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Papers
36 resultsShowing papers from University of the West of England
ClearA critical review of the current progress of plastic waste recycling technology in structural materials
Researchers reviewed technologies for recycling plastic waste into construction materials such as concrete and asphalt, finding this approach can meaningfully reduce the environmental burden of plastic pollution. Incorporating plastic waste into building materials offers a practical path toward both waste reduction and more sustainable construction.
Automatic pre-screening of outdoor airborne microplastics in micrographs using deep learning
Researchers developed a deep learning system to automatically identify potential microplastic particles in microscope images of outdoor air samples. The system was trained specifically for the challenges of airborne microplastics, which appear differently than those found in water. The tool could significantly speed up air quality monitoring by reducing the time-consuming manual screening process currently required.
Benthic fauna contribute to microplastic sequestration in coastal sediments
Researchers investigated how burrowing seafloor organisms contribute to the burial of microplastics in coastal sediments. They found that benthic fauna actively transport microplastics from the sediment surface to deeper layers through their burrowing and feeding activities. The study suggests that biological processes play a significant role in sequestering microplastics within marine sediments, which has implications for understanding the long-term fate of plastic pollution in the ocean.
Adsorption in Action: Molecular Dynamics as a Tool to Study Adsorption at the Surface of Fine Plastic Particles in Aquatic Environments
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to study how pollutants attach to the surface of microscopic plastic particles in water at the atomic level. They found that the type of plastic material and the specific pollutant involved significantly influenced the strength and nature of the adsorption process. The study demonstrates that computer simulations can complement traditional lab experiments to better understand how microplastics interact with contaminants in aquatic environments.
Sand bed river dynamics controlling microplastic flux
Researchers used controlled flume experiments to show that sand bed rivers can retain up to 40% of their microplastic load within the sediment, making them significant sinks for plastic pollution. They found that bedform dynamics, particularly the speed at which sand dunes move, can predict microplastic flux through the system. The study also revealed that microplastic shape plays a more important role than previously recognized in determining whether particles are trapped or transported downstream.
Agricultural soils and microplastics: Are biosolids the problem?
Researchers found that agricultural soils in Southeast England contained high microplastic concentrations regardless of whether they received biosolid treatment (874 vs. 664 MP/kg), suggesting that biosolids are not the sole source and that other inputs like agricultural plastic and littering also contribute significantly.
Factors influencing microplastic abundances in the sediments of a seagrass-dominated tropical atoll
Researchers investigated factors controlling microplastic abundance in sediments of a seagrass-dominated tropical atoll. They found that seagrass density, water flow patterns, and proximity to human settlements all influenced microplastic accumulation, with denser seagrass meadows trapping more particles in their sediments. The study raises concerns that microplastic buildup in seagrass ecosystems could threaten the ecological services these habitats provide, including carbon storage and biodiversity support.
Investigating the ecotoxicological effects of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and polyethylene (PE) on the floating aquatic plant, Lemna minor.
Researchers evaluated the dose-response toxicity of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and polyethylene microplastics individually and in combination on the floating freshwater plant Lemna minor. Both substances inhibited plant growth and caused oxidative stress, with co-exposure producing additive toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Investigating the ecotoxicological effects of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and polyethylene (PE) on the floating aquatic plant, Lemna minor.
Researchers tested the effects of dimethyl phthalate and polyethylene microplastic fragments on the aquatic plant Lemna minor, finding that while polyethylene showed limited dose-response effects, it did significantly alter chlorophyll content, while the phthalate produced more consistent toxic responses across growth parameters.
Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research
A citizen science study investigated airborne microplastics and microfibres in home environments, which are likely major sources of indoor plastic emissions given the volume of plastics and textiles stored and used there. Involving residents in sampling improved spatial coverage and community awareness of microplastic exposure in everyday settings.
Under-researched and under-reported new findings in microplastic field
This commentary highlighted understudied and underreported areas of microplastic research emerging between 2020 and 2023, including sea surface microplastic ejection into the atmosphere, microplastic-associated chemical mixtures, and novel exposure routes. The paper argued that these new sub-categories open important frontiers that deserve greater research investment.
New Applications of Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for Novel Sample Matrices in the Forensic Sciences: A Literature Review
This review covered new applications of gas chromatography and GC-MS for analyzing drugs of abuse and toxicological compounds in alternative forensic sample matrices including hair, sweat, meconium, and other non-conventional specimens.
A Roadmap for Integrating Sustainability into Software Engineering Education
This paper presents a roadmap for integrating sustainability principles into software engineering education, outlining how curricula can be redesigned to equip future developers with the knowledge to build environmentally and socially responsible software systems.
Molecular evaluation of the metabolism of estrogenic di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in Mycolicibacterium sp.
Biochemical, genomic, and transcriptomic analyses revealed the metabolic pathways used by Mycolicibacterium sp. strain MBM to degrade the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, with the bacterium functioning in both freshwater and seawater salinity ranges.
Review: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R0/PR3
This review argues that studying airborne microplastics and microfibres inside homes requires citizen science approaches, proposing a quintuple innovation helix framework that empowers residents to co-design research methods and shape behavioural and regulatory responses to reduce indoor microplastic concentrations.
Recommendation: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R1/PR8
This recommendation paper argues that studying airborne microplastics and microfibres inside homes requires direct involvement of citizens, because researchers cannot easily access private living spaces. It proposes a citizen-science framework where residents help design and carry out monitoring, which would generate richer data on indoor exposure and help identify practical behaviour changes — such as reducing synthetic textile use — that could lower microplastic levels where people spend most of their time.
Review: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R1/PR7
This review argues that ordinary people — particularly householders — should be brought into scientific research on airborne microplastics and microfibres, because homes are a major source of these particles and researchers cannot access them without community cooperation. Incorporating citizen science, the authors suggest, could help measure indoor exposure levels, identify high-risk behaviours, and inform policies that reduce the amount of microplastics people inhale every day.
Management of Biohazards and Pandemics: COVID-19 and Its Implications in the Construction Sector
This study examined the impact of biohazards and pandemics, particularly COVID-19, on construction workers' health and safety, finding that improved control methods and waste management protocols are needed to protect workers and reduce environmental contamination.
Decision: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R0/PR5
This paper proposes a citizen science framework for studying airborne microplastics and microfibres, particularly in indoor environments, where homes are identified as major sources. By involving citizens in both study design and data collection, the approach addresses the access challenges of monitoring private spaces and creates opportunities for behavioural change in how people use plastics and textiles. Indoor airborne microplastics are an overlooked exposure route that may affect human respiratory health.
Recommendation: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R0/PR4
This recommendation paper advocates embedding citizen scientists in airborne microplastic and microfibre research, arguing that a co-creative citizen science methodology within a quintuple innovation helix framework can make indoor microplastic monitoring more accessible and generate behaviorally relevant insights.
Author comment: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R1/PR6
This paper argues that homes are a major but understudied source of airborne microplastics and microfibres, and proposes that citizen science — where residents actively participate in research design and data collection — is essential for gaining access to domestic environments and understanding the behavioral factors that drive exposure. The approach could help link indoor plastic and textile use to particle concentrations and inform practical regulatory and consumer guidance.
Decision: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R1/PR9
This paper describes a citizen science research approach to studying airborne microplastics and microfibres in indoor environments. Because homes are difficult to access for researchers, involving residents as co-investigators enables collection of data at a scale and intimacy that conventional research cannot achieve. The study applies a quintuple innovation helix framework to connect citizen-gathered data with behavioural and regulatory strategies for reducing indoor microplastic exposure.
Tracing and Quantifying Microplastics in Bristol’s Urban Water System
Researchers built a mass balance model of microplastic flows through Bristol's entire urban water system and found that households are the primary source feeding the system, while wastewater treatment plants intercept about 99.8% of microplastics before they reach rivers. However, the concentrated microplastics captured in sewage sludge re-enter the environment if sludge is spread on agricultural land as fertilizer. The model provides a template applicable to other cities for identifying where interventions would have the greatest impact on reducing environmental microplastic loads.
Review: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R0/PR2
This review argues that studying airborne microplastics and microfibres inside homes requires citizen science approaches, proposing a quintuple innovation helix framework that empowers residents to co-design research methods and shape behavioural and regulatory responses to reduce indoor microplastic concentrations.