Papers

Molecular mechanisms by which polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic and PET leachate promote the growth of benthic cyanobacteria

Researchers found that PET microplastics and the chemicals they release into water promoted the growth of toxic bottom-dwelling algae by 39-63%, which in turn increased harmful toxin levels in the water. This is concerning for human health because these toxins threaten drinking water safety, and microplastics accumulating at the bottom of lakes and rivers are making the problem worse.

Microplastics regulate soil microbial activities: Evidence from catalase, dehydrogenase, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolase

This review examines how microplastics affect the activity of soil microorganisms, finding that results range widely from boosting to suppressing microbial function depending on the type, size, and age of the plastic, as well as soil conditions. Smaller nanoplastics can directly damage microbial cells, while larger microplastics alter soil chemistry and the toxicity of co-existing pollutants. Since soil microbes drive processes critical to agriculture and food production, these disruptions could have downstream effects on human food systems.

Microplastics in remote coral reef environments of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea: Source, accumulation and potential risk

Scientists mapped microplastic contamination across 13 islands in the remote Xisha Islands of the South China Sea and found an average of 682 particles per kilogram of sediment. The study identified local sewage, fishing waste, and industrial runoff from nearby countries as the main sources. This shows that even remote coral reef ecosystems far from population centers are not safe from microplastic pollution.

Metagenomic analysis reveals gene taxonomic and functional diversity response to microplastics and cadmium in an agricultural soil

Using advanced DNA analysis of soil microbes, researchers found that different types of microplastics (polyethylene, polystyrene, and PLA bioplastic) each had distinct effects on soil microbial communities in agricultural land. Microplastics had a greater impact on microbes than cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, and high doses of PLA bioplastic notably increased genes linked to disease-causing organisms and nitrogen metabolism. This suggests that even biodegradable plastics can significantly alter soil health in farmland.

Microplastics in four bivalve species and basis for using bivalves as bioindicators of microplastic pollution

Researchers found microplastics in 80% of shellfish samples (scallops, mussels, oysters, and clams) collected across four seasons in Qingdao, China. PVC and rayon fibers were the most common plastic types, with different shellfish species accumulating different sizes and types of particles. Since these shellfish are commonly eaten by people, the findings highlight a direct route for microplastics to enter the human diet through seafood.

Effects of microplastics on atrazine removal in constructed wetlands: Insight into the response characteristics of microorganisms, enzyme activity, and functional genes

Researchers found that adding polyethylene microplastics to constructed wetlands (engineered systems that filter polluted water) reduced the wetlands' ability to remove the pesticide atrazine by disrupting the microbial communities responsible for breaking it down. The microplastics altered enzyme activity and shifted the balance of beneficial bacteria in the wetland system. This is important because constructed wetlands are used to clean agricultural runoff, and microplastic contamination could make them less effective at protecting water quality.

Does microplastic really represent a threat? A review of the atmospheric contamination sources and potential impacts

This review examines airborne microplastics as emerging atmospheric contaminants that people inevitably inhale during normal breathing. Researchers found that fibers from synthetic textiles are the most common form of airborne microplastics, and their small size allows them to remain suspended in air and potentially cause health problems. The study discusses analytical methods used to measure airborne microplastics and calls for more research into their environmental and health impacts.

Microplastics exhibit accumulation and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes

Researchers investigated whether microplastics in wastewater treatment plants can accumulate and spread antibiotic resistance genes. They found that bacteria growing on microplastic surfaces in treatment tanks harbored antibiotic resistance genes and transferred them at higher rates than bacteria in the surrounding water. This suggests microplastics in wastewater systems may serve as hotspots for spreading antibiotic resistance, posing potential risks to both ecosystems and human health.

Unraveling individual and combined toxicity of nano/microplastics and ciprofloxacin to Synechocystis sp. at the cellular and molecular levels

Researchers studied the individual and combined toxic effects of nano- and microplastics with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin on a freshwater cyanobacterium. They found that while each pollutant caused harm on its own, the antibiotic actually showed an antagonistic interaction with the plastic particles, reducing some of their combined toxicity. The study provides important insights into how microplastics and pharmaceutical pollutants interact in aquatic environments, which may complicate pollution risk assessments.

Towards Risk Assessments of Microplastics in Bivalve Mollusks Globally

Researchers compiled data from 22 countries to assess the risk of microplastic contamination in bivalve mollusks such as mussels and oysters. While most countries showed relatively low pollution levels, the chemical composition of the microplastics found in bivalves varied widely, with some polymers posing greater health concerns than others. The study estimates that regular consumption of contaminated bivalves could represent a meaningful pathway for human microplastic exposure.

Modulating reactive oxygen species in O, S co-doped C3N4 to enhance photocatalytic degradation of microplastics

Mechanistic insight into sp-hybridized carbon-induced dual electronic ‘push effect’ in Pt/graphdiyne/graphene for boosting oxidase-like activity

Researchers developed a platinum-based material supported on a special carbon composite that mimics the function of natural enzymes for breaking down pollutants. The material showed strong ability to detect and degrade common environmental contaminants, including the antibiotic tetracycline, by activating oxygen molecules. The technology could offer a new approach for removing persistent pollutants from water and the environment.

SDUST2023BCO: a global seafloor model determined from a multi-layer perceptron neural network using multi-source differential marine geodetic data

This study used a neural network to build a new global seafloor topography model by combining multiple sources of marine depth data, including satellite altimetry and ship soundings. The resulting model provides more accurate ocean floor maps, which are important for understanding marine environments, ocean circulation, and seafloor geology.

Joint toxicity of microplastics with triclosan to marine microalgae Skeletonema costatum

Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of triclosan and four types of microplastics on the marine microalga Skeletonema costatum. They found that while all microplastics individually inhibited algal growth, PVC and smaller particles had the strongest effects, and the joint toxicity with triclosan followed an antagonistic pattern rather than additive or synergistic. The study suggests that microplastics can adsorb organic pollutants and partially reduce their bioavailability, though the physical damage from smaller particles remains a significant concern.

Molecular modeling of nanoplastic transformations in alveolar fluid and impacts on the lung surfactant film

Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to model how inhaled nanoplastics interact with lung surfactant fluid at the air-water interface in the lungs. They found that lung surfactant molecules spontaneously coat nanoplastics to form coronas, and that some plastic types can be dissolved by lung surfactant, potentially increasing the bioavailability of toxic additives. The study suggests that nanoplastics could disrupt normal lung surfactant function, raising concerns about respiratory health effects.

Benzo[a]pyrene and heavy metal ion adsorption on nanoplastics regulated by humic acid: Cooperation/competition mechanisms revealed by molecular dynamics simulations

Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how humic acid regulates the adsorption of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene and copper ions onto nanoplastics. They found that polystyrene nanoplastics had the highest capacity for adsorbing the carcinogen, while humic acid formed eco-coronas on nanoplastic surfaces that both hindered direct pollutant binding and created new binding sites for metal ions. The study reveals cooperation and competition mechanisms that govern how nanoplastics interact with multiple contaminants in aquatic environments.

Physiological and metabolic toxicity of polystyrene microplastics to Dunaliella salina

Researchers studied the physiological and metabolic effects of polystyrene microplastics on the marine microalga Dunaliella salina. They found that both pristine and aged microplastics inhibited growth, increased reactive oxygen species production by up to 2.2-fold, and caused significant membrane lipid damage. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the microplastics disrupted amino acid metabolism and energy transport pathways, ultimately inhibiting cell division.

Mechanism of transport and toxicity response of Chlorella sorokiniana to polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics are transported into freshwater algae cells and what toxic effects they cause. They found that the tiny plastic particles entered the cells through specific pathways and triggered oxidative stress, inhibiting algae growth. The study provides new insights into how nanoplastics disrupt the base of aquatic food chains by damaging microscopic organisms.

Effects of polystyrene and triphenyl phosphate on growth, photosynthesis and oxidative stress of Chaetoceros meülleri

Researchers studied the single and combined toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and the flame retardant triphenyl phosphate on the marine diatom Chaetoceros muelleri. Both pollutants individually inhibited cell growth and increased oxidative stress, while their combined exposure produced interactive effects on photosynthesis and cell membrane integrity. The study suggests that microplastics and their associated chemical additives can jointly impact the health of marine microalgae at the base of the food web.

Microplastics Reduce Lipid Digestion in Simulated Human Gastrointestinal System

Researchers found that five common types of microplastics all significantly reduced lipid digestion in a simulated human gastrointestinal system, with polystyrene causing the greatest inhibition at 12.7%. The microplastics interfered through two mechanisms: forming clumps with fat droplets that reduced their availability, and adsorbing digestive enzymes in ways that altered their structure and function. The study suggests that ingested microplastics may impair nutrient absorption by disrupting normal fat digestion processes.

Single and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis: Perspectives from growth inhibition, chlorophyll content and oxidative stress

Researchers investigated the single and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on the marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica. The study found that copper alone inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner, while nanoplastics modified copper's bioavailability and altered the combined toxic response. The results suggest that the interaction between nanoplastics and heavy metals can produce complex toxicity patterns that differ from individual exposures.

Size-dependent influences of nano- and micro-plastics exposure on feeding, antioxidant systems, and organic sulfur compounds in ciliate Uronema marinum

Researchers studied how nano- and microplastics of different sizes affect a marine ciliate that plays a key role in ocean sulfur cycling. Exposure to polystyrene particles reduced the organisms' ability to feed on algae, which in turn dramatically decreased their production of dimethyl sulfide, a gas important for climate regulation. The findings suggest that plastic pollution could disrupt fundamental ocean chemistry processes beyond its direct effects on individual organisms.

Identification of a PET hydrolytic enzyme from the human gut microbiome unveils potential plastic biodegradation in human digestive tract

Researchers discovered a new enzyme in the human gut microbiome that can break down PET plastic, the material used in most drink bottles and food packaging. The enzyme, called HGMP01, was identified through analysis of gut bacterial DNA and confirmed to hydrolyze PET nanoparticles in laboratory tests. The finding suggests that gut bacteria may play an unexpected role in processing the microplastics that humans inevitably ingest through food and beverages.

Polydopamine-functionalized magnetic algae composite for efficient removal of polystyrene microplastics: Mechanistic insights and performance