Papers

Biochar-based electrochemical sensors: a tailored approach to environmental monitoring

This review covers the development of biochar-based electrochemical sensors for detecting environmental pollutants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and heavy metals. Biochar, made from plant waste through heat treatment, offers a sustainable and low-cost alternative to expensive sensor materials while maintaining good sensitivity and selectivity. These sensors could provide affordable, portable tools for monitoring microplastic and chemical contamination in water and soil.

The measurement of food safety and security risks associated with micro- and nanoplastic pollution

Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastic pollution enters the human food chain through agricultural systems, raising concerns for food safety and security. They identified major gaps in our ability to assess the risks of plastic contamination in food and feed sources. The study calls for interdisciplinary approaches and better analytical methods to understand and address this growing challenge.

Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastic contaminated with heavy metals in a tropical river: Effect of land use and population density

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in Thailand's Chao Phraya River and found that population density and land use strongly influence contamination levels. Urban areas had the highest microplastic concentrations, and many particles were contaminated with heavy metals. The findings suggest that microplastics in rivers can serve as carriers of toxic metals, compounding the pollution risk for downstream communities.

Prevalence and characteristics of microplastic contamination in soft drinks and potential consumer exposure

Researchers tested nine popular soft drink brands in Thailand and found microplastics in every single one, regardless of whether the packaging was plastic, aluminum, or glass. Concentrations ranged from 2 to 39 particles per liter, with most particles being tiny fragments between 50 and 100 micrometers. Based on average soft drink consumption, a person in Thailand could swallow between 81 and 1,609 microplastic particles per year just from soft drinks alone.

Microplastic Pollution in High Population Density Zones of Selected Rivers from Southeast Asia

Researchers compared microplastic pollution in three major Southeast Asian rivers, the Chao Phraya in Thailand, the Saigon River in Vietnam, and the Citarum River in Indonesia, all in densely populated urban areas. Microplastics were found at every sampling site, with the highest levels in Thailand's river. Since these rivers supply water for drinking, agriculture, and fishing for millions of people, the contamination directly affects human microplastic exposure in the region.

Microplastics contamination in the green mussels (Perna viridis) cultured for human consumption in Thailand

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in green mussels farmed for human consumption at two sites in Thailand's Gulf coast. They found microplastics in 100% of water, sediment, and mussel samples, with fibers being the most common shape and polyethylene terephthalate the most frequent polymer type. The study estimates that Thai consumers eating mussels could ingest thousands of microplastic particles annually, highlighting the need for monitoring aquaculture products.

Microplastics and heavy metals in a tropical river: Understanding spatial and seasonal trends and developing response strategies using DPSIR framework

Researchers surveyed microplastics and heavy metals in one of Southeast Asia's top plastic-polluting rivers, examining how pollution patterns change with location and season. They found that microplastic concentrations varied significantly between upstream and downstream sites and between wet and dry seasons, with urban areas showing the highest contamination. Using a structured environmental framework, the study identifies key drivers of pollution and recommends targeted policy responses for managing microplastic contamination in tropical river systems.

Investigation of microplastic contamination in blood cockles and green mussels from selected aquaculture farms and markets in Thailand

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in blood cockles and green mussels from aquaculture farms and markets in Thailand using fluorescence microscopy and micro-FTIR spectroscopy. They found microplastics present in all samples, with fibers being the most common shape and varying abundance levels across different collection sites. The study raises concerns about microplastic contamination in commercially farmed and sold bivalves as a pathway for human dietary exposure.

Microplastics pollution with heavy metals in the aquaculture zone of the Chao Phraya River Estuary, Thailand

Researchers examined microplastic pollution and associated heavy metals in the aquaculture zone of the Chao Phraya River Estuary in Thailand. They found microplastics in both sediment and surface water, with fibers being the dominant shape and polyethylene the most common polymer type. The study raises concerns about the potential for microplastics to carry heavy metal contaminants into aquaculture areas, which could affect seafood safety in the region.

Unveiling the abundance and potential impacts of microplastic contamination in commercial organic fertilizers/compost produced from different solid waste

Researchers analyzed commercial organic fertilizers made from different waste sources and found microplastics in 80% of the samples, with compost from mixed municipal waste containing the highest levels. The estimated amounts of microplastics being introduced into agricultural soils through these fertilizers exceeded previous reports. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations on organic fertilizer quality to prevent microplastic contamination of farmland.

YOLOv7-Based Microplastic Detection: Crafting a Custom Dataset for Environmental Analysis

Researchers used three versions of the YOLO object detection model to detect and count microplastics from a custom-built dataset. YOLOv8 achieved the highest overall accuracy at 81.4%, followed by YOLOv7 at 80.7% and YOLOv9 at 77.2%, though YOLOv7 performed best with real-time test data. The study demonstrates the potential of AI-based detection systems for automating microplastic identification in environmental samples.

Microplastics Contamination in Commercial Green Mussels from Selected Wet Markets in Thailand

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in commercially sold green mussels from Thai wet markets, providing the first assessment of MP levels in market-sold mussel species in Thailand and estimating potential human dietary exposure.

Health literacy and preventive behaviors toward microplastic contamination among communities in the major river basins of northeastern Thailand

Researchers assessed health literacy and preventive behaviors related to microplastic contamination among communities living near major river basins in northeastern Thailand. They found that health literacy, particularly decision-making skills, was a critical factor in whether people adopted behaviors to reduce microplastic exposure. The study recommends integrating targeted literacy interventions into public health strategies for riverine communities.

PPE pollution in the terrestrial and aquatic environment of the Chittagong city area associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant health implications

Researchers documented the improper disposal of face masks and other personal protective equipment in the Chittagong metropolitan area of Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding widespread terrestrial and aquatic contamination with plastic microfibers that poses risks for both viral persistence and microplastic pollution.

Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Cellular Alterations and Their Effects on Viral Entry (RSV, HCoV-OC43, EV-A71) and Viral Persistence

Researchers systematically investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect human cells and their interactions with three respiratory and enteric viruses. The study found that microplastic exposure caused cell damage, suppressed innate antiviral immune responses, and enhanced the persistence of enveloped viruses like coronavirus OC43 and RSV, suggesting that microplastics may create conditions favorable for viral survival.

Microplastic abundance and removal via an ultrafiltration system coupled to a conventional municipal wastewater treatment plant in Thailand

Microplastics pollution in selected rivers from Southeast Asia

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in rivers across Southeast Asia, a region with high plastic waste discharge but limited monitoring data, documenting the distribution and characteristics of microplastics in these understudied waterways.

Temporal trends of water quality parameters, heavy metals, microplastics, and emerging organic pollutants in Lake Victoria and its basin: knowns, knowledge gaps, and future directions

Occurrence of Microplastics across Seasonal Variations in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in Thailand

Researchers monitored microplastic concentrations at a Thai municipal wastewater treatment plant across rainy, winter, and summer seasons of 2023–2024. Microplastic levels were highest during the rainy season, demonstrating that seasonal variation and rainfall significantly influence microplastic abundance and treatment efficiency.

Enhancing microplastic classification through filter-interfered FTIR spectra using dimensionality reduction and deep learning in low-dimensional spaces

Researchers developed a method to improve microplastic classification from FTIR spectra that are interfered with by filter backgrounds, using deep learning to extract polymer-specific spectral features even when filter absorption overlaps with plastic signatures, improving accuracy for environmental samples.

Microplastic removal efficiency in a megacity water treatment plant and dynamics in the distribution system

This study tracked microplastics through a megacity drinking water treatment plant and urban distribution network, finding significant MP removal through treatment but detecting residual contamination in distributed water, raising public health concerns in rapidly growing urban areas.

Membrane filter removal in FTIR spectra through dictionary learning for exploring explainable environmental microplastic analysis

Researchers developed a machine learning method to remove the interfering signal from filter membranes in infrared spectra used to identify microplastics, improving classification accuracy by 1.5-fold and maintaining explainability — making it easier to reliably identify plastic types in environmental water samples collected with filters.

Enhancing Automatic Microplastic Detection Through Density Separation and HSV Color Processing

This study combined density separation with HSV color space image processing to improve the automated detection of microplastics from environmental samples. The approach achieved higher accuracy in distinguishing plastic particles from organic and mineral debris than methods using standard visible light imaging.

Identification of Micro-plastic Contamination in Drinking Water Treatment Plants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Microplastics were identified in drinking water at two treatment plants in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, raising concerns about human exposure through tap water in the region.