different irrigation water sources

Researchers found that using a mix of river water and treated wastewater to irrigate crops led to the highest levels of tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in soil, along with increased amounts of heavy metals like lead and chromium. These microplastics appear to help these harmful metals stick around in the soil rather than being naturally filtered out. This matters because these pollutants could potentially make their way into the food we eat, though more research is needed to understand the health risks.

Effect of Cryogenic Treatment on Residual Stress and Microstructure of 6061 Aluminum Alloy and Optimization of Parameters

This study investigated cryogenic treatment as a method to reduce residual stress in 6061 aluminum alloy after heat treatment. Researchers found that optimized cryogenic parameters could reduce residual stress by 64%, primarily through reduced dislocations and more uniform distribution of precipitate phases in the metal's microstructure.

Trace metals coupled with plasticisers in microplastics strengthen the denitrification function of the soil microbiome in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau

Researchers measured microplastic pollution and associated phthalate ester plasticizers alongside trace metals in soils and river sediments on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. They found that these contaminants co-occurred and together influenced nitrogen cycling by strengthening denitrification-related microbial functions in the soil. The study reveals that even remote high-altitude environments are affected by microplastic contamination, which can alter fundamental soil biogeochemical processes.

Impact of Microplastics on Growth and Lipid Accumulation in Scenedesmus quadricauda

Researchers exposed the microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda to polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics at 250 mg/L in four size fractions (50–500 µm) and found all MPs suppressed algal growth while increasing lipid accumulation. Polypropylene caused the strongest inhibitory effects and the highest lipid yield—especially at the smallest 50 µm size—suggesting MPs stress-drive lipid overproduction in microalgae.

The key role of magnetic iron-to-biochar mass ratios in the dissipation of oxytetracycline and its resistance genes in soils with and without biodegradable microplastics

Researchers synthesized magnetic biochars at different iron-to-biochar mass ratios and tested their ability to simultaneously remove the antibiotic oxytetracycline and its resistance genes from soils with and without PBAT biodegradable microplastics. A 1:2 iron-to-biochar ratio achieved the highest removal efficiencies (~95%) in both MPs-contaminated and clean soils, demonstrating biochar as a dual-action tool for antibiotic and resistance gene remediation.

Scientometric analysis and scientific hotspots on microplastics/antibiotics interaction

This scientometric analysis mapped the research landscape on microplastic-antibiotic interactions using bibliometric methods, identifying growth trends, key journals, and emerging hotspots including plastisphere ecology, antibiotic resistance gene dissemination, and combined ecotoxicology.

The response of soil ecosystem multifunctionality to two different microplastics of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride

Physiological Responses of Serratia marcescens to Magnetic Biochars and Coexisting Microplastics and the Relationships with Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Researchers examined how magnetic biochars affect Serratia marcescens physiology and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dynamics in the presence of polybutylene microplastics, investigating molecular biological mechanisms underlying biochar inhibition of horizontal ARG transfer in soils.

Diagnostic strategy for the combined effects of microplastics and potentially toxic elements on microbial communities in catchment scale

Researchers investigated the combined effects of microplastics and potentially toxic elements on microbial communities in soils and river sediments from a headwater catchment on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, finding significant accumulation of both fragment-shaped microplastics and copper as dominant contaminants. Their diagnostic strategy revealed that microplastics and potentially toxic elements significantly co-affect microbial community composition, with fiber-shaped microplastics preferentially transported into river systems while fragment-shaped particles dominated in soils.

[Distribution and Sources of Microplastics in Farmland Soil Along the Fenhe River].

This study investigated the distribution and sources of microplastics in farmland soil along the Fenhe River in China, finding widespread contamination from agricultural plastic films and other sources. The results highlight how agricultural plastic use contributes directly to microplastic buildup in food-producing soils.

Fe-dope Nickel Selenide @Tri-Nickel Diselenide heterostructure with efficient and stable water splitting for hydrogen production

Researchers developed an iron-doped nickel selenide catalyst for efficient water splitting to produce hydrogen as clean energy. While focused on renewable energy, developing clean alternatives to fossil fuels is important for reducing the petrochemical production that drives plastic manufacturing and microplastic pollution.

Research on Formability of 304 Stainless Steel Foil Micro-Deep Drawing

This study investigated how heat treatment and microstructure affect the formability of ultra-thin 304 stainless steel foil in micro-deep drawing processes used to manufacture miniature components. The results show that annealing temperature significantly influences grain structure and forming performance, with implications for precision manufacturing.

Molecular dynamics simulation of nanocrack closure mechanism and interface behaviors of polycrystalline austenitic steel

This molecular dynamics simulation study investigated nanocrack closure and healing mechanisms in polycrystalline FeCrNi austenitic steel under compressive and shear loading conditions relevant to heavy forging applications. Under compressive loading, crack closure occurred through dislocation-dominant plastic deformation, while shear loading caused cracks to expand along grain boundaries through additional mechanisms including grain boundary slip, grain rotation, and twinning. Healed interface samples exhibited higher Young's modulus and yield strength than cracked samples regardless of loading conditions.