Papers

Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds

Researchers combined ocean plastic density maps with GPS tracking data for over 7,000 seabirds across 77 petrel species to identify where birds are most likely to encounter and accidentally eat plastic debris. High-risk zones were identified in the Mediterranean, northeast Pacific, and South Atlantic, with threatened species facing disproportionately greater exposure — often in international waters beyond any single country's control.

Cellular and tissue-level responses of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to aged polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles

This study exposed mussels to environmentally realistic concentrations of aged PET micro- and nanoplastics and found measurable cellular damage even at the lowest doses tested. The plastic particles caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue changes in the mussels' digestive systems. Since mussels are a common seafood and are often eaten whole, these findings are relevant to understanding human microplastic exposure through shellfish consumption.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Accumulation, Reproductive Impairment, and Associations with Nestling Body Condition in Great (Parus major)- and Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) Living near a Hotspot in Belgium

Researchers measured PFAS (forever chemicals) levels in eggs and blood of great tits and blue tits living near a contamination hotspot in Belgium. While PFAS accumulated in the birds, limited reproductive harm was observed, suggesting these species may be relatively tolerant. Though focused on PFAS rather than microplastics, the study is relevant because both are persistent environmental pollutants that accumulate in wildlife and can move through the food chain.

Impact of weathered and virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastics on growth dynamics and the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microalgae

Researchers compared how fresh and sun-weathered PET micro and nanoplastics affect microalgae growth and the sticky substances (EPS) algae produce in response to stress. Weathered plastics triggered more EPS production and had greater effects on algae than fresh plastics did. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains and most ocean microplastics have been weathered by sunlight, these findings suggest real-world impacts on marine ecosystems may be worse than laboratory studies with fresh plastics indicate.

Sorption kinetics of metallic and organic contaminants on micro- and nanoplastics: remarkable dependence of the intraparticulate contaminant diffusion coefficient on the particle size and potential role of polymer crystallinity

Researchers developed a mathematical model to describe how metallic and organic contaminants bind to micro- and nanoplastics over time, accounting for how particle size affects the process. They found that the rate at which pollutants diffuse into plastic particles depends strongly on particle size, with smaller particles absorbing contaminants much faster. The model provides a more accurate framework for predicting how microplastics act as carriers of environmental pollutants.

Ecotoxicological Effects of Chemical Contaminants Adsorbed to Microplastics in the Clam Scrobicularia plana

Researchers exposed clams to low-density polyethylene microplastics that had been pre-contaminated with persistent organic pollutants and measured ecotoxicological effects including oxidative stress and genotoxicity. The study found that microplastics carrying adsorbed chemical contaminants caused greater biological damage than clean microplastics alone, suggesting that the pollutant-carrier role of microplastics amplifies their environmental impact on bivalves.

Acute bioaccumulation and chronic toxicity of olivine in the marine amphipod Gammarus locusta

Researchers tested the environmental safety of olivine, a mineral being considered for large-scale ocean carbon capture, on marine amphipods. They found that short-term exposure led to significant ingestion of olivine particles and accumulation of nickel and chromium in tissue, though chronic long-term exposure at lower concentrations did not cause major toxic effects. The study suggests that while coastal olivine spreading for carbon removal shows some promise, the nickel and chromium content of the mineral warrants careful environmental monitoring.

Chemical safety of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens), knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research: a critical review

This critical review examines the chemical safety of black soldier fly larvae, which are increasingly used as a sustainable protein source for animal feed. Researchers assessed how rearing substrates may introduce contaminants including heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and microplastics through bioaccumulation. The study identifies significant knowledge gaps in understanding how these contaminants transfer through the larvae into the feed chain and recommends targeted future research.

Nanomaterials for the Catalytic Degradation and Detection of Microplastics: A Review

Differential sensitivity of hemocyte subpopulations (Mytilus edulis) to aged polyethylene terephthalate micro- and nanoplastic particles

This study examined how different immune cell types in blue mussels respond to aged PET micro- and nanoplastic particles that resemble those found in natural environments. Researchers found that the two main hemocyte subpopulations showed different sensitivities, with granulocytes being more affected in some measures than hyalinocytes. The results suggest that aged plastic particles may interfere with the immune defenses of shellfish in ways that differ from pristine lab-made particles.

Accumulation and release of organic pollutants by conventional and biodegradable microplastics in the marine environment

Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics accumulate and release organic pollutants in natural seawater over 64 days. They found that biodegradable plastics like PHA and PBS accumulated similar types and levels of pollutants as conventional polyethylene. The study suggests that switching to biodegradable plastics may not reduce the risk of these materials acting as carriers for toxic chemicals in the marine environment.

Effect of Polymer Aging on Uptake/Release Kinetics of Metal Ions and Organic Molecules by Micro- and Nanoplastics: Implications for the Bioavailability of the Associated Compounds

Researchers developed a theoretical framework to describe how aging and degradation of plastic particles in the environment changes their ability to absorb and release metals and organic contaminants. They found that as plastics weather and break down, their capacity to pick up and later release pollutants increases significantly. The study suggests that the age and condition of microplastics are important factors in determining how much contamination they carry and deliver to living organisms.

Microplastics in soil: a comprehensive review of analytical techniques

This comprehensive review evaluates the various analytical techniques used to identify and quantify microplastics in soil, including sieving, density separation, chemical digestion, and spectroscopic methods like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The authors found significant inconsistencies across studies in how soil microplastics are measured, making it difficult to compare results between different research groups. The review calls for standardized protocols to improve the reliability of soil microplastic assessments.

Distinct Features of Vascular Diseases in COVID-19

This review examined the bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease, finding that SARS-CoV-2 triggers cytokine storms, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness while pandemic lockdowns worsened obesity and sedentary lifestyles, compounding vascular risk.

A simple, rapid and accurate method for the sample preparation and quantification of meso- and microplastics in food and food waste streams

Researchers developed a simple, rapid, and accurate method for preparing and quantifying meso- and microplastics in food and food waste streams, enabling reliable assessment of plastic contamination in biomass used for energy recovery.

Ingestion and excretion dynamics of microplastics by black soldier fly larvae and correlation with mouth opening size

Researchers examined how black soldier fly larvae ingest and excrete microplastics, finding that particle ingestion and excretion dynamics correlate with mouth opening size, raising food safety concerns for larvae used as animal feed.

Histological, enzymatic and chemical analyses of the potential effects of differently sized microplastic particles upon long-term ingestion in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastics of varying sizes for extended periods and conducted histological and biochemical analyses, finding no evidence of particle translocation to liver in properly controlled experiments and calling for critical reassessment of studies claiming large microplastics cross biological barriers.

Influence of Particle Size on Ecotoxicity of Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics, with and without Adsorbed Benzo-a-Pyrene, in Clam Scrobicularia plana

Researchers found that smaller polyethylene microplastics (4-6 µm) caused greater biomarker alterations in clam gills, while the digestive gland was more affected overall, suggesting particle size influences microplastic ecotoxicity in marine bivalves.

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.

Microplastic pollution on historic facades: Hidden ‘sink' or urban threat?

Researchers conducted the first study quantifying microplastic contamination on historic building facades in a UK urban area, finding an estimated mean density of 975,000 fibers per square meter. They identified three distinct patterns of fiber distribution based on building height and exposure to weather, with sheltered areas accumulating more short fibers. The findings raise the question of whether urban facades act as a significant environmental sink for airborne microplastics.

Effects of the UV filter, oxybenzone, adsorbed to microplastics in the clam Scrobicularia plana

Scientists exposed the clam Scrobicularia plana to oxybenzone (a UV filter in sunscreens) adsorbed to microplastics and found greater bioaccumulation and oxidative damage than with oxybenzone alone, demonstrating that microplastics enhance the bioavailability of adsorbed organic contaminants.

A Production and Fractionation Protocol for Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics

Researchers developed an efficient protocol for producing and fractionating PVC microplastics using cryogenic grinding and wet-sieving, generating particles with controlled size distributions suitable for standardized laboratory exposure studies.

Systematic assessment of the mechanisms and risks of micro- and nanoplastic particle exposure in marine invertebrates

Researchers systematically evaluated microplastic and nanoplastic toxicity across diverse marine invertebrate species using data from the ToMEx database. The study constructed species sensitivity distributions and found that nanoplastics generally posed greater hazards than microplastics, with sea urchins and filter-feeding organisms among the most sensitive species, providing ecologically relevant thresholds for risk assessment.

Black carbon particles in human breast milk: assessing infant’s exposure

Researchers detected black carbon particles in all eight human breast milk samples tested in this pilot study, marking the first time these pollutants have been identified in breast milk. The particle levels were strongly correlated with recent maternal exposure to ambient air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. The findings raise important questions about infant exposure to environmental pollutants through breastfeeding, though the study emphasizes that breast milk remains the recommended source of infant nutrition.