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Papers
16 resultsShowing papers from Educons University
ClearHuman Milk—The Biofluid That Nourishes Infants from the First Day of Life
This review highlights that human breast milk, while being the ideal nutrition for infants, is now subject to contamination by environmental pollutants including microplastics. The presence of microplastics in breast milk means that infants may be exposed to plastic particles from the very first days of life. The authors call for new monitoring methods to better understand the extent of contamination and its potential effects on infant development.
Evaluating Plastic Waste Management in EU Accession Countries: A Life Cycle Perspective from the Republic of Serbia with Microplastic Implications
This study used life cycle assessment to evaluate how Serbia manages PET plastic packaging waste, comparing landfilling, recycling, and incineration. Researchers found that recycling offered the greatest environmental benefits, reducing impacts across multiple categories compared to the other disposal methods. The findings highlight the importance of improving recycling infrastructure in EU accession countries to align with environmental directives and reduce microplastic-related pollution.
Microplastic Uptake in Vegetables: Sources, Mechanisms, Transport and Food Safety
This review summarizes current knowledge on how microplastics enter vegetables through soil, water, and air, and how they are transported within plant tissues. Researchers found that microplastics can be taken up through roots and move to edible parts, with uptake varying by plant species, particle size, and soil conditions. The findings highlight that vegetable consumption may be an important but underrecognized pathway for human microplastic exposure.
“Waste to energy” as a driver towards a sustainable and circular energy future for the Balkan countries
This paper reviews waste management challenges in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where inefficient fossil fuel use and poor waste handling contribute to high pollution levels. Researchers found that despite existing strategies, waste management practices remain inadequate, particularly in rural areas. The study proposes waste-to-energy models as a practical way to address both the plastic waste problem and energy needs in these Balkan countries.
Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics in Agricultural Soil on Eisenia fetida (Annelida: Oligochaeta) Behavior, Biomass, and Mortality
Scientists tested how polyethylene microplastics in agricultural soil affected the behavior, body mass, and survival of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Researchers found that earthworms actively avoided soil contaminated with microplastics and experienced changes in biomass at higher concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in farmland could negatively affect soil-dwelling organisms that play a key role in maintaining soil health.
Beyond Microplastics: Analytical Boundaries, Real-World Barriers, and the Possibilities for Scalable Removal
This review critically examines the current state of microplastic identification, characterization, and removal strategies, from laboratory methods to real-world applications. The study highlights significant limitations in both destructive and non-destructive analytical techniques and emphasizes the urgent need for standardized protocols, regulatory frameworks, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address microplastic pollution.
Heavy metal concentrations in the soil near illegal landfills in the vicinity of agricultural areas—artificial neural network approach
Researchers used artificial neural network models to predict heavy metal contamination in soils near illegal landfills close to agricultural areas. The study found that illegal landfilling significantly impacts surrounding soil quality and proposes these predictive models as effective tools for environmental risk management and decision-making.
Evaluating Plastic Waste Management in EU Accession Countries: A Life Cycle Perspective from the Republic of Serbia with Microplastic Implications
This life cycle assessment compared three end-of-life scenarios for PET plastic packaging in Serbia (landfilling, recycling, incineration), finding that recycling had the lowest environmental impact overall and that aligning Serbia's plastic waste management with EU standards would significantly reduce microplastic leakage.
GREEN TECHNOLOGIES FOR HANDLING MICROPLASTICS. EUROPEAN PROJECT GREENLAND «GREEN COUNTRY»
The European GREENLAND project - a collaboration between EDUCONS University (Serbia), Alfred Wegener Institute (Germany), and University of Galway (Ireland) - developed a strategy to advance Serbia's green technology research for addressing microplastic pollution. The project aligns with EU Sustainable Development Goals and the Green Deal through cross-institutional innovation.
A Brief Bibliometric Analysis of Microplastic and Nanoplastic Particles in Food
This bibliometric analysis mapped the scientific literature on microplastic and nanoplastic particles in food, identifying publication trends, key research institutions, dominant topics, and knowledge gaps from 2000 to the time of analysis. The study found rapidly growing research interest in food-borne microplastics, with hotspots in seafood contamination and analytical method development.
Screening of Native Trichoderma Species for Nickel and Copper Bioremediation Potential Determined by FTIR and XRF
Researchers screened native Trichoderma fungal strains isolated from nickel- and copper-polluted soils for bioremediation potential, using FTIR and XRF to characterize metal uptake and identify the most promising strains for heavy metal removal from contaminated soil.
Spectroscopic Investigation of Tomato Seed Germination Stimulated by Trichoderma spp.
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it uses FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to study how beneficial Trichoderma fungi stimulate tomato seed germination and alter plant cell wall chemistry, with no connection to plastic pollution.
Prediction of the Impact of Land Use and Soil Type on Concentrations of Heavy Metals and Phthalates in Soil Based on Model Simulation
Researchers used an artificial neural network model to predict heavy metal and phthalate concentrations in soil based on land use and soil type, achieving high predictive accuracy (r² values of 0.81–0.97), offering a practical tool for environmental risk screening without exhaustive chemical sampling.
SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF MICROPLASTIC FIBERS RELEASED DURING LAUNDRY WASHING CYCLE
Researchers analyzed microplastic fibers released from synthetic textiles during laundry washing cycles using FTIR spectroscopy, demonstrating that spectroscopic identification of fiber polymer type is feasible and identifying key fiber release characteristics from different fabric types.
Effect of Agrotechnical Measures on Chemical Composition of Early Potato Tubers
This study examined how different farming practices — fertilization, irrigation, and crop rotation — affect the nutritional and chemical composition of early potato tubers. The results can help farmers optimize practices to improve food quality while maintaining sustainable agriculture.
Bioremediation of soil polluted with oil
This paper discusses bioremediation of oil-polluted soil and draws a parallel to the potential for microbial degradation of plastic-polluted soil. Researchers highlight that the petroleum origin of most plastics makes plastic-contaminated soils candidates for bioremediation approaches similar to those used for hydrocarbon spills.