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Papers
120 resultsShowing papers from North Carolina State University
ClearAssessment of environmental and socioeconomic drivers of urban stormwater microplastics using machine learning
Using machine learning on data from 107 urban areas worldwide, researchers identified the key factors driving microplastic levels in stormwater runoff, including weather patterns, land use, and waste management practices. The study found that inconsistent definitions of what counts as a "microplastic" across different studies is a major barrier to comparing contamination levels between cities.
Nature-derived hydrogel for microplastic removal
Scientists developed a nature-based hydrogel made from chitin and lignin that can remove nanoplastics from wastewater with very high efficiency, absorbing up to 1,791 milligrams of plastic per gram of material. This sustainable, reusable filter could help reduce the amount of tiny plastic particles that reach drinking water and ultimately the human body.
Firefighters’ exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as an occupational hazard: A review
This review examines how firefighters face elevated cancer risk from occupational exposure to PFAS, a class of toxic "forever chemicals" found in their protective gear, firefighting foam, and fire station dust. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics directly, the research is relevant because both PFAS and microplastics are persistent environmental pollutants that accumulate in the body. PFAS are also commonly found attached to microplastic surfaces, making microplastics a potential carrier of these carcinogenic chemicals.
Oxidation and fragmentation of plastics in a changing environment; from UV-radiation to biological degradation
This review examines how plastics break down in the environment through UV radiation, weathering, and biological processes, producing smaller and smaller fragments including microplastics and nanoplastics. The breakdown process also releases chemical additives and creates particles with altered surface properties that may be more toxic than the original plastic. Understanding these degradation pathways is critical because the secondary particles produced may pose greater risks to ecosystems and human health than the larger plastic debris.
A One Health perspective of the impacts of microplastics on animal, human and environmental health
This review takes a "One Health" approach to microplastics, examining how they affect animal health, human health, and the environment as interconnected systems. The authors caution that many lab studies use microplastic concentrations far higher than what is found in nature, making their results hard to apply to real-world risk. However, they note that microplastics can indirectly affect human health by disrupting ecosystems and soil processes that support food production and clean water.
Biophysics-guided uncertainty-aware deep learning uncovers high-affinity plastic-binding peptides
Researchers used artificial intelligence combined with biophysical modeling to discover new peptides (short protein fragments) that bind tightly to common plastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. These plastic-binding peptides could be used to detect or capture microplastics in the environment using biodegradable materials. The technology represents a promising new approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution.
Integrating biophysical modeling, quantum computing, and AI to discover plastic-binding peptides that combat microplastic pollution
Scientists used a combination of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biophysics modeling to discover new peptides (short proteins) that bind tightly to common plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene. These plastic-binding peptides could eventually be used to create biological tools for detecting, filtering, or breaking down microplastic pollution. While still in the computational stage, this approach offers a promising new path toward cleaning up microplastics in the environment.
Implications of plastic pollution on global carbon cycle
This review examines how plastic pollution disrupts the global carbon cycle through the production of fossil-fuel-based plastics, the release of carbon during plastic degradation, and the leaching of chemical additives into the environment. Microplastics and nanoplastics from degrading plastic waste affect carbon cycling in both soil and water ecosystems. The findings highlight that plastic pollution is not just a waste problem but also contributes to climate-related disruptions that ultimately affect human well-being.
Breakdown of <scp>polyethylene therepthalate</scp> microplastics under saltwater conditions using engineered <i>Vibrio natriegens</i>
Scientists engineered a marine bacterium, Vibrio natriegens, to break down PET plastic into its basic chemical building blocks in saltwater conditions at moderate temperatures. The engineered bacteria display enzymes on their cell surface that can depolymerize PET without needing any pretreatment of the plastic. This biological approach could eventually help address ocean microplastic pollution, though significant work remains to scale the technology from the laboratory to real-world applications.
Increased Use of Disinfectants During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Potential Impacts on Health and Safety
This review examines how the dramatically increased use of chemical disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic may affect human health and the environment. Researchers found that common disinfecting chemicals like quaternary ammonium compounds, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide can cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, and antimicrobial resistance when used excessively. The study highlights the need to balance infection control with the potential long-term health and environmental consequences of widespread disinfectant use.
River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans
Researchers built a global model to estimate how much plastic waste enters the ocean from rivers, combining data on waste management, population density, and water flow patterns. They estimated that rivers deliver between 1.15 and 2.41 million tonnes of plastic to the oceans annually, with over 74% of emissions occurring between May and October. The top 20 polluting rivers, mostly in Asia, accounted for 67% of the global total, providing key data for targeting cleanup and prevention efforts.
Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023
Researchers from the UN Environment Programme reviewed how sunlight and climate change accelerate the breakdown of plastic debris into micro- and nanoplastics, which have now been detected in every ecosystem on Earth — including inside the human body. They conclude that new plastics should be designed to break down harmlessly at the end of their useful life, rather than persisting indefinitely as pollution.
Weathering and fragmentation of plastic debris in the ocean environment
This review investigates how plastic debris breaks down into microplastics in the ocean through weathering driven by UV radiation and oxidation. Researchers found that beach environments are far more effective at fragmenting plastics than the open ocean surface, since floating plastics experience less UV exposure and oxidation. The study suggests that most secondary microplastic generation likely occurs on shorelines rather than in the open sea.
Continuing benefits of the Montreal Protocol and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer for human health and the environment
This assessment reviews the continuing health and environmental benefits of the Montreal Protocol, which protects the ozone layer. While primarily focused on UV radiation, skin cancer, and air quality, the review notes that UV light accelerates the breakdown of plastics into microplastics in the environment. The interaction between ozone protection, climate change, and plastic degradation highlights the complex relationship between atmospheric changes and microplastic pollution.
Beyond Infections: Exploring Immune-Mediated Pathways Linking Cannabis and Emerging Environmental Contaminants to Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
This review explores how prenatal exposure to cannabis and emerging environmental contaminants, including micro- and nanoplastics, may affect fetal brain development through immune-mediated pathways. Researchers found that these exposures can disrupt the delicate immune balance between mother and fetus, potentially increasing the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions. The study highlights the need for more research into how environmental pollutants interact with substance exposure to affect brain development before birth.
De Novo Design of Multiple Microplastic-Binding Peptides with a Protein Language Model-Guided Generative Adversarial Network
Researchers used artificial intelligence to design new peptides that can bind to multiple types of microplastics simultaneously, addressing the challenge that real-world plastic pollution involves many different plastic types. Their AI framework combined protein language models with generative networks to create peptides that showed strong binding affinity to polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene in laboratory tests. The technology could lead to new eco-friendly tools for detecting or capturing microplastic pollution from the environment.
Developing a feasible fast-track testing method for developmental neurotoxicity studies: alternative model for risk assessment of micro- and nanoplastics
This review evaluated alternative testing methods for assessing the neurotoxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics on brain development, given that traditional animal studies are costly and slow. Researchers examined approaches using zebrafish, cell cultures, and computational models as faster, more affordable alternatives. The study suggests these new methods could accelerate our understanding of how plastic particles may harm the developing nervous system.
Growing concerns over ingested microplastics in humans
This paper reviews the growing body of evidence showing that microplastics have been found in various human tissues, raising public health concerns. Researchers note that while laboratory studies demonstrate microplastics can cause cellular damage, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding dose-response relationships, specific target organs, and underlying toxicological mechanisms. The study calls for improved detection technologies and thorough risk assessments to better understand the real-world health implications.
Underestimated activity-based microplastic intake under scenario-specific exposures
Researchers developed a method to estimate daily microplastic intake from breathing and dust ingestion based on real-world measurements and people's activity patterns. They found that nearly 80% of microplastic intake comes from indoor residential environments, with activity intensity and behavior patterns significantly influencing exposure levels. The study suggests that previous estimates of human microplastic exposure may have been substantially underestimated.
Review of the globally invasive freshwater mussels in the genus Sinanodonta Modell, 1945
Researchers synthesize knowledge about Sinanodonta freshwater mussels — native to East Asia but now invasively spreading through Europe, Central America, and North Africa — examining how traits like high reproduction rates and fish-dependent larvae dispersal fuel their spread. These invasive mussels threaten native species through larval parasitism and competition, but their full ecological impact remains poorly quantified.
An integrated chemical engineering approach to understanding microplastics
Researchers proposed an integrated chemical engineering approach combining artificial intelligence, theoretical methods, and experimental techniques to better understand microplastic properties and behavior. The study suggests that the broad scope of chemical engineering makes it well-suited for characterizing microplastics and addressing the complexity of their environmental and health effects.
A review of clothing microbiology: the history of clothing and the role of microbes in textiles
This review examines the history of clothing textiles and the relationship between microbes and fabric fibers, covering microbial persistence, degradation of different materials, and skin microbiome interactions. The study highlights that despite thousands of years of wearing clothing, relatively little is known about how textiles affect the human skin microbiome, pointing to opportunities for future research in industrial and environmental applications.
Trophic transfer of microplastics in an estuarine food chain and the effects of a sorbed legacy pollutant
Researchers investigated microplastic trophic transfer using a model estuarine food chain of tintinnids (single-celled organisms) and larval silversides fish. They found that fish ingested significantly more microplastics through contaminated prey than through direct exposure, and larvae that consumed DDT-treated microspheres showed increased feeding on contaminated prey. Larvae exposed to microplastics had significantly lower body weight after 16 days, demonstrating that trophic transfer is a meaningful route of microplastic exposure with measurable harmful effects.
Effects of UV radiation on natural and synthetic materials
Researchers reviewed how solar UV radiation degrades natural and synthetic materials like wood and plastic, noting that climate change may shorten material lifespans and that photodegradation of plastic waste is a key driver of microplastic generation — while also surveying emerging nanoscale stabilizers that could make materials more UV-resistant.