Papers

What Does the “Trojan Horse” Carry? The Pollutants Associated with Microplastics/Nanoplastics in Water Environments

Microplastics act as tiny "Trojan horses" in water, carrying toxic chemical additives like plasticizers, flame retardants, and stabilizers that leach out as the plastic breaks down. These additives can build up in living organisms and pose risks to human health. This review maps out what we currently know about these hitchhiking pollutants and identifies major gaps in our understanding of how they behave in aquatic environments.

Plastic Leachates Disproportionately Impair Aquatic Animals: A Multifactor, Multieffect, and Multilevel Meta-analytic Model

This large-scale analysis of 115 studies found that chemicals leaching out of plastics significantly harmed aquatic animals, reducing survival by 28%, impairing development by 30%, and hurting reproduction by 13%. Marine species were more sensitive than freshwater species, and smaller organisms at the base of the food chain were most vulnerable. These findings are important because toxic chemicals leaching from plastic waste can accumulate through the food chain and ultimately reach humans through seafood.

From water to sediment: A meta-analysis of microplastic distribution and the impact of dams in reservoir ecosystems

This meta-analysis of 36 reservoirs worldwide found that microplastics tend to accumulate near dams due to a trapping effect, with concentrations declining upstream. Vertical stratification patterns and significant impacts on benthic organism growth and reproduction were observed, highlighting reservoirs as underrecognized microplastic accumulation hotspots in freshwater systems.

Systemic effects of nanoplastics on multi-organ at the environmentally relevant dose: The insights in physiological, histological, and oxidative damages

Researchers gave mice nanoplastics at doses estimated to match real-world human exposure levels and found the particles crossed the intestinal barrier and accumulated in the liver and kidneys. Even at these low, environmentally relevant doses, the nanoplastics caused oxidative stress and tissue damage across multiple organs. The findings suggest that everyday nanoplastic exposure may pose broader health risks than previously assumed.

Micro(nano)plastics in the total environment – A holistic review

This comprehensive review examined how micro- and nanoplastics are distributed across soil, water, air, sediments, and living organisms worldwide. Researchers highlighted that while plastic particles accumulate extensively throughout the environment, the long-term transport, fate, and health impacts of this pollution remain poorly understood. The study calls for more standardized research methods and coordinated global efforts to address the growing challenge of plastic particle contamination.

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.

Spotlight on the vertical migration of aged microplastics in coastal waters

This study examined how aging and weathering processes change the physical and chemical properties of microplastics, which in turn affects whether they sink or float in coastal waters. Researchers found that different aging pathways, such as UV exposure and biofouling, alter particle density and surface characteristics in ways that drive vertical movement, helping explain why microplastics distribute throughout the water column rather than staying at the surface.

Unveiling the Vertical Migration of Microplastics with Suspended Particulate Matter in the Estuarine Environment: Roles of Salinity, Particle Properties, and Hydrodynamics

Researchers studied how suspended particles like clay and sand affect the vertical movement of microplastics in estuarine environments with varying salinity levels. They found that fine clay particles were particularly effective at dragging buoyant microplastics downward through a process of attachment and aggregation. The study reveals that the interplay between sediment type, salinity, and water turbulence plays a major role in determining where microplastics end up in estuaries.

Nanoplastics induced health risk: Insights into intestinal barrier homeostasis and potential remediation strategy by dietary intervention

Researchers showed that environmentally aged nanoplastics disrupt intestinal barrier integrity by increasing permeability, triggering inflammation via AP-1 signaling, and inducing mitochondrial apoptosis, and that dietary quercetin counteracts these effects by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and suppressing p38/JNK phosphorylation.

What have we known so far about microplastics in drinking water treatment? A timely review

This review summarizes research on microplastic occurrence and removal in drinking water treatment, covering both laboratory and full-scale studies through August 2021. Researchers found that conventional treatment processes like coagulation-flocculation, membrane filtration, and sand filtration are generally effective at reducing microplastics in water, though results vary widely depending on conditions. The study identifies key factors influencing removal efficiency and highlights the need for further research on nanoplastics in drinking water.

Interactive effects of nanoplastics, multi-contaminants, and environmental conditions on prairie aquatic ecosystems: A factorial composite toxicity analysis within a Canadian context

Researchers developed a new analytical approach to evaluate the combined toxic effects of nanoplastics, copper, and phenanthrene on freshwater microalgae under varying environmental conditions. They found that the interactions between these pollutants were highly dependent on factors like pH, temperature, and dissolved organic matter. The study reveals that environmental context significantly changes how nanoplastic mixtures affect aquatic life in Canadian prairie ecosystems.

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.

Removal of polystyrene microplastic spheres by alum-based coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation (CFS) treatment of surface waters

Prolonged drying impedes the detachment of microplastics in unsaturated substrate: Role of flow regimes

This study investigated how prolonged drying conditions affect the detachment of microplastics from porous media under different flow regimes. Researchers found that extended dry periods significantly impede microplastic release, suggesting that soil moisture history plays an important role in determining how microplastics are mobilized and transported through the environment.

Beppu Bay, Japan, as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series

Researchers evaluated Beppu Bay sediments as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section for the Anthropocene, finding unprecedented increases in 99 anthropogenic proxies above a 1953 flood layer, including microplastics, radionuclides, and industrial pollutants.

Evaluating the representation of disaster hazards in SNOMED CT: gaps and opportunities

Researchers evaluated gaps in the SNOMED CT clinical terminology system for representing disaster hazards and climate-sensitive health outcomes, identifying missing concepts needed to improve clinical reporting and public health disaster response workflows.

Toxicity and mechanism of nanoplastics to phytoplankton in high-latitude aquatic ecosystems of Canadian prairie: Effects of multiple environmental factors

Researchers examined nanoplastic toxicity to phytoplankton in Canadian prairie aquatic ecosystems, finding that environmental factors like nutrients, salinity, and dissolved organic matter significantly modulated the toxic effects, highlighting the need to consider real-world conditions in risk assessments.

Deciphering the behavior and fate of microplastics in coastal aquatic environments: A comprehensive review illuminating coastal dynamics and driving mechanisms

This comprehensive review examined the behavior and fate of microplastics in coastal aquatic environments, covering transport fluxes from watersheds to the ocean, physical and geochemical dynamics, and interactions with particles and organisms in beach, nearshore, and estuarine zones. The authors highlighted controversy in estimating riverine microplastic fluxes and identified key knowledge gaps.

Long-Term Effects of Nanoplastics on Growth, Photosynthesis, and Oxidative Stress in <i>Asterococcus superbus</i>

A 30-day nanoplastic exposure experiment on the freshwater alga Asterococcus superbus showed that long-term exposure caused progressive declines in growth rate, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidant capacity that were not evident in shorter acute toxicity studies.

Investigation into the impact of aged microplastics on oil behavior in shoreline environments

Aged microplastics with oxidized surfaces affected oil behavior in shoreline environments by altering oil spreading, incorporation of plastic into oil-sediment aggregates, and oil sinking dynamics, with the degree of MP aging determining whether the interaction increased or decreased oil persistence in beach sediments after a simulated spill.

Will the Chemical Contaminants in Agricultural Soil Affect the Ecotoxicity of Microplastics?

This viewpoint examines whether pre-existing chemical contaminants in agricultural soil can alter the ecotoxicity of microplastics, arguing that soil chemistry and co-contaminants must be considered when assessing microplastic hazards in farmland environments.

Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek

Microplastics were detected in the water and in five species of fish from a prairie creek downstream of a Canadian city, with contamination levels reflecting proximity to the city's wastewater discharge. The study demonstrates that urban freshwater systems are significantly contaminated with microplastics that enter the food web of local fish.

Unveiling China’s Primary Microplastic Emissions: Supply Chain Dynamics from Multiple Perspectives

Using an economic input-output model that traces supply chains across Chinese provinces, this study estimated primary microplastic emissions from production, consumption, and income perspectives, finding that eastern coastal provinces dominate emissions but that the responsible sector shifts depending on which accounting method is used. Transportation and textiles were the top-emitting sectors under all approaches. This kind of supply-chain analysis is essential for designing effective policy — assigning pollution responsibility to the right actors rather than just the regions where plastic is made.

A case study on the environmental and economic impact of photovoltaic systems in wastewater treatment plants

Researchers evaluated a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar photovoltaic and wind turbines to power a membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant at a Moroccan university, finding it could cover approximately 72% of the plant's energy needs while reducing electricity costs.