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Papers
52 resultsShowing papers from New Jersey Institute of Technology
ClearRapid detection of microplastics and nanoplastics in seconds by mass spectrometry
Scientists developed a rapid method that can detect microplastics and nanoplastics in just 10 seconds by burning a dried sample in front of a mass spectrometer, skipping the usual hours of preparation. The technique successfully identified nanoplastics in mouse placenta tissue, showing its potential for quickly screening food, water, and biological samples for plastic contamination.
Review of Recent Computational Research on the Adsorption of PFASs with a Variety of Substrates
This review summarizes recent computer modeling research on how PFAS, sometimes called "forever chemicals," stick to various materials, which could help develop better cleanup methods. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics, both are persistent environmental pollutants that resist breakdown and accumulate in the body. Understanding how these chemicals interact with surfaces at the molecular level could lead to more effective ways to remove them from contaminated water and soil.
Microplastic Pollution Prevention: The Need for Robust Policy Interventions to Close the Loopholes in Current Waste Management Practices
This review argues that current waste management policies have significant gaps that allow microplastic pollution to continue growing despite awareness of the problem. While cleanup technology is improving, prevention through better regulation of plastic production, use, and disposal is more practical and cost-effective. The authors call for stronger policy interventions including extended producer responsibility, bans on unnecessary single-use plastics, and standardized microplastic monitoring.
Micro-nanoscale polystyrene co-exposure impacts the uptake and translocation of arsenic and boscalid by lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Researchers found that nanoscale polystyrene particles dramatically increase arsenic translocation from roots to edible shoots of lettuce — up to threefold — while also entering root cells and migrating to leaves, demonstrating that microplastic co-exposure can substantially amplify the accumulation of other environmental contaminants in food crops.
A Path to a Reduction in Micro and Nanoplastics Pollution
This review outlines strategies for reducing micro and nanoplastic pollution, covering prevention, cleanup, and policy approaches. The authors discuss biodegradable alternatives, improved waste management, advanced filtration, and regulatory frameworks that could help address the problem. The paper emphasizes that tackling microplastic pollution requires action across manufacturing, disposal, and environmental remediation.
Aggregation of microplastics and clay particles in the nearshore environment: Characteristics, influencing factors, and implications
Researchers studied how microplastics interact with natural clay particles in coastal waters, examining how factors like salinity, pH, and particle properties influence their aggregation behavior. They found that microplastics readily form clusters with clay particles, which changes how they settle and move through nearshore environments. Understanding this aggregation process is important for predicting where microplastics end up in coastal ecosystems and their potential exposure to marine organisms.
Separation, characterization and identification of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment
This review evaluates the various analytical techniques used to separate, characterize, and identify microplastics and nanoplastics in environmental samples. Researchers compared the strengths and weaknesses of different methods including spectroscopy, microscopy, and thermal analysis approaches. The study highlights the need for standardized procedures and emerging detection tools to improve our understanding of microplastic contamination and its ecological impacts.
Generation of Eroded Nanoplastics from Domestic Wastes and Their Impact on Macrophage Cell Viability and Gene Expression
Researchers created nanoplastics from common household plastic waste like water bottles, styrofoam, and plastic bags, then tested their effects on immune cells. All types of nanoplastics killed immune cells in a dose-dependent way and triggered changes in genes related to inflammation, with polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene being the most toxic. This study shows that the tiny plastic particles shed from everyday items can harm immune cells, which could weaken the body's ability to fight infection and disease.
Modeling impacts of river hydrodynamics on fate and transport of microplastics in riverine environments
Researchers built a computer model to simulate how microplastics travel and transform in river systems, accounting for particle aggregation and breakage driven by water flow. They found that microplastics clump together significantly in the early stages after entering a river, which changes the size distribution of particles flowing downstream. The study suggests that river conditions play a major role in determining what size and form of microplastics eventually reach the ocean.
ROS-mediated photoaging pathways of nano- and micro-plastic particles under UV irradiation
Researchers investigated the role of reactive oxygen species in the photoaging of nano- and micro-plastic particles under UV irradiation. The study found that bare polystyrene nanoparticles generated hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen, while surface coatings and larger particle sizes reduced ROS generation. The findings help explain the mechanisms by which UV exposure breaks down plastic particles in aquatic environments.
Characterization of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in freshwater: Effects of light irradiation and polymer types
Researchers examined how different types of microplastics release dissolved organic matter into freshwater under light and dark conditions. They found that polypropylene released the most organic compounds after UV exposure, while protein-like substances were the main material released by most plastics in the dark. The study indicates that microplastics may have ongoing, long-term effects on water chemistry and microbial activity in natural water bodies.
Characterizing microplastics in urban runoff: A multi-land use assessment with a focus on 1–125 μm size particles
Researchers collected stormwater runoff from three different urban land use types and found microplastics present across all sites, with significant variation in polymer types depending on the area. By using multiple detection techniques, they were able to identify particles as small as 1 micrometer, revealing that the smallest size fractions dominated the total count. The study emphasizes that urban runoff is a major pathway for microplastic pollution reaching waterways.
Organotin Release from Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics and Concurrent Photodegradation in Water: Impacts from Salinity, Dissolved Organic Matter, and Light Exposure
Researchers studied how organotin compounds leach from polyvinyl chloride microplastics under different light and water conditions. They found that UV and visible light exposure accelerated the release of certain organotin additives while simultaneously degrading others through photochemical reactions. The study demonstrates that environmental factors like salinity and dissolved organic matter significantly influence the rate at which microplastics release potentially harmful chemical additives into water.
Polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics differentially impact mouse ovarian follicle function
Researchers tested how polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics affect mouse ovarian follicles at environmentally relevant doses. They found that both types inhibited follicle growth and altered gene expression related to hormone production and oxidative stress, with PET nanoplastics specifically disrupting steroid hormone pathways. The study suggests that different plastic types may affect female reproductive health through distinct mechanisms.
Diverse Impacts of Microplastic-derived Dissolved Organic Matter at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations on Soil Dissolved Organic Matter Transformation
Researchers examined how dissolved organic matter leached from biodegradable and conventional agricultural mulch microplastics affects soil chemistry at environmentally realistic concentrations. They found that UV-exposed microplastic leachates were more bioavailable and caused greater changes to soil organic matter than those produced in dark conditions. The study suggests that even at low concentrations, microplastic-derived compounds can meaningfully alter soil carbon dynamics, with effects varying by soil type.
Generation of Eroded Nanoplastics from Real World Wastes and Their Capacity for Heavy Metal Adsorption
Researchers generated nanoplastics from real-world plastic waste including PET, polystyrene, and polypropylene, then tested their ability to absorb heavy metals. Polypropylene nanoplastics showed the highest absorption capacity for most metals tested, while lead was absorbed most rapidly across all plastic types, with over 99% uptake within five minutes. The findings suggest that nanoplastics in the environment may serve as carriers for toxic heavy metals, potentially increasing their bioavailability and environmental risk.
Dark Reduction of Hg(II) by Dissolved Organic Matter Derived from Aging Microplastics: Mechanisms and Implications
Researchers discovered that dissolved organic matter released from photoaged microplastics can convert toxic mercury into a less reactive form through dark chemical reactions. The organic matter from aged polystyrene, PVC, and polylactic acid reduced over 30% of mercury within 10 minutes, outperforming natural river organic matter. The findings suggest that as microplastic pollution increases in waterways, it may significantly alter mercury cycling in aquatic environments.
Surface-programmed microbiome assembly in phycosphere to microplastics contamination
Researchers studied how algal-bacterial communities assemble on microplastic surfaces and their potential role in degrading these pollutants. They found that microplastics in wastewater environments develop distinct microbial communities on their surfaces, with certain bacteria showing enhanced plastic-degrading enzyme activity when associated with algae. The study suggests that engineered algal-bacterial systems could offer a sustainable biological approach to microplastic remediation.
Worldwide fight against COVID-19 using nanotechnology, polymer science, and 3D printing technology
Researchers reviewed the roles of polymer science, nanotechnology, and 3D printing in combating COVID-19, covering applications from diagnostic sensors and antiviral coatings to PPE fabrication, while also noting the pandemic's mixed environmental legacy of increased plastic waste alongside reduced industrial emissions.
A Comprehensive Outlook of Scope within Exterior Automotive Plastic Substrates and Its Coatings
This review covers the current state and future opportunities for plastic substrate coatings in the exterior automotive industry, focusing on thermoplastic polyolefin for bumpers and polycarbonate as a lightweight glass alternative. Researchers examine advances in UV-curable technologies, powder coatings, and nanotechnologies that are being driven by the rise of electric vehicles and tighter environmental regulations. The study highlights the challenges and promising research directions for improving the performance and sustainability of automotive plastic coatings.
Would the Oceans Become Toxic to Humanity Due to Use and Mismanagement of Plastics?
Researchers developed a model to estimate when microplastic accumulation could make oceans broadly toxic to humans and marine life. The study suggests that under current discharge growth rates, ocean microplastic levels could reach toxic thresholds between 2398 and 2456, though reducing emissions could delay this significantly.
Combined Environmental Impacts and Toxicological Interactions of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Microplastics (MPs)
This review examines how microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) frequently co-occur in the environment and interact to alter each other's environmental fate and biological effects. Researchers found that co-exposure can enhance PFAS bioaccumulation by up to 2.5-fold compared to PFAS alone, accompanied by amplified oxidative stress, immune disruption, and reproductive impairment in aquatic organisms. The magnitude and direction of combined effects depend heavily on polymer type, particle size, surface aging, and biological context.
Health impacts of artificial turf: Toxicity studies, challenges, and future directions
Researchers reviewed toxicology studies on artificial turf, documenting that chemicals leaching from crumb rubber fill—including PAHs, phthalates, and PFAS—are known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, while calling for more rigorous human epidemiology and ecotoxicology studies to properly assess health risks from field use and runoff.
Aggregation dynamics of nanoplastics: insights through real world waste
Researchers studied the aggregation behavior of nanoplastics generated from real-world plastic waste rather than synthetic laboratory particles. The study found that PET and polystyrene nanoplastics sourced from discarded bottles and packaging exhibited distinct colloidal behaviors in aquatic conditions, providing more realistic insights into how nanoplastics behave in natural environments.