Papers

Influences of coexisting aged polystyrene microplastics on the ecological and health risks of cadmium in soils: A leachability and oral bioaccessibility based study

This study tested whether the presence of aged microplastics in soil changes how easily the toxic heavy metal cadmium can enter the human body through accidental soil ingestion. The results showed that aged polystyrene microplastics actually reduced cadmium absorption in the stomach phase, though the effect varied by soil type. This suggests that the interaction between microplastics and other pollutants in soil creates a complicated picture for assessing human health risks.

Tackling microplastics pollution in global environment through integration of applied technology, policy instruments, and legislation

This review examines the global microplastics pollution problem and evaluates solutions combining technology, policy, and legislation. Current water treatment technologies like membrane bioreactors can remove microplastics, but no single approach is sufficient. The authors call for coordinated international action combining better detection methods, cleanup technologies, and stronger regulations to address plastic pollution in both water and land environments.

Elucidating polyethylene microplastic degradation mechanisms and metabolic pathways via iron-enhanced microbiota dynamics in marine sediments

Researchers found that adding iron to marine sediment significantly boosted the ability of natural bacteria to break down polyethylene microplastics. The iron-enhanced conditions promoted the growth of specific bacterial species that produced enzymes capable of attacking the plastic's chemical bonds. While the degradation process is still slow, this approach offers a promising environmentally friendly strategy for reducing microplastic pollution in marine environments.

Microplastics’ toxic effects and influencing factors on microorganisms in biological wastewater treatment units

This review examines how microplastics harm the biological treatment processes in sewage treatment plants by disrupting the microbial communities that break down waste. Microplastics alter the structure of these essential microbial communities, reduce their activity, and release toxic additives that cause oxidative stress and enzyme damage. Since treatment plants are a key barrier between pollutants and waterways, understanding how microplastics compromise their effectiveness is important for protecting downstream drinking water sources.

Characteristics of microplastics in the atmosphere of Anyang City

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in Anyang City, China, and found that concentrations increased significantly as air quality worsened, reaching an average of 0.42 particles per cubic meter during heavily polluted days. About 80% of the particles were black fiber strips, mainly made of cellophane, PET, and EVA. The study estimates that on high-pollution days, adults breathe in an average of 222 microplastic particles daily, highlighting the respiratory health risk from airborne microplastics in polluted cities.

Microplastic pollutants in water: A comprehensive review on their remediation by adsorption using various adsorbents

This review covers the different materials scientists are developing to filter microplastics out of water, including biochar, activated carbon, sponges, carbon nanotubes, and newer hybrid materials. Each material has trade-offs in terms of cost, effectiveness, and environmental impact, but combining different approaches shows the most promise. The research is important because better water filtration methods could directly reduce the amount of microplastics people consume through drinking water.

Exposure to Di(2‐Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Increases the Internalization of Polystyrene Microplastics by Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and Leads to Cell Damage

Researchers found that the common plasticizer DEHP significantly increased the uptake of polystyrene microplastics by human liver cancer cells in laboratory experiments. The smallest microplastic particles (100 nanometers) had the highest uptake rate, and DEHP exposure boosted internalization especially for the larger particles. The study raises concerns that co-exposure to plasticizers and microplastics, which commonly occur together in the environment, could amplify cellular damage beyond what either pollutant causes alone.

Assessment of suspended atmospheric microplastics in Tianjin Binhai New Area: characterization, human health risks, and correlation with weather conditions and Air Quality Index

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in an urban area of Tianjin, China, and found them in every sample collected during autumn and winter. The particles were mostly fibers, with polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene among the most common types, and concentrations varied with weather conditions like humidity and barometric pressure. A health risk assessment suggested that residents face measurable exposure to airborne microplastics, raising concerns about long-term inhalation risks.

RFAGB model: A new machine learning model for microplastic inversion based on remotely sensed data in Bohai Sea

Researchers developed a new machine learning model that uses satellite remote sensing data to map microplastic pollution in China's Bohai Sea. The model showed significant improvements in accuracy over previous approaches, with a 23% better fit and 67% lower error rate. The study found that Laizhou Bay had the highest microplastic concentrations, suggesting that remote sensing technology could become a practical tool for regular, large-scale ocean pollution monitoring.

Effects of bisphenol A and nanoscale and microscale polystyrene plastic exposure on particle uptake and toxicity in human Caco-2 cells

Researchers studied how human intestinal Caco-2 cells take up polystyrene plastic particles of five different sizes ranging from 300 nanometers to 6 micrometers. The study found that smaller particles were taken up at higher rates and that co-exposure with bisphenol A increased cellular toxicity, suggesting that nanoscale plastics may pose a greater risk to human intestinal cells than larger microplastics.

Combined influence of the nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure on microbial community in seawater environment

Researchers studied the individual and combined effects of nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on microbial communities in seawater. They found that the combination of these two pollutants altered microbial diversity and community structure differently than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and chemical pollutants in the ocean may have complex and unpredictable effects on marine microbial ecosystems.

Size-dependent toxicity of microplastics induced gut cell apoptosis in brine shrimp Artemia parthenogenetica through p53 signaling pathway

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce profound metabolic shift in human cells as revealed by integrated proteomic and metabolomic analysis

Researchers used integrated proteomic and metabolomic analysis to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect human kidney and liver cell lines. The study quantified changes in thousands of proteins and hundreds of metabolites, revealing that nanoplastic exposure induced a profound metabolic shift in human cells. Evidence indicates that nanoplastics can be internalized by human cells and trigger significant biological changes at the molecular level.

Source, Environmental Behavior and Ecological Impact of Biodegradable Microplastics in Soil Ecosystems: A Review

Single and combined effects of phenanthrene and polystyrene microplastics on oxidative stress of the clam (Mactra veneriformis)

Researchers tested the single and combined toxic effects of the pollutant phenanthrene and polystyrene microplastics on the clam Mactra veneriformis. The study found that both pollutants individually caused oxidative stress, but when combined, larger microplastics amplified the toxicity of phenanthrene, with phenanthrene remaining the dominant toxic factor in joint exposures.

A new holistic perspective to assess the ecological risk of microplastics: A case study in Baiyangdian Basin, China

Researchers developed a more comprehensive method for assessing the ecological risks of microplastic pollution by considering not just concentration but also the physical and chemical properties of the particles. Applied to a Chinese wetland basin, the approach revealed that traditional methods significantly underestimate the true ecological risk, with human activity and poor water flow contributing to the highest danger zones.

Different interaction performance between microplastics and microalgae: The bio-elimination potential of Chlorella sp. L38 and Phaeodactylum tricornutum MASCC-0025

Researchers investigated how two species of microalgae, Chlorella and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, interact with common microplastic types including polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, and PVC. The study found that these microalgae have different capacities to interact with and potentially help remove microplastics, suggesting a possible green and cost-effective approach to microplastic bio-elimination from contaminated waters.

An inversion model of microplastics abundance based on satellite remote sensing: a case study in the Bohai Sea

Researchers developed a satellite-based model to estimate microplastic concentrations in China's Bohai Sea using remote sensing data. The model combined water color measurements from satellites with field sampling to predict microplastic distribution across a large area. The study suggests that remote sensing could become a practical tool for monitoring ocean microplastic pollution over wide regions without relying solely on labor-intensive field sampling.

Advances in chitin and chitosan-based materials for microplastics treatment

This review summarizes advances in using chitin and chitosan-based materials for removing microplastics from wastewater. Researchers highlight that while these natural biopolymers offer promising adsorption capabilities due to their functional groups, challenges such as low selectivity and limited mechanical strength have constrained practical use. The study covers various treatment approaches including adsorption, coagulation-flocculation, membrane filtration, and air flotation technologies.

Diatomic Zn‐Functionalized Carbon Sphere for Microplastics Remediation in Natural Seawater at Environmentally Relevant Concentration

Researchers developed a zinc-functionalized carbon material that can capture and degrade polyester microplastics in natural seawater at environmentally realistic concentrations. The material works through a combination of surface interactions that trap the plastics and zinc-mediated chemical reactions that break them into biodegradable substances, achieving a 70% conversion rate in 15 weeks. The study demonstrates a promising approach for addressing microplastic pollution in real-world marine settings.

Nondestructive Testing in Food Quality and Safety: Development and Applications

This study reviews nondestructive testing methods used to ensure food quality and safety, including techniques that can detect contaminants like microplastics without damaging food samples. The authors survey emerging analytical tools that offer faster and more practical alternatives to traditional laboratory methods for food safety screening. These technologies could help improve monitoring of microplastic contamination in the food supply.

Humic Acid with Vertical Adsorption Conformation Enhanced the Transport of Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Colloids

Researchers investigated how humic acid, a natural organic substance in soil, affects the movement of petroleum-contaminated soil particles through sand. They found that when oil residues occupy the surface of soil colloids, humic acid adopts a vertical orientation that actually enhances particle transport through porous media. The study suggests this mechanism could accelerate the spread of hydrocarbon-contaminated particles in groundwater systems.

Study on the treatment of simulated dye wastewater containing FMPs using the CW-MFC system

Enhanced removal of aged and differently functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics using ball-milled magnetic pinewood biochars

Researchers developed magnetic biochars from pinewood using ball-milling with iron oxide nanoparticles, achieving highly effective removal of various functionalized and aged polystyrene nanoplastics from water with easy magnetic separation and reusability.