Papers

Regional and population-scale trends in human inhalation exposure to airborne microplastics: Implications for health risk assessment

Scientists built a model of how inhaled microplastics deposit throughout the human respiratory tract and found that the smallest particles (0.1-5 micrometers) penetrate deepest and contribute most to internal accumulation over time. The study also found that infants, children, and the elderly are most vulnerable to short-term airborne microplastic exposure, while adolescents and adults face greater risk from long-term accumulation.

Impact of seasonal changes and environmental conditions on suspended and inhalable microplastics in urban air

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in Taipei City over a full year and found an average of about 6 particles per cubic meter of air, with higher levels during warm seasons. Fragment-shaped microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene) were the most common, and their concentrations were influenced more by weather conditions like temperature, UV levels, and humidity than by human activity within the city.

The Toxicity of Microplastics Explorer (ToMEx) 2.0

This paper describes an update to the Toxicity of Microplastics Explorer (ToMEx), a public database of microplastic toxicity studies used by researchers worldwide for risk assessment. The updated database roughly doubled in size, yet key trends held steady: smaller particles tend to be more toxic, and there is still a lack of dose-response data needed to set safe exposure limits. This tool is important because it helps scientists and regulators determine what levels of microplastic contamination might actually harm human health and ecosystems.

Long-term nanoplastics exposure results in multi and trans-generational reproduction decline associated with germline toxicity and epigenetic regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers discovered that a single exposure to nanoplastics in mother roundworms caused reproductive decline that persisted across four subsequent unexposed generations. The study found that nanoplastics triggered DNA damage and cell death in reproductive cells, with these effects passed down through epigenetic changes rather than direct nanoplastic transfer to offspring. This finding suggests that nanoplastic exposure may have lasting consequences for fertility that extend well beyond the initially exposed generation.

Global analysis of marine plastics and implications of control measure strategies

This study provides a global overview of ocean plastic pollution, finding that plastic production has grown dramatically since the 1950s and over 1,000 rivers contribute 80% of the plastic entering oceans, with Asia as the largest source. Small microplastics dominate ocean surface contamination by particle count, even though larger pieces account for more mass. The review highlights that without major changes in waste management and recycling, plastic pollution will continue to threaten marine food chains and the people who depend on seafood.

Leachable Additives of Tire Particles Explain the Shift in Microbial Community Composition and Function in Coastal Sediments

Researchers found that tire particles deposited in coastal zones can significantly alter microbial communities in sediments, disrupting key nutrient cycling processes including carbon fixation and nitrogen cycling. The study showed that chemical additives leaching from tire particles, rather than the particles themselves, were responsible for over 90% of the changes in microbial community structure. These findings highlight how tire-derived microplastics can harm coastal ecosystems through the chemicals they release.

Assessing microplastics-antibiotics coexistence induced ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a water region scale

This study found that microplastics in water can promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, specifically ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a dangerous human pathogen. Microplastics provide surfaces where bacteria colonize and exchange resistance genes, especially in water contaminated with both plastics and antibiotics. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in waterways could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, which threatens the effectiveness of medical treatments.

Microbiota-mediated metabolic perturbations in the gut and brain of mice after microplastic exposure

In a mouse study, oral exposure to polystyrene microplastics of two sizes altered the gut bacteria community and caused metabolic changes in both the intestines and the brain. The disrupted gut bacteria appeared to drive changes in bile acid, energy, and other metabolic pathways. These findings support the idea that microplastics in food and water could affect brain health indirectly by first disrupting the gut microbiome and its chemical signals.

A comparative analysis of microplastics in feces of terrestrial mammalian wildlife around Hong Kong

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in the feces of five wild mammal species living near urban areas in Hong Kong, including buffalo, wild boar, and macaques. They found microplastics in all species and at all sites, with buffalo showing the highest concentrations and macaques showing the widest range of contamination levels. The study suggests that wildlife living near human settlements faces significant microplastic exposure through food and environmental contact.

Particle toxicology and health - where are we?

Researchers reflect on decades of particle toxicology research, arguing that lessons from studying dust, asbestos, and other harmful particles can guide how we assess health risks from newer materials like microplastics and engineered nanoparticles. Understanding how particles damage the body is essential for designing appropriate safety regulations and risk management policies.

Microplastic pollution of the Tamsui River and its tributaries in northern Taiwan: Spatial heterogeneity and correlation with precipitation

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in the Tamsui River and its tributaries in northern Taiwan, collecting samples over three months. They found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations varying widely between rivers, from 2.5 to 83.7 particles per cubic meter. The study found a positive correlation between rainfall and microplastic abundance, suggesting that precipitation washes plastic debris from land into waterways.

Artificial digestion represents the worst-case scenario for studying nanoplastic fate in gastrointestinal tract

Researchers compared how nanoplastics behave during artificial laboratory digestion versus in real human and porcine digestive fluids to evaluate the reliability of lab-based studies. They found that while size trends were consistent between the two methods, artificial digestion tended to underestimate particle clumping, making it a conservative worst-case model. The study provides the first direct evidence that standard laboratory digestion tests are suitable for assessing how nanoplastics might behave in the human gut.

Monitoring, control and assessment of microplastics in bioenvironmental systems

This review provides a comprehensive overview of how microplastics move through different environmental systems including freshwater, air, soil, and oceans, and evaluates the methods used to detect and measure them. Researchers compared various sampling, pretreatment, and analysis techniques and discussed recent policies aimed at controlling plastic use. The study emphasizes the need for standardized monitoring approaches and better risk assessment frameworks to understand the full impact of microplastics on ecosystems and human health.

Microplastics and nanoplastics in environment: Sampling, characterization and analytical methods

Fate of microplastics under the influence of climate change

This paper discusses how climate change is reshaping the fate of microplastics in the environment through mechanisms like melting ice releasing stored particles, increased rainfall washing debris into waterways, and stronger winds redistributing contamination. Researchers found that rising temperatures also accelerate the chemical breakdown of microplastics, potentially releasing additional harmful substances. The study frames microplastic pollution within the broader context of planetary boundaries, suggesting the two environmental crises are deeply interconnected.

Toxicity-based toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic assessment for bioaccumulation of polystyrene microplastics in mice

Researchers developed a toxicity-based modeling framework to quantify how polystyrene microplastics accumulate in mouse organs and trigger biomarker responses. They found that the gut had the highest bioaccumulation factor when exposed to 5-micrometer particles, with a mean residence time of about 17 days. The study establishes threshold concentrations for toxic effects and provides a framework that could help extrapolate findings from animal studies to assess potential human health risks from microplastic consumption.

Hepatic and metabolic outcomes induced by sub-chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics in mice

Researchers studied the effects of sub-chronic polystyrene microplastic exposure on mouse livers using multiple analytical approaches. They found that microplastics accumulated in liver tissue and caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of normal metabolic processes including lipid and amino acid metabolism. The study suggests that prolonged microplastic ingestion may pose significant risks to liver health.

Microplastic contamination of table salts from Taiwan, including a global review

Researchers analyzed table salt products sold in Taiwan for microplastic contamination and detected an average of nearly 10 microplastic particles per kilogram of salt. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the most commonly identified polymer types. The study includes a global comparison showing that microplastic contamination of table salt is a widespread phenomenon, representing a consistent low-level dietary exposure pathway for consumers.

Fate and Impacts of Microplastics in the Environment: Hydrosphere, Pedosphere, and Atmosphere

This review examines how microplastics spread across three major environmental compartments: water systems, soils, and the atmosphere. The study discusses both primary sources like plastic pellets and cosmetic beads and secondary sources like degradation of larger plastics and textile washing, highlighting the ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics as an emerging class of environmental contaminants.

Nanoplastics exposure disrupts circadian rhythm associated with dysfunction of the endolysosomal pathway and autophagy in Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers found that exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics disrupted circadian rhythms in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, linking the disruption to dysfunction in endolysosomal pathways and autophagy. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may interfere with fundamental biological timing mechanisms through stress-related cellular pathways, raising concerns about the broader biological effects of nanoplastic pollution.

Microplastics in rivers along an urban-rural gradient in an urban agglomeration: Correlation with land use, potential sources and pathways

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in tributaries of the Wu River in Taiwan along an urban-rural gradient and found that microplastic abundance strongly correlated with population density. A sharp increase in microplastics was observed at the transition from rural to urban areas, coinciding with the presence of storm sewers as a key transport pathway. The study suggests that industrial zones, residential areas, and traffic corridors are major sources of riverine microplastic pollution.

Prospect of microplastic pollution control under the “New normal” concept beyond COVID-19 pandemic

This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased single-use plastic consumption through demand for personal protective equipment, online shopping, and food delivery, aggravating microplastic pollution. The study summarizes the limited research on toxicological effects of microplastics released from pandemic-related plastic waste on aquatic organisms, soil organisms, and humans.

Coral incorporating microplastics leads to a health-risking immunometabolic shift

Researchers performed lipidomic profiling on a vulnerable coral species exposed to microplastics and found that the corals underwent a significant immunometabolic shift, expending energy reserves to mount an immune response. The symbiotic algae within the coral also altered their metabolism, reducing photoprotective capacity while attempting to counteract the heightened host immunity. The study suggests that microplastic accumulation may chronically impair coral health by sensitizing cells to oxidative stress, potentially increasing susceptibility to heat and light stress.

Self-powered AlGaN/GaN HEMT-based sensor integrated with rotational TENG for comprehensive water quality analysis