Papers

The Aging of Polymers under Electromagnetic Radiation

This review examines how ultraviolet radiation from sunlight degrades and weakens plastic materials by breaking their chemical bonds, a process known as photo-aging. Understanding UV-driven plastic breakdown matters for human health because it is one of the main ways large plastics fragment into micro- and nanoplastics that can then enter air, water, and food.

Agricultural plastics as a potential threat to food security, health, and environment through soil pollution by microplastics: Problem definition

This paper investigates how agricultural plastics -- like mulch films, greenhouse covers, and silage wraps -- break down in soil and release micro- and nanoplastic particles that can contaminate crops. The research ranks different agricultural plastic products by their risk of generating soil pollution, raising concerns about microplastics entering the human food supply through farm-grown produce.

Biosensors for Micro- and Nanoplastics Detection: A Review

This review covers new biosensor technologies being developed to detect microplastics and nanoplastics more quickly and accurately than current methods. Better detection tools are important because they could enable faster monitoring of plastic contamination in water, food, and the environment, helping researchers and regulators better protect human health.

Identification of Microplastics Using µ-Raman Spectroscopy in Surface and Groundwater Bodies of SE Attica, Greece

Scientists found microplastics in both surface water and groundwater samples across southeastern Greece, with shallow wells containing far more particles than deeper sources. Four common plastic types were identified: polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and PET. The detection of microplastics even in deeper groundwater suggests these particles can migrate through soil layers, raising concerns about contamination of drinking water sources.

Evaluation of the Viability of 3D Printing in Recycling Polymers

This systematic review explores whether 3D printing technology can help recycle plastic waste, particularly from agriculture. Finding better ways to reuse plastics matters because unrecycled plastic breaks down into microplastics that contaminate soil, water, and eventually the food chain.

Microplastics Identification in Remote Aquatic Environments Using Raman Spectroscopy: A Case Study for Mt. Tymfi's Alpine Lake

Researchers analyzed water from a remote alpine lake on Mt. Tymfi in Greece, a pristine environment with minimal human activity, and still found microplastics at a concentration of about 0.021 particles per liter. The most common types were polyethylene fragments and PET and nylon fibers, identified using Raman spectroscopy. The presence of microplastics even in such an isolated location underscores how far-reaching plastic pollution has become, likely transported by wind and atmospheric deposition.

Production and characterisation of environmentally relevant microplastic test materials derived from agricultural plastics

Researchers produced large batches of microplastic test materials from agricultural mulching films, including both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable starch-based films. They thoroughly characterized the physical and chemical properties of both the original films and the resulting microplastic particles, including screening for chemical additives. The study provides much-needed standardized reference materials for scientists studying how agricultural microplastics behave in and affect soil environments.

A Critical Review of Water Reuse: Lessons from Prehistoric Greece for Present and Future Challenges

This review traces the history of water reuse practices from ancient Greece to modern times, highlighting how early civilizations already understood the value of treating and repurposing wastewater. Researchers compare historical approaches with current advanced technologies including membrane filtration and direct potable reuse systems. The study argues that lessons from antiquity can inform contemporary water management strategies, particularly as growing populations and climate change put increasing pressure on freshwater resources.

Assessing the physiological effects of microplastics on cultured mussels in the Mediterranean Sea

Researchers combined laboratory experiments with computer modeling to assess how microplastics affect farmed Mediterranean mussels. They found that while microplastics reduced the mussels' ability to filter food, the overall impact on growth over a mussel's lifetime was relatively small under current pollution levels. However, the study suggests that in areas with higher microplastic concentrations, the effects on mussel farming could become more significant.

Removal of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Genes by Conventional and Nature-Based Municipal Wastewater Treatment Systems

Researchers compared the effectiveness of conventional activated sludge treatment versus a nature-based system using constructed wetlands for removing antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes from wastewater. The nature-based system achieved greater removal of antibiotic-resistant E. coli (3.7-4.1 log reduction versus 2.5-2.8 log), benefiting from longer retention times and diverse plant-microbe interactions.

Towards the Rational Use of Plastic Packaging to Reduce Microplastic Pollution: A Mini Review

This review examines how plastic packaging degrades into microplastics and explores strategies for reducing microplastic pollution through more rational use of plastics. The study suggests that shifting from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to a circular economy framework is essential for mitigating the environmental impact of plastics, particularly in aquatic ecosystems where microplastics persist and accumulate.

GIS mapping of agricultural plastic waste in southern Europe

Researchers used geographic information systems to map the generation and distribution of agricultural plastic waste across four southern European countries: Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal. They quantified plastic waste from different farming systems at the regional level and identified hotspots where waste management infrastructure is most needed. The study provides a spatial framework that could help policymakers target plastic waste reduction strategies in agriculture.

Seabed and Beach Sediments as Dynamic Genetic Interfaces

This review synthesizes evidence on how coastal marine sediments and beach sands serve as reservoirs for microbial communities, antibiotic resistance genes, and genetic material from wastewater, urban runoff, and other sources. Researchers found that antibiotic resistance genes can reach very high concentrations in sediments near wastewater discharge points, and viable pathogens have been cultured directly from beach sands. The study suggests these environments need integrated assessment approaches that account for how microbes and genetic material are retained, redistributed, and potentially encountered by humans.

Evolution of Floods: From Ancient Times to the Present Times (ca 7600 BC to the Present) and the Future

This review traced the history of flood events from ancient times to the present, examining causes including climate change and urbanization, and discussing modern flood management strategies and future challenges posed by increasing extreme weather events.

Detection of Microplastics in Human Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid: Preliminary Evidence of Respiratory Exposure to Environmental Contaminants

Researchers analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from eight adult patients undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy and detected microplastics in the samples using microscopy, providing preliminary direct evidence that airborne microplastics deposit in the human respiratory tract.

Corrigendum to “Agricultural plastics as a potential threat to food security, health, and environment through soil pollution by microplastics: Problem definition” [Sci. Total Environ. 892 (2023) 164533]

Biodegradation of plastics in the pelagic environment of the coastal zone – Proposed test method under controlled laboratory conditions

This paper proposed a standardized test method for evaluating the biodegradation of bio-based plastics in the pelagic coastal zone environment, addressing the lack of suitable protocols for assessing marine biodegradability as an alternative to conventional non-degradable plastics.

Water Quality Focusing on the Hellenic World: From Ancient to Modern Times and the Future

This study investigated the vertical transport of microplastics in agricultural soils amended with sewage sludge, using fluorescent tracer particles to track movement through soil profiles over one growing season. Particles migrated down to 30 cm depth, raising concerns about groundwater contamination.

Attributional and consequential life cycle perspectives of second-generation polylactic acid: The benefits of integrating a recycling strategy

Researchers used life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental feasibility of second-generation polylactic acid (PLA) production from wheat straw, comparing attributional and consequential perspectives and assessing the role of chemical recycling on environmental performance. The study found that integrating a recycling strategy improved the environmental profile of the bio-based bioplastic.

Microplastics from the Post-Flood Agricultural Soils of Thessaly (Greece) Entering the NW Aegean Sea: A Preliminary Modeling Study for Their Transport in the Marine Environment

After the devastating 2023 Daniel storm flooded agricultural areas of Thessaly, Greece, researchers used hydrodynamic computer models to track how microplastics flushed into the sea via the Pinios River would disperse in the northwest Aegean Sea. The simulations showed that wind direction strongly determines where microplastics accumulate — under southwest winds, particles spread along the coast, while under northeast winds they remain near the river mouth. The study provides the first modeling framework for predicting post-flood microplastic contamination in Mediterranean coastal waters, with implications for disaster response and coastal management.

Assessing Microplastic-Induced Changes in Sandy Soil Properties and Crop Growth

Adding three types of microplastics (HDPE, PVC, polystyrene) at 5% by weight to sandy soil increased water repellency and reduced hydraulic conductivity, but did not significantly affect the total biomass or photosynthesis efficiency of radishes grown in that soil. However, microplastic contamination did reduce copper, magnesium, and iron concentrations in crop tissue for some polymer types. The results suggest that sandy soils may be particularly prone to microplastic-induced hydrological changes, with subtle effects on crop mineral nutrition that could matter at larger scales.

Five Surfaces Treated with d-Tetramethrin plus Acetamiprid for the Management of Tenebrio molitor and Alphitobius diaperinus: Which Is the Best?

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper tests insecticide formulations on five surface types for controlling grain-storage beetles (Tenebrio molitor and Alphitobius diaperinus).

Soil Solarization as an Alternative Weed Control Method for Archaeological Sites in the Mediterranean Region

This paper evaluates soil solarization using plastic mulch films as a herbicide-free weed control strategy at Mediterranean archaeological sites. While plastic mulches are used in the study, it is not focused on microplastic pollution or environmental/health impacts of microplastics.

Notes from the Field: Public Views on Bioplastics-Findings from Greece

Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with consumers and stakeholder representatives in Greece to examine public awareness, perceptions, attitudes, and concerns about bioplastics made from renewable biomass sources. Findings highlighted gaps in public knowledge about bioplastics and surfaced concerns about circularity, environmental credentials, and the broader transition away from conventional plastics.