Papers

Interactions between perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics (MPs): Findings from an extensive investigation

This study tested how PFAS ("forever chemicals") interact with 18 different types of microplastic and found that polyamide (nylon) plastics absorbed up to 100% of the PFAS in solution. Since both PFAS and microplastics are widespread environmental pollutants, their ability to bind together means microplastics may act as carriers that concentrate and transport these harmful chemicals into water, soil, and ultimately the human body.

Micro- and nanoplastics: Contamination routes of food products and critical interpretation of detection strategies

This review evaluates current methods for detecting micro and nanoplastics in food and beverages, from sample preparation to chemical identification. The authors highlight significant challenges including detection sensitivity limits, interference from food matrices, and a lack of standardized protocols. Better analytical tools are needed to accurately assess how much microplastic contamination people are actually consuming.

Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution

Researchers modeled five different intervention scenarios for reducing global plastic pollution between 2016 and 2040 and found that even implementing all feasible solutions would only cut pollution rates by 40% compared to 2016 levels. Under a business-as-usual scenario, 710 million metric tons of plastic waste would still accumulate in ecosystems even with immediate action. The study makes clear that coordinated global efforts across consumption reduction, recycling, waste collection, and innovation are urgently needed.

Impact of Processed Food (Canteen and Oil Wastes) on the Development of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae and Their Gut Microbiome Functions

Researchers tested canteen food waste and oil separator waste as diets for black soldier fly larvae. The study found that canteen food waste was an effective larval diet with high consumption and waste reduction rates, while oil separator waste severely inhibited growth and caused up to 96% larval mortality, highlighting the importance of waste stream selection for insect-based waste management.

Rapid on-site analysis of soil microplastics using miniaturized NIR spectrometers: Key aspect of instrumental variation

Researchers tested several handheld near-infrared spectrometers to see if they could quickly identify microplastics in soil samples without extensive lab work. The study found that while these portable devices show promise for rapid on-site screening, the choice of sensor matters significantly since different instruments vary widely in their ability to distinguish between polymer types.

Enabling analytical precision in microplastic analysis: innovative solutions for precise method validation, evaluation and quality control

Researchers developed an innovative method for validating microplastic analytical techniques using potassium bromide pellets embedded with known quantities of microplastics. The approach enables precise method validation and quality control for Fourier Transform Infrared and Quantum-cascade laser imaging, addressing a key gap in standardized microplastic analysis protocols.

The NORMAN Suspect List Exchange (NORMAN-SLE): facilitating European and worldwide collaboration on suspect screening in high resolution mass spectrometry

Researchers developed the NORMAN Suspect List Exchange (NORMAN-SLE), a shared database that helps scientists across Europe and worldwide identify thousands of chemical contaminants — including plastic additives — in water and environmental samples using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. This collaborative tool accelerates the detection of emerging pollutants before they become widespread health concerns.

Protists in science communication

This paper presents strategies for improving public awareness of protists, single-celled organisms that are largely unknown outside scientific circles. The authors highlight how protists can be used to teach the public about environmental threats, including how microplastics accumulate through aquatic food webs and ultimately reach organisms consumed by humans.

A preliminary study on the detection of potential contaminants in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) by suspect and microplastics screening

Researchers conducted a suspect screening and microplastic analysis on tissues of European brown hares found dead in Germany, detecting multiple plastic polymer fragments and chemical contaminants, providing a preliminary dataset on environmental pollutant burdens in a widespread European land mammal.

Microplastics modify the toxicity of glyphosate on Daphnia magna

Daphnia magna were exposed to three glyphosate formulations combined with polyethylene microbeads or PET/PA fibers for one week, finding that microplastics altered (mostly reduced) the toxicity of glyphosate depending on formulation and plastic type. The study demonstrates that microplastics can modulate pesticide bioavailability and toxicity in freshwater crustaceans.

Alkali induced changes in spatial distribution of functional groups in carboxymethylated cellulose

Researchers investigated how different alkali concentrations affect the carboxymethylation of viscose cellulose fibers and their subsequent ability to adsorb the cationic dye methylene blue. They found that higher alkali concentrations increased the overall degree of carboxymethylation but altered the spatial distribution of functional groups within the fibers. The study provides insights relevant to developing cellulose-based materials for wastewater treatment applications.

Interdisciplinary investigations of a pristine alpine lake in Austria: The Lake Altaussee Monitoring Program (LAMP)

The Lake Altaussee Monitoring Program (LAMP) investigates changes in this pristine Austrian alpine lake across geohydrology, biodiversity, and sediment records. Findings include evidence that lake water levels were up to 10 meters higher before 990 AD, that the lake is almost entirely karst-fed, and that submerged ancient trees reveal historic lake level changes driven by geological events.

A Comparative Study of Effects of Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Microplastics on the Growth and Development of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens)

This comparative study examined the effects of biodegradable polyamide (PA) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics versus conventional microplastics on the growth and development of black soldier fly larvae, assessing whether biodegradable plastics pose lower risks to insect decomposers.

In silico deconjugation of glucuronide conjugates enhances tandem mass spectra library annotation of human samples

Researchers developed a software method that virtually strips away chemical modifications from metabolites in urine to help identify them using mass spectrometry, successfully annotating 75 different glucuronide compounds and improving the detection of drugs and environmental contaminants in human body fluid samples.

Microplastics make their way into the soil and rhizosphere: A review of the ecological consequences

Microbiome dynamics of soils covered by plastic and bioplastic mulches

Researchers compared how conventional polyethylene plastic mulch and biodegradable Mater-Bi bioplastic mulch affect soil microbiomes over 12 months in controlled conditions. Bioplastic mulch increased bacterial diversity over time and favored distinct microbial communities, though fungal and microarthropod communities were not significantly affected by mulch type, highlighting that bioplastics interact with soil life differently than conventional plastics.

Life-history traits of black soldier fly reared on agro-industrial by-products subjected to three pre-treatments: a pilot-scale study

Black soldier fly larvae were evaluated for their ability to convert agro-industrial by-products into biomass and frass fertilizer, with performance varying across by-product types depending on fiber content and pathogen load. The study supports BSF farming as a scalable solution for valorizing low-quality organic waste streams while generating protein for animal feed.

Stress Granule-Related Genes during Embryogenesis of an Invertebrate Chordate

Researchers investigated the expression of stress granule-related genes (TIAR, TTP, and G3BP) during embryogenesis of the invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis, finding that these global protein synthesis regulators are expressed in stage-specific patterns relevant to embryonic stress responses.

Comparison of Multiple NIR Instruments for the Quantitative Evaluation of Grape Seed and Other Polyphenolic Extracts with High Chemical Similarities

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) methods were developed and compared across multiple instruments for quantitative evaluation of grape seed extract quality and detection of adulteration with chemically similar polyphenol compounds. The non-destructive approach offered a rapid quality control tool for this widely used dietary supplement.

Frontiers in soil ecology—Insights from the World Biodiversity Forum 2022

This review synthesizes insights from the World Biodiversity Forum 2022 on soil ecology, identifying critical knowledge gaps about how simultaneous global change drivers — including microplastic contamination, climate change, and land use shifts — interact to affect soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

When agrarian imaginaries touch uncertain grounds: moving beyond paradigms in agroecological farmers’ visions of a desirable future in the Valle Inferior del Río Negro, Argentina

Researchers used participatory research and creative methods to explore how agroecological farmers in Argentina envision their agricultural futures, finding that these farmers hold pragmatic imaginaries that blend conventional and agroecological approaches rather than adhering to a single paradigm.

The removal capacities of three filamentous fungi to remediate floating microplastic particles

Three common filamentous fungi — Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, and Penicillium rubens — were found to remove 59–67% of polyamide microplastic particles from liquid environments within 24–72 hours through surface adhesion rather than biodegradation. This passive removal mechanism is far faster than full plastic degradation and suggests that fungi could be harnessed as a practical, low-cost tool for microplastic remediation.

Challenges and Advances in Analytical Techniques to Detect Micro- and Nanoplastics

This research review summarizes the current methods scientists use to detect and study microplastics and nanoplastics - tiny plastic particles that can get into our environment, food, and bodies. The authors explain that identifying these extremely small plastic pieces is very challenging and requires advanced laboratory techniques to understand what types of plastics they are and how much is present. Better detection methods are important because we need to understand how much plastic pollution we're exposed to and its potential effects on human health.

Polymer Matters: Substrate-Specific Plastic Biofilms in Glacial Melt Host Bacteria Linked to Polymer Degradation

Researchers conducted a 10-week in situ incubation experiment in a proglacial lake, finding that polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET substrates each develop distinct polymer-specific biofilm communities enriched with known plastic-degrading bacteria, with community structure shaped by dissolved carbon, phosphorus, time, and material type.