Papers

Toxicological complexity of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems

This review summarizes how microplastics interact with other pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides in soil, creating combined toxic effects that threaten ecosystems and agriculture. The paper highlights that microplastics can change soil structure and disrupt the communities of microorganisms that keep soil healthy, with ripple effects on crop yields and food security.

Nanoparticles as catalysts of agricultural revolution: enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress: a review

This review looks at how nanoparticles can help crops withstand environmental stresses like drought, salt, and heavy metal contamination. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because nanoparticles and microplastics share similar size ranges and behaviors in soil, and understanding how tiny particles interact with plants helps scientists assess both the risks and potential benefits of nanoscale materials in agriculture.

Health benefits of fish and fish by-products—a nutritional and functional perspective

This review highlights the nutritional benefits of fish as a source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and bioactive compounds that protect against cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and neurological disorders. However, it also notes that some fish species are contaminated with harmful substances, which is relevant given that microplastics in aquatic environments can accumulate in fish and transfer toxins up the food chain.

Current Progress and Open Challenges for Combined Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nano-Sized Objects (MNO’s) on Soil Biota and Microbial Community

This review examines the combined toxic effects of manufactured nanomaterials, including nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, on soil organisms and microbial communities. Researchers found that these materials can disrupt soil nutrient cycling, harm beneficial microbes, and alter plant-microbe interactions in agricultural systems. The paper identifies significant knowledge gaps in understanding how nanomaterial mixtures behave in complex soil environments.

Microorganism-mediated biodegradation for effective management and/or removal of micro-plastics from the environment: a comprehensive review

This review summarizes research on using microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae to break down microplastics in the environment. While some organisms can partially degrade certain plastic types through fragmentation and chemical breakdown, no single microbe can fully eliminate microplastics. The review highlights that biological degradation is a promising but still limited approach to addressing microplastic pollution, and more research is needed to develop effective microbial cleanup strategies.

Significance of biopolymer-based hydrogels and their applications in agriculture: a review in perspective of synthesis and their degree of swelling for water holding

Researchers reviewed the development and agricultural applications of hydrogels made from natural biopolymers, which are biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics. These hydrogels can retain large amounts of water and deliver nutrients or active compounds to soil in a controlled way. The study suggests that biopolymer hydrogels could help improve crop yields while reducing the environmental burden of synthetic plastic materials in agriculture.

A Comprehensive Review on Metallic Trace Elements Toxicity in Fishes and Potential Remedial Measures

This review examines how toxic trace metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic accumulate in fish and damage their neurological, reproductive, and developmental systems. Researchers summarized evidence that these metals bioaccumulate through the food chain and can cause abnormalities at multiple biological levels. The study also discusses potential remediation approaches, including bioremediation and nanotechnology, to reduce metal contamination in aquatic environments.

Recent trends in bioremediation and bioaugmentation strategies for mitigation of marine based pollutants: current perspectives and future outlook

This review evaluates recent advances in bioremediation and bioaugmentation strategies for addressing marine pollution from microplastics, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and pesticides. Researchers highlight progress in developing tailored microbial consortia, genetically engineered degradation agents, and nano-enabled remediation approaches informed by omics tools. The study notes that while significant advances have been made, scaling these biological approaches to handle complex pollutant mixtures in real ocean conditions remains a major challenge.

Nanoplastics in soil and aquatic ecosystems: Sources, impacts, and nature-based remediation strategies

This review examines nanoplastic contamination in both soil and aquatic ecosystems, covering sources, environmental concentrations, and ecological impacts. Researchers found that nanoplastics originate from plastic mulching, wastewater irrigation, and degradation of larger plastics, with reported concentrations reaching concerning levels, and they evaluate nature-based remediation strategies as potential solutions.

Microplastics abundance in abiotic and biotic components along aquatic food chain in two freshwater ecosystems of Pakistan

Researchers quantified microplastic abundance across multiple trophic levels in two Pakistani freshwater ecosystems, finding evidence of bioaccumulation along the food chain from water and sediment through invertebrates to fish species.

Microplastics Boost Soil Multifunctionality via Enhancing Competitive Co‐Occurrence of Bacterial Communities in Drylands

A two-year field experiment in dryland soils investigated how microplastics of different morphologies and concentrations affect soil ecosystem multifunctionality by altering bacterial community dynamics. Microplastics generally increased competitive co-occurrence among bacteria, which unexpectedly boosted ecosystem multifunctionality, though the mechanisms varied by morphology and concentration.

Microplastics in perioperative practice: an emerging concern for surgical safety

This review highlights the emerging concern of microplastics in surgical environments, noting that single-use plastic equipment in operating rooms generates microplastic particles that can contaminate surgical sites and patient tissues, calling for greater awareness of MP exposure risks in perioperative settings.

Synergistic integration of melatonin, copper nanoparticles, and Bacillus velezensis mitigates anthracnose and microplastic stress in chili: A novel eco-friendly strategy for sustainable crop protection

Researchers combined melatonin, copper nanoparticles, and a beneficial bacterium (Bacillus velezensis) to simultaneously protect chili pepper plants from both fungal disease and microplastic stress, finding the triple treatment restored photosynthesis, hormone balance, and antioxidant defenses better than any single agent alone.

Advancing Plant Resilience Against Microplastics and Metals Through Nanotechnology

Green and Eco-Friendly Treatment of Textile Wastewater by Using Azadirachta indica Leaf Extract Combined with a Silver Nitrate Solution

Textile industry wastewater was treated using combinations of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf extract and synthetic coagulants in two case studies, evaluating color and pollutant removal efficiency. The green coagulant combination showed effective performance, supporting its use as an eco-friendly supplement to conventional textile wastewater treatment.

Influence of Different Levels of Cyanazine on Blood Picture of Labeo rohita

This paper is not about microplastics; it studies the hematological effects of the herbicide cyanazine on freshwater fish Labeo rohita.

Improvement of the Self-Controlled Hyperthermia Applications by Varying Gadolinium Doping in Lanthanum Strontium Manganite Nanoparticles

This paper focuses on improving the physical properties of gadolinium-doped lanthanum strontium manganite nanoparticles for use in self-controlled magnetic hyperthermia cancer therapy. It is not about microplastics or environmental contaminants and is a false positive for microplastic relevance.

Biodegradable Textiles: Innovations and Applications

Microplastic biodegradability does not modify plant carbon input in soil but accelerate soil carbon loss in agroecosystems

Researchers investigated how non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics affect plant carbon input and soil carbon turnover in a dryland agroecosystem over two years using 13CO2 pulse-labeling. They found that both microplastic types did not significantly alter plant carbon fixation but accelerated soil carbon loss, with implications for climate change feedbacks in agricultural soils.

Data from: Microplastic biodegradability does not modify plant carbon input in soil but accelerate soil carbon loss in agroecosystems

Researchers found that both non-biodegradable polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics accelerated soil carbon loss in a two-year dryland field experiment, with biodegradable plastics not modifying plant carbon input but both types disrupting the soil-plant-atmosphere carbon continuum.

First characterization and risk assessment of microplastics in the endangered Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor): Implications for conservation strategies

Researchers found microplastics in the complete gastrointestinal tracts of five endangered Indus River dolphins (Platanista minor) stranded between 2019 and 2022, with an average of 286 MPs per individual, predominantly fiber-shaped PET particles. Polymer risk assessment revealed medium to high ecological risk levels, representing the first baseline data on MP pollution in this critically endangered freshwater cetacean.

Effect of Environmental Pollutants on Neurological Disorders

This review examines how environmental pollutants — including heavy metals, pesticides, and plastic-associated chemicals — contribute to rising rates of neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Exposure to these pollutants affects even unborn children in the womb, highlighting the need for pollution reduction as a public health priority.

Sustainable coke-resistant Ca-Al nano-sized catalyst for cogenerating of H2 and high value liquid fuels via pyrolysis catalytic steam reforming reaction of the polystyrene-phenol mixture

Researchers designed a calcium-aluminum nanocatalyst to convert polystyrene plastic waste into hydrogen gas and liquid fuels through a heating and steam process. The catalyst resisted coke buildup on its surface, a common problem that reduces efficiency, offering a promising approach for recycling plastic waste into energy.