Papers

Biotechnological methods to remove microplastics: a review

This review examines biotechnological approaches to removing microplastics from the environment, including using algae, fungi, and bacteria that can break down plastic particles. The paper also discusses cutting-edge methods like gene editing to enhance microbial degradation abilities, which could eventually help reduce the amount of microplastics that accumulate in food and water sources.

Coupled effects of microplastics and heavy metals on plants: Uptake, bioaccumulation, and environmental health perspectives

This review examines how microplastics and heavy metals work together to harm plants when both are present in soil. Microplastics can absorb heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic, and when plants take up these contaminated particles, the combined toxic effect is worse than either pollutant alone. This is concerning for human health because crops grown in contaminated soil could carry both microplastics and concentrated heavy metals into the food supply.

Evaluating the potential of daily intake of polystyrene microplastics via drinking water in inducing PCOS and its ovarian fibrosis progression using female zebrafish

Daily exposure to polystyrene microplastics through drinking water caused symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in female zebrafish, including hormone imbalances, cystic ovaries, and insulin resistance. Over time, the affected ovaries also developed signs of fibrosis, or scarring. This study suggests that microplastics in drinking water could be a contributing factor to reproductive disorders and long-term ovarian damage.

Microplastic pollution in the Himalayas: Occurrence, distribution, accumulation and environmental impacts

This review documents microplastic contamination throughout the Himalayan region, from mountain glaciers and rivers to remote high-altitude locations. Microplastics reach these areas through wind, precipitation, tourism waste, and river transport, and can become trapped in glacial ice before being released during snowmelt. The findings show that even one of the most remote places on Earth is not free from microplastic pollution, with implications for the billions of people who depend on Himalayan rivers for drinking water.

Effects of microplastics and arsenic on plants: Interactions, toxicity and environmental implications

This review examines how microplastics and arsenic interact in soil and their combined effects on plant health. When both pollutants are present together, they can have amplified toxic effects on plants, affecting growth, nutrient uptake, and stress responses. Since plants absorb these contaminants from soil, the interaction between microplastics and arsenic could increase human exposure to both pollutants through food crops.

Microplastics in mangroves with special reference to Asia: Occurrence, distribution, bioaccumulation and remediation options

This review examines microplastic contamination in Asian mangrove ecosystems, finding higher pollution levels near fishing, tourism, and industrial areas. Organisms throughout the mangrove food web, from shellfish to fish, accumulate microplastics based on their feeding habits and habitat. While mangrove plants can trap some microplastics in their roots, the widespread contamination of these coastal ecosystems raises concerns about the safety of seafood harvested from mangrove areas for human consumption.

Occurrence and distribution of micro/nanoplastics in soils and their phytotoxic effects: A review

This review examined how micro- and nanoplastics distribute across different soil types and get taken up by plant roots, finding that smaller, spherical particles are absorbed more easily. Researchers found that these plastic particles accumulate in plants and trigger oxidative stress, which disrupts gene expression and metabolic pathways important for plant growth and biomass production.

Unveiling the effects of polyethylene microplastic on the physiological responses across different size classes of Telescopium telescopium

Researchers exposed mangrove horn snails of two different size classes to environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene microplastics for 21 days and measured their energy balance and stress responses. They found that both small and large snails experienced negative energy balance and increased oxidative stress at medium and high microplastic concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in estuarine environments may threaten the survival of organisms across different life stages.

Polystyrene microplastics-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis with altered short chain fatty acid is associated with reproductive physiology and endocrine disorder in female zebrafish

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics disrupted gut bacteria in female zebrafish, leading to inflammation, hormone imbalances, and impaired egg development. The study provides the first evidence that microplastic-induced gut microbiome changes can drive reproductive problems through a chain reaction involving immune, metabolic, and hormonal pathways.

Algae and bacteria consortia for wastewater decontamination and transformation into biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, biofertilizers and animal feed: a review

Researchers reviewed how combining microalgae and bacteria in wastewater treatment can simultaneously remove contaminants and produce valuable outputs including biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, and animal feed. This dual-purpose biological approach offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment by turning waste nutrients into useful products rather than simply eliminating them.

Adsorptive removal of heavy metals from wastewater using Cobalt-diphenylamine (Co-DPA) complex

Researchers synthesized a new cobalt-diphenylamine complex and tested it for removing heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and chromium from wastewater. The material showed strong adsorption capacity, with removal efficiency influenced by factors such as pH, dosage, and initial metal concentration. The study suggests this type of metal-organic complex could be an effective tool for treating industrial wastewater contaminated with heavy metals.

Functional interplay between plastic polymers and microbes: a comprehensive review

Researchers reviewed microbial biodegradation of conventional and bioplastic polymers in natural and gut environments, finding that abiotic weathering (UV, heat) primes plastics for biodegradation, and that physicochemical pretreatment combined with engineered microbial consortia and enzymes offers the most promising path to effective plastic breakdown.

Perspectives and challenges of micro/nanoplastics‐induced toxicity with special reference to phytotoxicity

This review examined the phytotoxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics on plant systems, noting that plastic concentrations in terrestrial environments are often higher than in aquatic ones. Researchers found that these particles can alter soil enzymatic systems, affect soil microorganisms and earthworms, and impact plant growth and physiology, though the study emphasized that research on terrestrial phytotoxicity is still limited compared to aquatic studies.

Elimination of microplastics from the aquatic milieu: A dream to achieve

Researchers reviewed current methods for eliminating microplastics from aquatic environments, including membrane technologies such as ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and microfiltration. The study assessed how microplastics interact with toxic organic chemicals, antibiotics, and heavy metals in water, compounding their environmental impact. The review suggests that while various removal technologies show promise, achieving complete elimination of microplastics from water remains a significant challenge.

Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste

Researchers reviewed microbial strategies for degrading microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste such as masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment. The study discusses how improper disposal of pandemic-related plastic waste creates microplastic pollution and explores the potential of microorganisms to break down these polymeric materials as a bioremediation approach.

Positive and negative impacts of COVID-19 on the environment: A critical review with sustainability approaches

This review examines both the positive and negative environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While lockdowns temporarily reduced air, water, and noise pollution, the massive increase in disposable masks, gloves, and plastic packaging created a surge in microplastic contamination. The study highlights how the pandemic exposed the tension between public health measures and environmental sustainability.

Role of aquaporins in micro-plastics accumulation in onion roots and the effects of micro-plastics on microtubules stability and organization under heat and salinity stress

Co-occurrence of co-contaminants: Cyanotoxins and microplastics, in soil system and their health impacts on plant – A comprehensive review

This review examined the co-occurrence of cyanotoxins and micro/nanoplastics in soil systems, finding that both contaminants are globally distributed and that their interactions — including plastic acting as a vector for cyanotoxin transport — pose compound risks to plant health and food safety.

Toxicological impacts of nanopolystyrene on zebrafish oocyte with insight into the mechanism of action: An expression-based analysis

Researchers investigated the mechanism by which nanopolystyrene causes toxicity in zebrafish oocytes, finding it triggers oxidative stress, immune disruption, and mitochondrial dysfunction through changes in key gene expression pathways.

Microplastic presence in commercial marine sea salts: A baseline study along Tuticorin Coastal salt pan stations, Gulf of Mannar, South India

Twenty-five sea salt samples from Tuticorin coastal salt pans in India were analyzed for microplastics, with particles under 100 μm comprising 60% of contaminants and polypropylene and polyethylene as the dominant polymers. The study establishes a baseline for microplastic contamination in commercially harvested sea salt from South India.

Research into land atmosphere interactions supports the sustainable development agenda

This paper outlines priority research directions for the integrated Land Ecosystems Atmospheric Processes Study network, focusing on how land-atmosphere interactions support sustainable development goals. Researchers emphasize the importance of land-based strategies like tree planting and bioenergy crops to address climate change and biodiversity loss. The study highlights how understanding these interactions can inform policies related to environmental quality, including the transport of airborne pollutants.

Baseline survey of micro and mesoplastics in the gastro-intestinal tract of commercial fish from Southeast coast of the Bay of Bengal

Researchers conducted a baseline survey of microplastics and mesoplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of commercially important fish from the southeast coast of the Bay of Bengal, India, documenting contamination rates and particle characteristics to establish reference data for this undersampled region.

Advancing micro- and nanoplastics mitigation: functional materials, hybrid treatment trains, and TEA-LCA pathways for sustainable water systems

This review evaluates advanced materials and treatment systems for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, finding that hybrid treatment approaches can remove over 95% of microplastics while limiting membrane fouling. The study also examines the economic and environmental tradeoffs of these technologies through life-cycle assessment, highlighting the need for energy and carbon optimization in multi-barrier water treatment systems.

Safer plant-based nanoparticles for combating antibiotic resistance in bacteria: A comprehensive review on its potential applications, recent advances, and future perspective

This review examines plant-based nanoparticles as safer, less toxic alternatives to conventional antimicrobial agents for combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, highlighting their potential to reduce microbiome damage.