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Papers
110 resultsShowing papers from China University of Geosciences
ClearNumeric uptake drives nanoplastic toxicity: Size-effects uncovered by toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TKTD) modeling
This study used mathematical models to predict how different sizes of nanoplastics accumulate in and harm tiny water organisms (Daphnia magna). The smallest nanoplastics (30 nanometers) were the most toxic because they spread throughout the body, while larger ones mostly stayed in the gut. This size-dependent toxicity pattern is important because it suggests that the tiniest plastic particles, which are hardest to detect, may pose the greatest health risks.
Human exposure to microplastics: A review on exposure routes and public health impacts
This review examines how microplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact and the health effects they can cause, including oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone disruption, and potential DNA damage. Despite growing evidence of harm, the exact routes plastics take through the body and the cellular mechanisms behind their effects are still not well understood, and there is an urgent need for standardized detection methods.
Behavioral impairments and disrupted mitochondrial energy metabolism induced by polypropylene microplastics in zebrafish larvae
Zebrafish embryos exposed to polypropylene microplastics at environmentally relevant levels showed behavioral changes and disrupted energy production in their cells. The microplastics impaired the mitochondria -- the energy-producing structures inside cells -- in both intestinal and liver tissue, while also causing oxidative stress. These findings suggest that even at concentrations found in the environment, common polypropylene microplastics can interfere with basic cellular energy processes.
Leaching hazards of tire wear particles in hydrothermal treatment of sludge: Exploring molecular composition, transformation mechanism, and ecological effects of tire wear particle-derived compounds
When sewage sludge containing tire wear particles was treated with high heat and pressure, the process accelerated the release of harmful chemicals from the tire rubber into the liquid byproduct. Researchers identified 144 different chemical compounds leaching from the tire particles, many of which were toxic to aquatic organisms and plants -- highlighting how waste treatment processes can inadvertently spread tire-derived microplastic pollution.
The increasing age of facility agriculture significantly enriched microplastics and affected soil bacterial communities
A study of soil from 10 agricultural greenhouse facilities in Beijing found an average of 1,760 microplastic particles per kilogram, with contamination increasing as the facilities aged. The most common types were polypropylene and polyethylene fragments and films, likely from plastic mulch and greenhouse materials. While the microplastics affected some soil bacteria, facility age and basic soil properties had a stronger influence on the soil's microbial ecosystem than the plastics themselves.
Occurrence and health risk assessment of phthalate ester pollution in mulched farmland soil at a national scale, China
Researchers analyzed farmland soils across 29 Chinese provinces and found widespread phthalate ester contamination linked to plastic mulching films, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate posing carcinogenic risks exceeding safety thresholds in over 11% of samples, pointing to inadequate current regulations on agricultural plastic use.
Microplastic abundance, characteristics, and removal in wastewater treatment plants in a coastal city of China
Researchers studied microplastic contamination across seven wastewater treatment plants in the coastal Chinese city of Xiamen and found that while treatment removed the vast majority of particles, the remaining microplastics still entered coastal waters in significant quantities due to high effluent volumes. Fibers and fragments were the most common microplastic types detected. The study underscores that wastewater treatment plants are both a barrier to and a source of marine microplastic pollution.
Microplastic pollution of lakeshore sediments from remote lakes in Tibet plateau, China
Researchers sampled lakeshore sediments from remote lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the least populated regions on Earth, and found microplastic contamination at every site. The most common plastics identified were polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyethylene, likely transported by atmospheric processes from distant sources. The findings demonstrate that microplastic pollution has reached even the most isolated environments on the planet.
Molecular properties and biotoxicity of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastic (MP-DOM) during typical hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
Researchers investigated the dissolved organic matter that leaches from microplastics during sewage sludge treatment processes like thermal hydrolysis. Different plastic types released chemically distinct compounds, some of which showed toxicity to aquatic organisms. The findings highlight that microplastics are not just physical pollutants but also release harmful chemical byproducts during waste treatment.
Molecular characteristics and biological effects of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics during sludge hydrothermal treatment
Researchers analyzed the dissolved organic matter that leaches from microplastics during sludge hydrothermal treatment, a common waste processing method. The study found that higher treatment temperatures produced more complex and diverse chemical mixtures from the microplastics, some of which showed toxic effects on plants and aquatic organisms. The results highlight a previously overlooked source of chemical pollution from microplastic-containing waste.
Occurrence, distribution and risk assessment of microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in East lake, Hubei, China
Researchers surveyed microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in East Lake, China's second largest urban lake, and found both pollutants widespread in water and sediment samples. Microplastic concentrations exceeded 3,300 particles per cubic meter in water, with fibers and polypropylene being the dominant types. The study found a potential link between microplastic and PAH distribution patterns, suggesting these pollutants may interact in urban freshwater environments.
Atmospheric deposition is an important pathway for inputting microplastics: Insight into the spatiotemporal distribution and deposition flux in a mega city
Researchers monitored microplastic fallout from the atmosphere in the Chinese megacity of Wuhan over an entire year and found an average of about 83 particles landing per square meter per day. The highest concentrations fell in spring, with city centers receiving more than suburbs, and most particles were tiny fibers from textiles. This study shows that simply breathing outdoor air and living in a city exposes people to a constant rain of microplastic particles.
Distinct species turnover patterns shaped the richness of antibiotic resistance genes on eight different microplastic polymers
Researchers studied antibiotic resistance genes on eight different types of microplastic surfaces in the environment and found 479 different resistance genes across all plastic types. Biodegradable plastics actually harbored more dangerous bacteria carrying resistance genes than conventional plastics, including species linked to human disease like Vibrio cholerae. This is concerning because these microplastics could spread antibiotic-resistant infections through the environment to people.
Effects of land use and landscape on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in soil, China
Researchers investigated how land use patterns affect microplastic contamination in soils across different agricultural, orchard, grassland, and woodland areas in Yunnan Province, China. Agricultural lands, especially those with greenhouses and traditional farming, had significantly higher microplastic levels than grasslands and woodlands, with fragments being the dominant shape. The study suggests that farming practices, including plastic mulch use and fertilizer application, are major contributors to soil microplastic pollution.
Homogenization of microplastics in alpine rivers: Analysis of microplastic abundance and characteristics in rivers of Qilian Mountain, China
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in five alpine rivers in China's Qilian Mountains and found plastic particles present in all water samples. The microplastics showed similar characteristics across different rivers, suggesting a homogenization effect during transport. The findings demonstrate that microplastic pollution has reached even remote mountain river systems far from major population centers.
A Comprehensive Review of Machine Learning for Water Quality Prediction over the Past Five Years
This comprehensive review analyzes over 170 studies on using machine learning to predict water quality, covering both individual pollutant indicators and overall water quality indices. The authors highlight key challenges including data acquisition, model uncertainty, and the need to incorporate water flow dynamics into predictions. While broadly focused on water quality, these predictive tools are relevant to microplastics research because they could help forecast microplastic concentrations in water systems based on environmental conditions.
Direct Evidence That Microplastics Are Transported to the Deep Sea by Turbidity Currents
Researchers provided the first direct field evidence that underwater sediment avalanches, called turbidity currents, transport microplastics from shallow waters into the deep sea through submarine canyons. By monitoring water flow and sampling the seafloor, they confirmed that these natural events carry significant quantities of microfibers and plastic fragments to deep ocean environments. The discovery helps explain how microplastic pollution reaches even the most remote parts of the ocean floor.
Microplastics in groundwater: Environmental fate and possible interactions with coexisting contaminants
This review looked at how microplastics end up in groundwater and what happens when they interact with other pollutants already present. Researchers found that microplastic contamination in groundwater varies widely around the world, with levels ranging from zero to nearly 7,000 particles per liter. The study highlights that microplastics can act as carriers for other harmful substances, potentially increasing their ability to spread through groundwater and pose risks to ecosystems and human health.
Polylactic acid microplastics and fish species intestinal inflammation risk: Associated with mitochondrial function mediated by Sesn2/Nrf2 pathway
Researchers exposed rare minnow fish to polylactic acid microplastics and found that even low concentrations caused intestinal inflammation and disrupted mitochondrial function. The study identified a specific molecular pathway involving the proteins Sesn2 and Nrf2 that mediated the damage. The findings suggest that microplastics from biodegradable plastics may still pose meaningful risks to the gut health of aquatic organisms.
Huge quantities of microplastics are “hidden” in the sediment of China's largest urban lake—Tangxun Lake
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in Tangxun Lake, the largest urban lake in China, finding high concentrations hidden in sediment averaging 1.81 x 10 items per kilogram. While water surface levels were comparatively moderate, sediments contained predominantly smaller particles under 1 mm. The study suggests that large quantities of microplastics accumulate in lake sediments where they are not easily observed, with pellet-shaped particles particularly concentrated in inner lake areas.
Impact of microplastics on the foraging, photosynthesis and digestive systems of submerged carnivorous macrophytes under low and high nutrient concentrations
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect the carnivorous aquatic plant Utricularia vulgaris, finding that high concentrations reduced growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content while increasing oxidative stress. The study also revealed that microplastics accumulated in the plant's traps and altered the associated microbial community, though higher nutrient levels helped compensate for some of the negative growth effects.
Urbanization and the Emerging Water Crisis: Identifying Water Scarcity and Environmental Risk with Multiple Applications in Urban Agglomerations in Western China
Researchers developed a comprehensive index system to evaluate water scarcity and environmental risk across three major urban regions in Western China. They found that rapid urbanization has significantly worsened water resource shortages and ecological vulnerability in these areas. The study provides a framework for understanding how urban growth intensifies water stress and suggests approaches for sustainable water resource management.
Novel insights into the joint phytotoxicity of nanoplastics and silver ions at environmentally relevant concentrations: a dual aggregation-induced emission bioimaging approach
Researchers used a novel bioimaging technique to investigate how nanoplastics and silver ions together affect plant health at environmentally realistic concentrations. They found that nanoplastics can carry silver ions and deliver them to plant tissues, amplifying the combined toxic effects. The study provides new visual evidence of how nanoplastics act as carriers for heavy metal pollutants, worsening their impact on aquatic organisms.
The rapid increases in microplastics in urban lake sediments
Researchers used sediment cores from an urban lake in Wuhan, China, combined with high-resolution dating techniques, to track microplastic accumulation over the past 60 years. They found that microplastic abundance increased more than tenfold, from 741 to 7,707 items per kilogram, with fibers from textiles being the dominant type. The study suggests that microplastics could serve as geological markers of the Anthropocene era, similar to fossils in the sediment record.