Papers

Dust Fall Microplastics from a Megacity of China Inhibit Autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway

Researchers collected dust from Xi'an, a major Chinese city, and found it contained nine types of microplastics. When tested on immune cells, the microplastics in the dust blocked autophagy (the cell's natural cleanup process) and triggered cell death through a specific signaling pathway. This suggests that breathing in microplastic-containing dust in cities could impair the body's ability to clear damaged cells, potentially contributing to chronic health problems.

A Flow-through Passive Sampler for Microplastics in Air

Researchers developed and tested a flow-through passive air sampler designed to capture airborne microplastics without requiring electrical power. Field tests showed the sampler produced results comparable to conventional high-volume air samplers while being deployable in remote locations. The device offers a practical, low-cost tool for monitoring microplastic concentrations in the atmosphere across diverse settings.

Revealing the environmental hazard posed by biodegradable microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: An investigation of polylactic acid's effects on Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers tested whether biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics are safer for aquatic life than traditional plastics by exposing the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to them for 63 days. Surprisingly, PLA microplastics actually promoted algae growth despite causing oxidative stress and cell damage, which could fuel harmful algal blooms. This suggests that so-called biodegradable plastics may still pose environmental risks and are not necessarily a safe alternative in aquatic ecosystems.

New molecular mechanism of nanoplastics affecting cadmium protein toxicity: Conformational response and differential binding of human serum albumin

Researchers showed that cadmium alone disrupts the structure and transport function of human serum albumin (the blood's main protein carrier), and that co-exposure with nanoplastics — which form a protein corona by binding albumin to their surface — further exacerbates these structural disruptions and enzyme activity losses, raising concerns about combined nanoplastic-heavy metal toxicity.

Geographical features and management strategies for microplastic loads in freshwater lakes

Researchers used machine learning to predict microplastic concentrations in lakes worldwide, estimating that the top 20 meters of global lake water holds roughly 10,167 tons of microplastics — equivalent to 508 million plastic bottles. Agricultural land use and urban development near waterways were the strongest predictors of contamination, with North America, Africa, and Asia showing the heaviest loads.

Reproduction, metabolic enzyme activity, and metabolomics in earthworms Eisenia fetida exposed to different polymer microplastics

Researchers exposed earthworms to microplastics from three different polymer types, including both conventional and biodegradable plastics, at environmentally relevant concentrations. They found that polypropylene microplastics had the most pronounced effects on reproduction and metabolic enzyme activity, while biodegradable plastics also disrupted earthworm metabolism. The study demonstrates that different plastic polymers pose varying levels of risk to soil-dwelling organisms.

Co-exposure of TMPs and antibiotics in zebrafish: The influence of additives on the risk of hepatotoxicity

Researchers investigated how tire microplastics combined with antibiotics cause liver damage in zebrafish, focusing specifically on the role of chemical additives in the tire particles. They found that different antibiotic-tire microplastic combinations produced varying levels of liver toxicity, with certain additive chemicals playing a key role. The study suggests that the additives leaching from tire microplastics may be an underappreciated contributor to their environmental toxicity.

The Effects of Microplastics and Heavy Metals Individually and in Combination on the Growth of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatic) and Rhizosphere Microorganisms

Researchers tested how combinations of microplastics and heavy metals (cadmium and lead) affect the growth of water spinach and the microbial communities in its root zone. They found that all three stressors individually inhibited plant growth, and combining microplastics with heavy metals intensified the toxic effects while reducing the availability of essential soil nutrients. The study suggests that microplastic-heavy metal interactions in agricultural soils may pose compounding risks to both crop health and soil ecosystem function.

Nanoplastics composite norfloxacin induced changes in conformation and function of lysozyme and differential effects of co-exposure contamination

Researchers used spectroscopy and molecular docking to show that nanoplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin form stable co-aggregates that bind near the active site of lysozyme, reducing its enzymatic activity by nearly 40% and altering the protein's secondary structure more severely than either contaminant alone.

Discrepant soil microbial community and C cycling function responses to conventional and biodegradable microplastics

Scientists compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics affect soil microbial communities and carbon cycling. Researchers found that the two types of microplastics had markedly different effects, with biodegradable plastics causing more changes to microbial community structure and carbon-related gene activity. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics, while designed to be more environmentally friendly, may still significantly alter soil biology.

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Elicit Multiple Responses in Immune Cells of the Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826)

This study examined how nanoplastics from polystyrene affect the immune cells of earthworms, which play a critical role in soil ecosystems. Researchers found that the tiny plastic particles were taken up by the cells, triggered oxidative stress, weakened antioxidant defenses, destabilized cell membranes, and initiated early-stage cell death. The results provide cellular-level evidence that nanoplastic exposure poses ecological risks to soil-dwelling organisms.

Joint toxicity of cadmium (II) and microplastic leachates on wheat seed germination and seedling growth

Researchers investigated how cadmium and chemical compounds that leach from microplastics jointly affect wheat seed germination and seedling growth. They found that microplastic leachates from PVC and polyethylene can interact with cadmium in complex ways, sometimes worsening and sometimes lessening the toxic effects on young wheat plants. The study suggests that the combined presence of heavy metals and microplastics in agricultural soils could pose risks to crop development.

Bioaccumulation and biochemical impact of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in Cipangopaludina chinensis: Tissue-specific analysis and homeostasis disruption

This study investigated how PET microplastics accumulate in the tissues of a freshwater snail species from the Songhua River in China. Researchers found that microplastics built up most heavily in kidney tissue and caused measurable disruptions to the animals' enzyme activity, energy metabolism, and internal balance. The findings highlight how microplastics can bioaccumulate in freshwater organisms and interfere with basic biological functions.

The size-dependent effects of nanoplastics in mouse primary hepatocytes from cells to molecules

Researchers studied how different sizes of nanoplastics affect mouse liver cells, finding that particle size significantly influences toxicity. Larger nanoplastics were more harmful at low doses, while smaller particles caused greater damage at high doses by more effectively penetrating cells and disrupting enzyme function. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining potential liver health risks.

Assessment of quality control measures in the monitoring of microplastic: a critical review

Researchers conducted a critical review of quality control measures used in microplastic monitoring studies, evaluating eight key quality control parameters across 30 published studies. The review found that strict quality control protocols are essential for accurate microplastic detection, as small-sized particles and microfibers can easily be introduced as contaminants from ambient air, sampling equipment, and laboratory environments during the monitoring process.

Occurrence, influencing factors and sources of atmospheric microplastics in peri-urban farmland ecosystems of Beijing, China

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic deposition in farmland areas on the outskirts of Beijing and found an average of about 167 particles per square meter per day settling from the air. The majority were tiny fibers made of polyester and rayon, likely originating from textile sources and urban activities. The study demonstrates that atmospheric fallout is a meaningful pathway for microplastic contamination of agricultural soils near cities.

Organophosphorus Pesticides Management Strategies: Prohibition and Restriction Multi-Category Multi-Class Models, Environmental Transformation Risks, and Special Attention List

This study built machine learning models to predict which organophosphorus pesticides should be restricted based on their molecular properties and toxicity profiles. Researchers also found that the environmental breakdown products of these pesticides can be just as toxic as the original compounds. The work provides a framework for identifying high-risk pesticides and their transformation products that warrant closer regulatory attention.

Microbial community shifts drive biodegradable microplastic inhibition of seed germination in plateau wetlands

Researchers studied how biodegradable and conventional microplastics affect seed germination in plateau wetland soils through changes in soil microbial communities. They found that biodegradable microplastics from polybutylene succinate caused the strongest suppression of seed germination, reducing seedling counts by half compared to polyethylene treatments. The study reveals that biodegradable microplastics more substantially altered soil bacterial communities and chemistry, leading to cascading effects on which plant species could germinate.

Long-term aging-driven evolution of microplastic ecological risks: New insights from rooftop-deposited microplastics on urban buildings of varying ages

Researchers studied microplastics deposited on rooftops of buildings of varying ages in two Chinese cities to understand how ecological risks evolve over time. They found that microplastic abundance peaked on buildings aged 5-8 years, while the proportion of smaller particles increased with building age, following a nonlinear risk growth pattern. The study reveals that urban human activities drive short-term microplastic risks, while long-term fragmentation from aging becomes the dominant factor over decades.

Accumulation of microplastics in greenhouse soil after long-term plastic film mulching in Beijing, China

Researchers found that microplastic contamination in Beijing greenhouse soils increased with the duration of plastic film mulching, with abandoned greenhouses accumulating the highest levels at over 2,200 particles per kilogram of soil.

Trends in and Future Research Direction of Antimicrobial Resistance in Global Aquaculture Systems: A Review

This review analyzed trends in antimicrobial resistance in global aquaculture systems, finding that antibiotic overuse has accelerated the development of resistance genes and identifying key research directions for addressing this growing public health concern.

Characteristics of Vehicle Tire and Road Wear Particles’ Size Distribution and Influencing Factors Examined via Laboratory Test

Researchers conducted laboratory tests to characterize the size distribution of tire and road wear particles under various conditions. The study found that factors such as driving speed, tire composition, and road surface characteristics significantly influence the size and quantity of wear particles released, which are a growing source of microplastic pollution.

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the adjacent environment of Yellow River Delta, China

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across water, sediment, and soil samples in the Yellow River Delta of China. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 0.5 to nearly 8 particles per liter in water and up to 4,200 particles per kilogram in sediments, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common polymer types, indicating widespread plastic contamination in this coastal environment.

Microplastics in remote region of the world: Insights from the glacier of Geladandong, China