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Papers
109 resultsShowing papers from University of Washington
ClearEarth at risk: An urgent call to end the age of destruction and forge a just and sustainable future
This broad review argues that humanity faces converging crises including climate change, pollution, ecosystem destruction, and inequality, all driven by extractive economic practices. Plastic and chemical pollution are highlighted as part of a larger pattern of environmental destruction that disproportionately harms vulnerable populations. The authors call for systemic economic transformation, including replacing exploitative capitalism with models that prioritize sustainability and justice.
Where the rubber meets the road: Emerging environmental impacts of tire wear particles and their chemical cocktails
About 3 billion new tires are produced every year, and the particles they shed during use are one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution, especially in urban areas. Tire wear particles contain a cocktail of heavy metals, plastics, and toxic organic compounds that wash into waterways during rain. Even recycled tire products like crumb rubber fields and rubber-modified pavement continue to release pollutants, making tire pollution a complex lifecycle problem.
Detection of microplastics in human tissues and organs: A scoping review
This scoping review summarizes studies that have detected microplastics in various human tissues and organs. The review found that microplastics enter the body through multiple routes and have distinct characteristics depending on where they accumulate. The variety of analytical techniques used across studies makes direct comparisons difficult, highlighting the need for standardized methods.
People need freshwater biodiversity
This paper catalogs nine essential services that freshwater biodiversity provides to people, from food and clean water to climate regulation and cultural value. While not directly about microplastics, freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by microplastic pollution, which can harm the aquatic organisms that provide these critical benefits to human communities.
Global meta‐analysis reveals diverse effects of microplastics on freshwater and marine fishes
This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the effects of microplastics on fish in both freshwater and ocean environments. The findings show that microplastics reduce feeding, impair digestion, slow growth, and weaken immune function in fish, which is concerning because contaminated fish are a major food source for people worldwide.
Metabolic Reprogramming in Gut Microbiota Exposed to Polystyrene Microplastics
This pilot study exposed common gut bacteria to polystyrene microplastics in the lab and found that the plastics reduced bacterial growth in a dose-dependent manner and disrupted key metabolic pathways. When gut bacteria from mice were tested, microplastic exposure shifted the microbial community balance, reducing beneficial species. These results suggest that microplastics ingested through food and water could alter the gut microbiome, which plays an important role in digestion, immunity, and overall health.
Research on the PFAS release and migration behavior of multi-layer outdoor jacket fabrics
Researchers tracked PFAS release from DWR-treated outdoor jacket fabrics through aging, abrasion, and washing, finding that prolonged use concentrates perfluoroalkyl acids in inner fabric layers and significantly elevates fluorine and microfiber shedding into wash effluents — levels exceeding current regulatory limits and suggesting current chemical-by-chemical PFAS regulations are inadequate.
Marine mammal conservation: over the horizon
This review examines the conservation status of marine mammals, which play important ecological roles and serve as indicators of ocean health. The researchers found that at least 25% of marine mammal species are classified as threatened, facing risks from climate change, fisheries bycatch, pollution, and maritime development. The study outlines research priorities and conservation strategies needed to protect at-risk species while building on recent recovery successes.
Future-proofing the emergency recovery plan for freshwater biodiversity
This paper outlines a global emergency recovery plan for freshwater biodiversity, which is declining faster than in any other ecosystem type. The plan identifies six priority actions including improving water quality, restoring habitats, and controlling invasive species. Reducing pollution, including microplastics and other contaminants entering freshwater systems, is a key component of the proposed recovery strategy.
A Call to Include Plastics in the Global Environment in the Class of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Pollutants
This viewpoint paper argues that plastics in the environment should be formally classified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic pollutants, the same category as chemicals like DDT and mercury. The authors present evidence that plastics meet all three criteria: they resist degradation, accumulate in organisms and food chains, and release harmful chemicals. Reclassifying plastics this way could trigger stronger regulatory protections worldwide.
Quantifying the influence of size, shape, and density of microplastics on their transport modes: A modeling approach
Researchers developed a computer model that predicts how microplastics of different sizes, shapes, and densities move through ocean water. The model accurately simulates whether particles float on the surface, stay suspended in the water column, or settle to the bottom. Understanding how microplastics travel through marine environments is important for predicting where contamination accumulates and which seafood sources are most likely to be affected.
Comparative Analysis of Physical and Polymer Characteristics of Microplastics Detected in Human Colorectal Cancer Samples From the United States and Malaysia
Researchers compared the physical and chemical characteristics of microplastics found in colorectal cancer tissue samples from patients in the United States and Malaysia. Microplastics were detected in samples from both populations, with some similarities in polymer types but also distinct differences in particle size and shape between the two groups. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastics accumulate in human tissues, though more research is needed to understand any potential health implications.
Nose-to-brain translocation of inhaled ultrafine elongated particles: facts and mysteries
Researchers discovered that inhaled ultrafine particles, including nanoplastics, can travel from the nose directly to the brain via two nerve pathways in humans. Examination of brain tissue from eleven deceased individuals revealed these particles alongside signs of inflammation and nerve damage, including demyelination and oxidative stress markers throughout the studied brain regions.
Arctic roads and railways: social and environmental consequences of transport infrastructure in the circumpolar North
This study examines the social and environmental consequences of expanding roads and railways into Arctic regions. Researchers found that transport infrastructure development is causing large-scale changes to northern ecosystems, including increased pollution and habitat fragmentation, while also noting that climate change creates new challenges for infrastructure maintenance in permafrost regions.
Specimen collection is essential for modern science
This commentary argues that collecting physical specimens of animals and plants remains essential for scientific research, despite growing interest in non-lethal alternatives like photography and DNA sampling. Researchers highlight that preserved specimens provide irreplaceable data for taxonomy, evolutionary studies, and environmental monitoring, including tracking chemical contaminant levels over time. The piece emphasizes that responsible specimen collection is a cornerstone of natural history research.
Health burden and economic loss attributable to ambient PM2.5 in Iran based on the ground and satellite data
Researchers estimated that long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) caused between 49,000 and 59,000 deaths in Iran in 2018 — representing economic losses of up to $12.8 billion — with satellite-based pollution data revealing greater health impacts than ground monitoring alone captured.
Recommendations on fit-for-purpose criteria to establish quality management for microphysiological systems and for monitoring their reproducibility
Researchers developed quality management guidelines for microphysiological systems — miniature lab models that mimic human tissue and organ behavior — to improve the consistency and reliability of results across different laboratories. Standardizing these systems is critical for replacing animal testing and generating trustworthy safety data for chemicals including nanoplastics.
Influence of marine habitat on microplastic prevalence in forage fish and salmon in the Salish Sea
Scientists examined microplastic ingestion in forage fish and juvenile salmon across different marine habitats in the Salish Sea of the Pacific Northwest. They found that fish from nearshore urban areas had more microplastics in their stomachs than those from offshore or less developed areas. The results suggest that habitat type and proximity to human activity are important predictors of microplastic exposure in marine food webs.
In Vivo Tissue Distribution of Microplastics and Systemic Metabolomic Alterations After Gastrointestinal Exposure
Researchers fed mice a mixture of common microplastics and then tracked where the particles ended up in the body and how they affected metabolism. They found that ingested microplastics crossed the gut barrier and accumulated in the liver, kidneys, and other tissues, causing measurable changes in metabolic pathways. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure through the digestive system can lead to widespread tissue distribution and systemic metabolic disruption in mammals.
Electrochemically coupled CH4 and CO2 consumption driven by microbial processes
Researchers demonstrated that naturally occurring iron minerals in soil and sediment can mediate a coupled microbial process where methane (CH4) is broken down while carbon dioxide (CO2) is simultaneously captured — essentially using microbes to remove two major greenhouse gases at once under normal temperature conditions. This mechanism, tracked through electrochemical and genetic analysis, offers a potential new engineering approach for greenhouse gas mitigation.
Causes, Responses, and Implications of Anthropogenic versus Natural Flow Intermittence in River Networks
Researchers reviewed the differences between natural and human-caused flow intermittence in rivers, examining how anthropogenic drivers such as dams and water diversions alter drying patterns compared to natural seasonal cycles. They found that human-caused flow intermittence produces distinct ecological impacts because the affected organisms have not evolved adaptations to these artificial drying regimes. The study emphasizes that failing to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic intermittence could undermine river management and increase risks to downstream ecosystems.
Exploiting weak supervision to facilitate segmentation, classification, and analysis of microplastics (<100 μm) using Raman microspectroscopy images
Researchers developed a machine learning approach that can automatically identify and classify microplastics smaller than 100 micrometers in Raman spectroscopy images without requiring extensive manual labeling of training data. Using weakly supervised techniques, the system achieved strong performance in segmenting and categorizing different polymer types. The method could significantly reduce the time and expertise needed for analyzing small microplastic particles in environmental samples.
Future Directions in Conservation Research on Petrels and Shearwaters
This review assembled 38 conservation researchers to summarize the major threats facing petrels and shearwaters, a group of seabirds where 41 percent of species are threatened. Researchers identified invasive species, bycatch, overfishing, light pollution, climate change, and pollution including microplastics as the six primary threats. The paper proposes future research directions and management strategies including habitat restoration, improved fisheries policies, and better monitoring of pollution impacts on these vulnerable seabird populations.
Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Blue Mussel Mytilus chilensis Reveals Molecular Signatures Facing the Marine Environment
Scientists assembled the first chromosome-level genome of the Chilean blue mussel, an important aquaculture species in South America. The genome revealed genetic adaptations related to immune defense, stress response, and shell formation that help the mussels survive in challenging marine environments. This genomic resource will support breeding programs and help researchers understand how mussels respond to environmental stressors including pollution.