Papers

Toxicity and intergenerational accumulation effect of tire wear particles and their leachate on Brachionus plicatilis

Researchers studied tire wear particles, a major source of microplastics in oceans, and found they harm tiny marine animals called rotifers across multiple generations. The toxic effects actually got worse over generations, with repeated exposure being more harmful than single-generation exposure. The zinc and chemical additives in tire particles were the main drivers of toxicity, raising concerns about the growing impact of tire-derived microplastics on marine food chains.

Responses of Physiological, Morphological and Anatomical Traits to Abiotic Stress in Woody Plants

This review examines how trees and woody plants respond to environmental stresses including drought, flooding, extreme temperatures, heavy metals, and microplastics. Microplastics in soil can disrupt water transport and nutrient uptake in trees, potentially affecting forest health and the broader ecosystem. The effects of combined stresses, such as microplastics plus drought, are not simply additive and need further study.

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on gill tissue structure, metabolism, and immune function of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

This study found that nanoplastics and copper together caused more damage to crab gill tissue than either pollutant alone, disrupting the animals' antioxidant defenses, metabolism, and immune function. The combined exposure suppressed important detoxification genes that help the crabs cope with environmental stress. Since crabs are a common seafood, these findings raise concerns about how co-occurring pollutants in waterways could affect both aquatic life and the safety of shellfish for human consumption.

The toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) varies with the particle size and concentration

Scientists exposed rare minnow fish to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics at different sizes and concentrations and found that both caused growth inhibition, tissue damage, and disrupted gut bacteria. Interestingly, larger microplastics at high concentrations were the most disruptive to gut microbiome communities, while nanoplastics caused more oxidative stress. The study shows that the health effects of plastic particles depend on both their size and amount, and that gut health is a key target of microplastic toxicity.

Emerging threat of marine microplastics: Cigarette butt contamination on Yellow Sea beaches and the potential toxicity risks to rotifer growth and reproduction

This study surveyed cigarette butt pollution along eight Yellow Sea beaches and tested how their chemical leachate and plastic fibers affect tiny marine animals called rotifers. The cigarette butts released harmful chemicals and microplastic fibers that reduced rotifer reproduction and survival. Since cigarette filters are made of plastic that breaks into microplastics, discarded butts are a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic pollution in coastal areas.

Co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and mercury synergistically exacerbates toxicity in rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) compared to individual exposures

This study found that when nanoplastics and mercury are present together in water, their combined toxic effects on fish are significantly worse than either pollutant alone. Researchers observed that nanoplastics increased mercury accumulation in rare minnow tissue by about 33%, and the combination caused greater gut damage, inflammation, and disruption of beneficial gut bacteria. The findings highlight the importance of considering how multiple pollutants interact, rather than studying them in isolation.

Enhanced copper adsorption by polyamide and polylactic acid microplastics: The role of biofilm development and chemical aging

Researchers studied how chemical aging and biofilm growth on polyamide and polylactic acid microplastics changed their ability to absorb copper from water. Both processes significantly increased the surface area and chemical reactivity of the plastics, making them absorb substantially more copper than fresh microplastics. The study suggests that as microplastics age and develop biofilms in natural waterways, they become increasingly effective at concentrating heavy metals, potentially altering how these contaminants move through aquatic environments.

Insights into the response mechanisms of Tetradesmus obliquus to aged polylactic acid and tetracycline exposure via transcriptome analysis and physiological evaluations

Researchers studied how a freshwater green alga responds to aged biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics combined with the antibiotic tetracycline. They found that aged microplastics were more toxic than new ones, and when combined with the antibiotic, caused greater oxidative stress and disrupted photosynthesis at the genetic level. The findings suggest that as biodegradable plastics break down in the environment, they may become more harmful and can amplify the effects of other pollutants.

Integration of photothermal water evaporation with photocatalytic microplastics upcycling via nanofluidic thermal management

Researchers designed a nanofiber reactor that simultaneously purifies water through solar-powered evaporation and breaks down microplastics using photocatalysis. The study achieved a high evaporation rate while converting microplastic pollutants into useful chemical products, demonstrating how both processes can work together in a single device by managing heat at the nanoscale.

Accelerated aging behavior of degradable and non-degradable microplastics via advanced oxidation and their adsorption characteristics towards tetracycline

Researchers compared how biodegradable polylactic acid and conventional polystyrene microplastics age when exposed to advanced oxidation processes, and how aging changes their ability to adsorb the antibiotic tetracycline. They found that polylactic acid degraded more quickly and developed more surface changes during aging, leading to increased antibiotic adsorption. The findings suggest that as biodegradable plastics break down in the environment, they may become more effective at concentrating and transporting chemical contaminants.

Biodegradation of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) by <i>Janthinobacterium</i> sp. strain E1 under stress conditions

Researchers isolated a bacterial strain, Janthinobacterium sp. E1, that can efficiently break down phthalate esters, which are chemicals commonly added to plastics to increase flexibility. The bacterium maintained its ability to degrade the pollutant DEHP even under stressful environmental conditions like high salinity and extreme pH. The findings suggest that this microorganism could be useful for cleaning up phthalate-contaminated environments.

Metabolic saboteurs: Tire wear particles hijack energy economy of zooplankton

Researchers investigated how tire wear particles, a significant source of marine microplastic pollution, affect the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. They found that both micron-sized and nano-sized tire particles reduced rotifer motility by disrupting metabolism, depleting energy reserves, and causing mitochondrial dysfunction. The study suggests that even low concentrations of tire wear particles pose ecological risks to marine zooplankton through metabolic and oxidative stress mechanisms.

New insights into the responding mechanism of Eriocheir sinensis hepatopancreas under nanoplastics and copper stress by transcriptome analysis

Researchers used transcriptome analysis to investigate how nanoplastics and copper individually and in combination affect the hepatopancreas of Chinese mitten crabs. They found that co-exposure led to greater accumulation and more severe tissue damage than either pollutant alone, with significant disruptions to immune and metabolic gene pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastics may enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms through synergistic interactions.

Mechanistic insights into polystyrene micro/nanoplastics-facilitated cadmium trophic transfer and aggravated toxicity along a lettuce-snail terrestrial food chain

Researchers investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affect cadmium transfer through a lettuce-snail food chain and found that the plastics significantly increased cadmium availability in soil and its accumulation in lettuce leaves. Co-exposure caused amplified toxicity in snails, including greater oxidative stress, intestinal damage, and gut barrier dysfunction, demonstrating that microplastics can worsen the effects of heavy metal contamination in terrestrial food chains.

Pharmacological assessment of delphinidin in counteracting polystyrene microplastic induced renal dysfunction in rats

Researchers investigated whether the plant compound delphinidin could protect against kidney damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. They found that microplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death markers in kidney tissue, while delphinidin treatment significantly restored normal kidney function. The study suggests that delphinidin may have protective properties against microplastic-induced organ damage in animal models.

Quorum sensing regulating the heterogeneous transformation of antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic biofilms

The time-dependent variations of zebrafish intestine and gill after polyethylene microplastics exposure

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastic exposure caused time-dependent changes in zebrafish intestinal and gill gene expression, with 186 differentially expressed genes in the intestine revealing molecular mechanisms of MP-induced organ damage.

Transcriptome alterations in zebrafish gill after exposure to different sizes of microplastics

Researchers found that microplastic exposure in zebrafish gills caused size-dependent transcriptomic changes, with smaller particles triggering more differentially expressed genes related to immune response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis pathways compared to larger particles.

Single and Combined Effects of Microplastics and Cadmium on Oxidative Responses, Antioxidant System and Cadmium Phytoavailability of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica campestris L.)

Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris) co-exposed to microplastics and cadmium showed increased oxidative stress compared to cadmium alone, and microplastics altered cadmium phytoavailability in soil, suggesting co-contamination scenarios pose compounded risks to vegetable crop safety.

Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics Exposureon Intestinal Flora of Zebrafish

Polyethylene microplastic exposure altered gut microbiota composition in zebrafish in both size-dependent and time-dependent ways, with smaller particles and longer exposure durations producing greater shifts in bacterial community structure, including increases in potential pathobionts and decreases in beneficial genera.

Hierarchical triphase diffusion photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical gas/liquid flow conversion

Researchers developed a new type of electrode that uses layered, porous fibers to improve how gas, liquid, and solid materials interact during solar-powered chemical reactions. The design achieved a 16-fold improvement in methane conversion rate, offering a more efficient approach for using sunlight to drive industrial chemical processes.

Algal density affects the influences of polyethylene microplastics on the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus

The effects of polyethylene microplastics (10-22 micrometers) on the freshwater rotifer Brachionus were studied at varying algal densities to evaluate how food availability modifies microplastic toxicity. Algal density significantly modulated microplastic impacts on rotifer population growth and reproduction, highlighting the importance of ecological context in microplastic toxicity assessments.

COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT AGRONOMIC ACTIVITIES ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND N-CYCLING GENE ABUNDANCES IN FARMLAND SOIL NEAR COPPER TAILINGS AREA

Despite its title referencing farmland soil and agronomic activities, this paper studies how different fertilisation practices affect nitrogen-cycling bacteria in soils contaminated with copper mine waste — not microplastic pollution. It examines microbial gene abundances related to nitrogen fixation and denitrification, and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

Reno-protective potential of poncirin against polyethylene microplastics instigated kidney damage in rats via regulating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway

In a rat study, daily exposure to polyethylene microplastics caused kidney damage — elevated creatinine, urea, and injury biomarkers — while a natural plant compound called poncirin partially reversed this damage by activating the Nrf-2/Keap-1 antioxidant defense pathway. While the doses used were high and results need human validation, the study adds to growing evidence that microplastics can harm the kidneys and that dietary antioxidants may offer some protection.