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Papers
8 resultsShowing papers from Faculty (United Kingdom)
ClearPlastic Leachates Disproportionately Impair Aquatic Animals: A Multifactor, Multieffect, and Multilevel Meta-analytic Model
This large-scale analysis of 115 studies found that chemicals leaching out of plastics significantly harmed aquatic animals, reducing survival by 28%, impairing development by 30%, and hurting reproduction by 13%. Marine species were more sensitive than freshwater species, and smaller organisms at the base of the food chain were most vulnerable. These findings are important because toxic chemicals leaching from plastic waste can accumulate through the food chain and ultimately reach humans through seafood.
An innovative in vitro model of IBD to assess micro-/nano-plastics intestinal toxicity.
Researchers developed an innovative in vitro intestinal inflammation model (IBD model) to assess the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics at realistic concentrations and polymer types, moving beyond the high-dose polystyrene-only studies that dominate current literature.
A comprehensive study of conditions of the biodegradation of a plastic additive 2,6-di-<i>tert</i>-butylphenol and proteomic changes in the degrader<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>san ai
Researchers investigated the biodegradation of the plastic additive 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (2,6-DTBP) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain san ai under varying pH, temperature, concentration, and inoculum conditions, finding efficient degradation (up to 100%) across a pH range of 5-8 at higher temperatures. Proteomic analysis revealed cellular changes associated with 2,6-DTBP exposure, identifying metabolic pathways involved in breakdown of this hazardous aquatic toxicant.
Functioning human lung organoids model pulmonary tissue response from carbon nanomaterial exposures
Researchers developed functioning human lung organoids to model how pulmonary tissue responds to carbon nanoparticle exposure, finding inflammatory and structural changes consistent with respiratory injury. The organoid system offers a human-relevant platform for studying inhaled particle toxicity, including from microplastics and air pollution.
Aggregation of Nanoplastics via Eco-corona Formation and Hetero-Aggregation in Soil Solution
This laboratory study found that soil solution dramatically accelerates the clumping (aggregation) of nanoplastics made from both conventional polyethylene and the biodegradable plastic PBAT, primarily due to the formation of an 'eco-corona' of organic matter and colloids on particle surfaces. Increased aggregation reduces nanoplastic mobility in soil but may also concentrate associated pollutants. Understanding how nanoplastics behave in real soil conditions is essential for predicting their environmental fate and potential uptake by soil organisms and plant roots.
Identification of black microplastics using long-wavelength infrared hyperspectral imaging with imaging-type two-dimensional Fourier spectroscopy
Japanese scientists used a long-wavelength infrared hyperspectral camera to identify black microplastics, which are difficult to detect with conventional infrared methods. This new approach could significantly improve microplastic detection in the many dark-colored plastic items that fragment in the environment.
Cellulose nanofiber-based electrode as a component of an enzyme-catalyzed biofuel cell
Researchers developed a flexible, biodegradable biofuel cell using cellulose nanofiber electrodes as a plastic-free alternative for wearable sensors. The device performed comparably to plastic-based equivalents and is readily disposable like paper, offering a path toward reducing microplastic contamination from disposable electronic devices.
Aggregation and sedimentation of shattered graphene oxide nanoparticles in dynamic environments: a solid-body rotational approach
This environmental chemistry paper investigates how graphene oxide nanoparticles aggregate and settle in dynamic aquatic environments, finding that water chemistry conditions significantly affect their fate and transport. Though focused on graphene oxide rather than plastic, the study informs understanding of how engineered nanomaterials behave in water — insights applicable to nanoplastic behavior.