Papers

Endocrine Toxicity of Micro- and Nanoplastics, and Advances in Detection Techniques for Human Tissues: A Comprehensive Review

This review summarizes growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics contain or carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with hormones throughout the body, triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death in hormone-producing tissues. The paper also reviews new detection methods that can identify and measure these tiny plastic particles in human blood, tissue, and other biological samples, which is essential for understanding real-world health impacts.

Pollution Has No Borders: Microplastics in Antarctica

This review documents the spread of microplastics throughout Antarctica -- in seawater, sediments, freshwater lakes, snow, glaciers, and marine organisms -- despite the continent having minimal local pollution sources. The findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination is truly global, reaching even the most isolated ecosystems on Earth through atmospheric and ocean currents.

Experimental and simulated microplastics transport in saturated natural sediments: Impact of grain size and particle size

Researchers tested how microplastics of different sizes move through natural soil and sediment layers, finding that smaller particles (10-20 micrometers) passed through easily while larger ones got trapped. In gravel, over 85% of the smallest microplastics made it through the sediment column. This means microplastics on the land surface can gradually leach down into underground aquifers that supply drinking water, representing a potential route of human exposure.

Investigation of Soft Matter Nanomechanics by Atomic Force Microscopy and Optical Tweezers: A Comprehensive Review

This review covers how atomic force microscopy and optical tweezers are used to measure the mechanical properties of soft materials like cells, proteins, and gels at the nanoscale. While not directly about microplastics, these tools are increasingly used to study how nano- and microplastic particles interact with cell membranes and biological tissues. Understanding these interactions at the molecular level helps explain how microplastics cause physical damage to cells.

2024 roadmap on membrane desalination technology at the water-energy nexus

This roadmap review covers the latest advances in membrane technology for turning seawater and brackish water into drinking water. While the paper focuses on desalination engineering, it notes that membrane filtration is also being explored as a way to remove microplastics from water supplies, which is relevant to reducing human exposure through drinking water.

Lignocellulosic Agricultural Waste Valorization to Obtain Valuable Products: An Overview

This review covers methods for turning agricultural plant waste into valuable products like biofuels, bioplastics, and animal feed. While not directly about microplastics, it is relevant because developing bioplastics from plant waste could reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics that break down into microplastics. These sustainable alternatives could help decrease the amount of microplastic pollution entering the environment and food chain.

Microplastics in aquatic systems, a comprehensive review: origination, accumulation, impact, and removal technologies

This comprehensive review traced the sources of microplastics in aquatic environments, from industrial products and packaging to cosmetics and agricultural materials, and examined their toxic effects on living organisms. Researchers found that microplastics are remarkably stable and widespread, posing growing ecotoxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems. The study also evaluated current removal technologies, noting their advantages and limitations, and warns that without better strategies, microplastic pollution will become significantly worse in coming decades.

Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Polystyrene Nanoplastics Using Pd/TiO₂ Nanoparticles

Researchers developed a light-driven photocatalyst using palladium on titanium dioxide nanoparticles that can simultaneously break down polystyrene nanoplastics and produce hydrogen gas. The best-performing catalyst generated significant hydrogen output while also reducing the size of the plastic particles. The study demonstrates a dual-benefit approach that could address nanoplastic water pollution while generating clean energy.

Ecotoxicological Effects of the Herbicide Metribuzin on Tenebrio molitor Hemocytes

This study examined the effects of the herbicide metribuzin on the immune cells (hemocytes) of mealworm larvae, finding signs of cellular stress even though the chemical is considered selective for plants. The results suggest that herbicides thought to be safe for animals may still cause subtle harm to non-target organisms, highlighting the importance of broader ecotoxicological testing.

Nitrate Removal by Zero-Valent Metals: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review examines the use of zero-valent metals for removing nitrate contamination from water, covering reaction mechanisms, efficiency factors, and practical applications. While not directly focused on microplastics, the study is relevant to understanding water treatment technologies that address co-occurring contaminants in polluted water systems.

Role of the Human Serum Albumin Protein Corona in the Antimicrobial and Photothermal Activity of Metallic Nanoparticles against <i>Escherichia coli</i> Bacteria

Researchers studied how a protein coating that forms on metal nanoparticles in biological fluids affects their ability to kill bacteria. They found that a human serum albumin corona reduced the antimicrobial effectiveness of platinum and silver nanoparticles but enhanced the photothermal bacteria-killing ability of gold nanoparticles. The findings are relevant for understanding how nanoparticles behave in real biological environments, which differs from controlled laboratory conditions.

Combined membrane separation and photocatalysis process for the recovery and decomposition of micro/nanoplastics from polyester fabrics

Moving Towards a Holistic Approach to Circular Cities: Obstacles and Perspectives for Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions in Europe

Researchers surveyed experts across Europe to identify obstacles and opportunities for implementing nature-based solutions in cities transitioning toward circular economies. They found that while interest in green infrastructure is growing, inconsistent policies, lack of interdisciplinary collaboration, and limited citizen engagement remain major barriers. The study underscores the need for holistic urban planning that combines environmental, social, and economic perspectives.

Effect of particle density on microplastics transport in artificial and natural porous media

Researchers studied how the density of microplastic particles affects their movement through soil and sediment in laboratory column experiments. They found that lighter, less dense microplastics traveled farther and were retained less in the soil compared to denser particles, and that natural sediments captured more microplastics than uniform glass beads. The findings help explain how different types of microplastics spread through groundwater and soil environments at different rates.

Bioplastic from Renewable Biomass: A Facile Solution for a Greener Environment

Researchers reviewed the science and applications of bioplastics — plastics made from renewable biological sources like starch, proteins, and algae — as a lower-impact alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics that shed microplastics and persist in the environment. Bioplastics can match many properties of traditional plastics while offering biodegradability and a smaller carbon footprint, with especially promising uses in food packaging, agriculture, and medicine.

Membrane Processes for Microplastic Removal

This review evaluates the use of membrane technologies for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from wastewater treatment plant effluents. Researchers found that while membrane bioreactors show promise, most existing membrane approaches are still insufficient for comprehensive microplastic removal, especially for the smallest particles. The study suggests that specially designed membrane systems are needed as advanced tertiary treatment to prevent microplastic discharge into waterways.

Metal-organic frameworks and plastic: an emerging synergic partnership

This review examines how metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of crystalline nanoporous materials, can be used to address plastic pollution in water. Researchers found that MOFs show promise as adsorbents for removing micro- and nanoplastic particles, especially when integrated into composite materials or membranes, achieving high removal efficiency and water flow rates. The study also highlights an emerging trend of producing MOFs from plastic waste like PET as a sustainable source of raw materials.

Microextraction and Eco-Friendly Techniques Applied to Solid Matrices Followed by Chromatographic Analysis

Researchers reviewed five years of eco-friendly extraction techniques for detecting organic pollutants, including microplastics, in environmental solid samples like soil and sediment. The study highlights greener analytical methods such as microwave-assisted and ultrasound-assisted extraction that reduce chemical waste while effectively identifying contaminants from personal care products, industrial chemicals, and plasticizers.

Microplastics in soil: a comprehensive review of analytical techniques

This comprehensive review evaluates the various analytical techniques used to identify and quantify microplastics in soil, including sieving, density separation, chemical digestion, and spectroscopic methods like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The authors found significant inconsistencies across studies in how soil microplastics are measured, making it difficult to compare results between different research groups. The review calls for standardized protocols to improve the reliability of soil microplastic assessments.

A global assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics on marine turtle nesting beaches

Researchers coordinated a global sampling effort across 209 marine turtle nesting beaches in six ocean basins to assess microplastic contamination in beach sediments. They found microplastics present on 45% of beaches, with the Mediterranean showing the highest contamination rate at 80%. The study provides an open-access dataset to support ongoing monitoring of plastic pollution in critical nesting habitats.

The goldfish Carassius auratus: an emerging animal model for comparative cardiac research

This review highlighted the goldfish (Carassius auratus) as an emerging model for comparative cardiac research, describing its unique cardiac regeneration abilities and tolerance to environmental stressors that make it valuable for translational biomedical studies.

Which Configuration of Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors Has a Major Potential to Be Used at an Industrial Level in Tertiary Sewage Wastewater Treatment?

Researchers compared two configurations of photocatalytic membrane reactors for potential use as tertiary treatment of sewage wastewater at an industrial scale. The analysis evaluated six key operational parameters and concluded that slurry-based photocatalytic membrane reactors appear more suitable than photocatalytic membrane configurations for large-scale wastewater treatment applications involving organic pollutant removal.

Novel Nanoparticles Based on N,O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Dopamine Amide Conjugate for Nose-to-Brain Delivery

Researchers developed novel chitosan-dopamine nanoparticles for nose-to-brain drug delivery targeting Parkinson's disease, demonstrating their compatibility with olfactory cells and enhanced cellular uptake in the presence of mucin.

The hidden threat: Microplastics and cancer biology

This review synthesizes current research on the potential links between micro- and nanoplastic exposure and cancer biology, examining how these particles may contribute to tumor development in organs including the gut, lungs, skin, liver, kidney, and brain. The study suggests that chronic exposure to plastic particles can trigger molecular changes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage that are associated with cancer initiation, though clear causal evidence in humans is still lacking.