Papers

Process-induced toxicants in food: an overview on structures, formation pathways, sensory properties, safety and health implications

Researchers reviewed the toxic compounds that form when food is processed at high heat — such as acrylamide from baking and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from grilling — examining how they form, how to detect them, and what health risks they carry. Understanding these process-induced toxicants is critical for improving food safety standards in an era of increasingly ultra-processed diets.

A systematic review and experimental study of micro/nanoplastic-induced endocrine disruption in rodents: Potential links to autism spectrum disorder

This systematic review and experimental study explores how microplastic and nanoplastic exposure may disrupt hormones and contribute to autism-like behaviors in rodent models. Studies consistently showed decreased testosterone and reproductive hormones with plastic exposure. While a direct link to autism in humans has not been proven, the findings suggest that plastic particles' endocrine-disrupting effects deserve closer investigation.

Maternal exposure to polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics impairs umbilical blood flow but not fetal growth in pregnant mice

In a mouse study, pregnant mice exposed to polyethylene microplastics (the most common type of plastic) through drinking water showed a 43% increase in umbilical blood flow, suggesting abnormal placental function. While fetal growth was not affected, these changes raise concerns that microplastic exposure during pregnancy could lead to complications by disrupting how the placenta works.

Marine biodegradation of plastic films by Alcanivorax under various ambient temperatures: Bacterial enrichment, morphology alteration, and release of degradation products

Scientists tested how ocean bacteria break down different types of plastic films at various water temperatures, finding that bio-based plastics (PHA) degraded much faster than conventional plastics (LDPE) and even other biodegradable plastics (PLA). Warmer water temperatures accelerated the breakdown process, though even in cold water some degradation occurred. While biodegradable plastics do break down in the ocean, the process releases smaller particles and chemical byproducts that could still pose environmental risks.

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impacts developmental milestones and brain structure in mouse offspring

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene nanoplastics and studied the effects on their offspring's brain development. The study found that maternal nanoplastic exposure affected developmental milestones and brain structure in the young mice. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy may pose risks to fetal brain development, though more research is needed to understand the implications for humans.

Size-Resolved Identification and Quantification of Micro/Nanoplastics in Indoor Air Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

Scientists developed a new method to measure micro and nanoplastics in indoor air down to 56 nanometers in size, using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. They found significant concentrations of plastic particles in both a laboratory and a private home, with polystyrene being the most common type, and also detected flame retardant chemicals associated with plastic furniture foam. This study provides some of the first evidence that people are breathing in substantial amounts of nanoscale plastic particles indoors, where most people spend the majority of their time.

On the paradox of thriving cold‐water coral reefs in the food‐limited deep sea

This review investigates the paradox of how cold-water coral reefs thrive in the deep sea despite extremely limited food supply. The authors found that these reefs exploit multiple food sources including zooplankton, dissolved organic matter, and internal recycling by their microbial communities. While not directly about microplastics, deep-sea coral ecosystems are increasingly threatened by plastic pollution sinking to ocean depths.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) adsorbed on microplastics in drinking water: Implications for female exposure, reproductive health risk and its mitigation strategies through in silico methods

Maternal Exposure to Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics Causes Fetal Growth Restriction in Mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene micro and nanoplastics and found that exposure caused fetal growth restriction and placental abnormalities. The study observed that plastic particles accumulated in placental tissue and disrupted normal placental function. These findings raise concern that maternal exposure to plastic particles during pregnancy may interfere with fetal development.

Maternal exposure to polystyrene microplastics alters placental metabolism in mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene microplastics and examined how placental metabolism was affected. The study found significant changes in placental metabolic pathways that could help explain the fetal growth restriction previously observed in microplastic-exposed pregnancies. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure during pregnancy may interfere with the placenta's ability to support normal fetal development.

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics alters fetal brain metabolism in mice

When pregnant mice drank water containing polystyrene nanoplastics at low concentrations, their unborn pups showed significant changes in brain chemistry, including a 40% drop in GABA (a key brain chemical) and a 30% drop in glucose levels. These metabolic disruptions in the fetal brain could help explain the structural brain changes previously seen in pups born to nanoplastic-exposed mothers. This study raises concerns that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could affect fetal brain development in humans.

Gut Microbiota and Energy Homeostasis in Fish

This review explores the relationship between gut microbiota and energy balance in fish, examining how intestinal microorganisms communicate with the brain to influence feeding behavior, metabolism, and immune function. Researchers found that gut bacteria play a significant role in nutrient absorption, fat storage, and appetite regulation in fish. The study highlights the gut-brain axis as a key system for understanding how environmental changes, including pollutant exposure, may affect fish health.

The effects of environmental changes on the endocrine regulation of feeding in fishes

This review examines how environmental changes, including pollution and temperature shifts, disrupt the hormonal systems that control feeding and digestion in fish. Pollutants like microplastics and heavy metals can interfere with appetite-regulating hormones, leading to changes in feeding behavior and energy balance. These effects on fish health are relevant to humans because disrupted fish growth and development can reduce the nutritional quality and safety of fish as a food source.

Potential human health risks due to environmental exposure to nano- and microplastics and knowledge gaps: A scoping review

This scoping review surveyed existing research on the potential human health effects of exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. The evidence suggests these particles may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune disruption, but the review highlights major knowledge gaps and calls for more studies specifically focused on human health outcomes.

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics cause placental dysfunction in mice

Pregnant mice exposed to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water showed signs of placental dysfunction, with nanoplastics causing more severe effects than microplastics. Both sizes triggered a brain-sparing response in fetuses, where blood flow is redirected to protect the brain from low oxygen, a sign of fetal distress. These findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could disrupt normal placental function and potentially affect fetal brain development.

Reporting Guidelines to Increase the Reproducibility and Comparability of Research on Microplastics

A group of 23 researchers developed standardized reporting guidelines to improve the reproducibility and comparability of microplastic studies across different laboratories and settings. They created a detailed checklist covering best practices for materials, sampling, sample preparation, identification, and quantification of microplastics. The guidelines aim to address a major bottleneck in the field where inconsistent methods have made it difficult to compare findings or conduct reliable large-scale analyses.

Transport of microplastic-antibiotic co-contaminants in tidal zones

Researchers studied how microplastics carrying the antibiotic tetracycline move through tidal zone environments. They found that tidal conditions influenced how effectively microplastics adsorbed and transported the antibiotic, with factors like salinity and sediment type playing important roles. The study highlights that microplastics can serve as vehicles for spreading antibiotic contamination through sensitive coastal ecosystems.

Atmospheric deposition drives microplastic contamination in remote lakes of Newfoundland, Canada

Researchers found significant microplastic contamination in lake sediments across remote areas of Newfoundland, Canada, with concentrations between 6,000 and 24,000 particles per kilogram. Because the lakes are in sparsely populated areas with minimal water inflow, the pollution is attributed to atmospheric transport via wind, rain, and snow from distant sources. The study demonstrates that microplastics can travel through the atmosphere and accumulate even in isolated, high-latitude freshwater environments.

Disposable masks release microplastics to the aqueous environment with exacerbation by natural weathering

Researchers studied how disposable face masks degrade and release microplastics when exposed to shoreline environmental conditions including UV radiation and wave action. The study found that natural weathering significantly exacerbated microplastic release from masks by altering their chemical composition and reducing mechanical strength, indicating that improperly discarded masks pose a growing threat to marine environments.

A critical review on the interaction of polymer particles and co-existing contaminants: Adsorption mechanism, exposure factors, effects on plankton species

This review critically examines how microplastics and nanoplastics interact with co-existing contaminants including organic pollutants, toxic metals, and nanoparticles. Researchers found that the combined toxicity depends on multiple factors including plastic size, polymer type, weathering, and the nature of the co-contaminant. The study reveals that mixture effects on plankton species vary widely, with some combinations producing synergistic harm and others showing antagonistic interactions.

Effects of freeze-thaw dynamics and microplastics on the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in soil aggregates

Researchers investigated how freeze-thaw cycles and microplastics together affect the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in soil. The study found that repeated freezing and thawing significantly increased antibiotic resistance genes across different soil particle sizes. Interestingly, the presence of polyethylene microplastics actually reduced some of the resistance gene increases caused by freeze-thaw, suggesting a complex interaction between these two environmental stressors.

Human health risk model for microplastic exposure in the Arctic region

Researchers developed a new model to estimate the cancer risk that microplastics contaminated with heavy metals and other harmful chemicals may pose to people living in the Arctic region. The model accounts for local food sources, environmental conditions, and how the human body processes these contaminants. The study suggests that certain Arctic communities who rely heavily on local seafood may face elevated long-term exposure to microplastic-associated pollutants.

Why we need an international agreement on marine plastic pollution

This commentary argues for the establishment of an international agreement to address marine plastic pollution, noting that plastic debris including microplastics is a pervasive global threat to marine biodiversity, ecosystem services, and potentially human health. The authors highlight that existing regulatory frameworks are insufficient to manage the transboundary nature of the problem. The study calls for measurable reduction targets and coordinated international action to curb the flow of plastic into the world's oceans.

Toxicity inhibition strategy of microplastics to aquatic organisms through molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and molecular modification

Researchers used molecular docking and dynamics simulations to study the combined toxic effects of microplastics and their chemical additives on zebrafish receptor proteins. They found that different microplastic-additive combinations produced widely varying toxicity levels, and identified hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions as the main drivers of protein binding. The study proposes a computational framework for screening lower-toxicity plasticizer formulations and designing more environmentally friendly plastic materials.