Papers

An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses Evaluating Associations between Human Health and Exposure to Major Classes of Plastic-Associated Chemicals

This umbrella review — a review of existing meta-analyses — assessed the health effects of chemicals found in plastics, including BPA, phthalates, and PFAS. The evidence links these plastic-associated chemicals to hormonal disruption, reproductive problems, metabolic issues, and increased cancer risk across many studies.

Microplastics in soils: A comparative review on extraction, identification and quantification methods

This review compares the various methods scientists use to extract, identify, and measure microplastics in soil, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Soil is a particularly challenging material to work with because its organic matter and complex structure can interfere with accurate microplastic detection. The authors recommend combining multiple techniques and minimizing harsh chemical steps that could accidentally destroy the very plastic particles being measured.

Micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils: Assessing impacts and navigating mitigation

This review summarizes how tiny plastic particles from plastic mulch films and treated sewage end up in farm soil, where they can harm soil health, change how water moves through dirt, and interfere with plant growth. Because these plastics can be absorbed by crops, there is a potential pathway for microplastics to reach humans through the food we eat.

Plastic debris in lakes and reservoirs

Researchers conducted the first standardized cross-national survey of plastic debris in 38 lakes and reservoirs, finding plastic in every water body sampled and showing that densely populated urban lakes and large reservoirs with long water-retention times accumulate plastic at concentrations rivaling the most polluted ocean garbage patches.

Groundwater is a hidden global keystone ecosystem

This study argues that groundwater should be recognized as a "keystone ecosystem" because of its critical role in sustaining surface environments, biodiversity, and human water supplies. Over half of the world's land surface has significant interaction with groundwater, yet it remains overlooked in conservation planning. Protecting groundwater is essential for planetary health, including safeguarding water sources from emerging contaminants like microplastics.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics as Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Potential Hazards for Human Health

This review covers how microplastics and nanoplastics enter humans through food, air, and skin contact, accumulating in the body over time. Inhaled particles can damage the lungs from the upper airways down to the deepest air sacs, and prolonged exposure has been linked to chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer. The authors call for source reduction, material substitution, and better filtration to reduce exposure.

Is Ocean Acidification Really a Threat to Marine Calcifiers? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of 980+ Studies Spanning Two Decades

This meta-analysis of over 5,100 observations from 985 studies found that many marine calcifiers, including echinoderms, crustaceans, and cephalopods, are more tolerant to near-future ocean acidification than previously assumed, with over 70% of growth and calcification observations being non-negative. However, corals, coccolithophores, and calcifying algae remain sensitive, and larval stages are more vulnerable than adults. The interaction between ocean acidification and other stressors like microplastic pollution could compound the threats facing sensitive marine organisms.

Microplastic presence in dried and fresh fish from seafood markets in Sri Lanka

Scientists examined both fresh and dried fish from seafood markets across Sri Lanka and found microplastics in over 82% of the samples, with fiber-shaped pieces making up more than 95% of the contamination. Fresh fish had higher contamination levels than dried fish, suggesting that preparation methods affect microplastic content. Since these small fish species are commonly eaten whole, consumers may be ingesting significant amounts of microplastics through popular seafood products.

Microplastic Impacts on Seafood: A Global Synthesis of Experimental Findings

This systematic review synthesizes experimental findings on how microplastics affect commercially important seafood species worldwide. It finds that microplastic ingestion can impair growth, reproduction, and immune function in seafood organisms, with potential implications for both food safety and the fishing industry.

Tandem microplastic degradation and hydrogen production by hierarchical carbon nitride-supported single-atom iron catalysts

Researchers developed an iron-based catalyst that can break down polyethylene plastic — including microplastics — into smaller organic molecules while simultaneously producing hydrogen fuel from the leftover products. This two-in-one approach achieved near-complete plastic degradation under neutral water conditions, suggesting a promising path to both cleaning up plastic pollution and generating clean energy.

Advances in magnetic materials for microplastic separation and degradation

This review examines how magnetic materials can be used to capture and break down microplastics in water. Different types of magnetic particles, including iron nanoparticles and tiny magnetic robots, can attract and remove microplastics with high efficiency. These technologies could be important for cleaning up microplastic-contaminated water supplies and reducing human exposure through drinking water.

Emerging materials and technologies for electrocatalytic seawater splitting

This review examines technologies for splitting seawater to produce hydrogen fuel, focusing on electrode materials and device design challenges. While not related to microplastics, the research addresses renewable energy production that could reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics by supporting a shift toward cleaner energy sources. Reducing fossil fuel use is indirectly relevant to addressing the root causes of plastic pollution.

Innovations in the Development of Promising Adsorbents for the Remediation of Microplastics and Nanoplastics – A Critical Review

This review evaluates innovative materials being developed to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from polluted water, including carbon-based, metal, polymer, and mineral adsorbents. Researchers compared the effectiveness, advantages, and limitations of each type, finding that adsorption-based approaches show strong promise. The study highlights remaining challenges such as scaling these technologies for real-world water treatment applications.

Harnessing soil biodiversity to promote human health in cities

Researchers argue that urban soil biodiversity — the vast community of microorganisms, fungi, and invertebrates living in city soils — plays an overlooked role in human health by suppressing pathogens, shaping the human microbiome, and supporting immune function, and that restoring it in cities could offer meaningful public health benefits.

Removal of micro- and nanoplastics by filtration technology: Performance and obstructions to market penetrations

Emerging microplastics in the environment: Properties, distributions, and impacts

This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution, covering the most common types of plastics found in the environment, their physical characteristics, and how they are distributed across water, soil, and air. Researchers summarized the potential harmful effects of microplastics on ecosystems and living organisms. The study highlights significant knowledge gaps that still need to be addressed to fully understand the environmental and health risks of these tiny particles.

Quantification of microplastics in agricultural soils by total organic carbon -solid sample combustion analysis

Researchers developed an improved method for extracting and measuring microplastics in agricultural soils using a total organic carbon analyzer, achieving recovery rates above 94%. When they applied this technique to strawberry farm soils that use plastic mulch films, they found measurable levels of microplastic contamination dominated by polyethylene. The method provides a more practical and accurate way to quantify the actual weight of microplastics in soil, which is important for assessing pollution from agricultural plastic use.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Residues from Water and Sewage Effluent Using Different TiO2 Nanomaterials

This study tested different titanium dioxide nanostructures for breaking down pharmaceutical compounds in water using UV light. Researchers found that the most effective catalyst degraded drugs like propranolol and carbamazepine efficiently, and that natural organic matter in the water actually enhanced the treatment, suggesting practical applications for cleaning pharmaceutical residues from wastewater.

Microplastic atmospheric dustfall pollution in urban environment: Evidence from the types, distribution, and probable sources in Beijing, China

Researchers collected atmospheric dustfall samples across urban Beijing and analyzed the types, distribution, and likely sources of airborne microplastics. They found that synthetic fibers from textiles and fragments from various plastic products were the dominant forms, with concentrations varying by location and proximity to pollution sources. The study provides evidence that urban atmospheric microplastic pollution is widespread and likely linked to daily human activities and industrial processes.

Stronger deterministic processes shape the plastisphere microbiota of biodegradable microplastics compared to non-biodegradable microplastics in farmland soil

Low abundance of microplastics in commercially caught fish across southern Australia

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in nine commercially important fish species purchased from seafood markets across 4,000 km of southern Australia. They found that about 35.5% of fish had at least one microplastic particle in their gastrointestinal tract, with an average load of 0.94 pieces per fish, and polyolefin was the dominant polymer type. While microplastic ingestion was widespread across species and locations, the levels were lower than those reported in similar global studies.

Recent innovations in microplastics and nanoplastics removal by coagulation technique: Implementations, knowledge gaps and prospects

This review evaluates coagulation, a water treatment technique that uses chemicals to clump particles together for easier removal, as a method for eliminating microplastics and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that coagulation can effectively remove these plastic particles, especially when combined with other treatment steps, but performance varies based on plastic size, shape, and water chemistry. The study identifies key knowledge gaps and recommends further research to optimize coagulation for real-world microplastic removal.

Microplastics in decapod crustaceans sourced from Australian seafood markets

Forty-eight percent of prawns and crabs purchased from Australian seafood markets contained microplastics, predominantly polyester fibers, with crabs averaging 1.6 pieces per individual and prawns 0.8 pieces. Compared to a worldwide systematic review, microplastic loads in Australian crustaceans were in the lower range of global contamination levels.

One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice

A collaborative effort identified 100 priority research questions across 10 themes in conservation physiology, including pollution, human-wildlife interactions, and climate adaptation. The study suggests that conservation physiology is well positioned to identify mechanisms behind population declines and test intervention strategies, providing actionable evidence to inform biodiversity management and policy decisions.