Papers

Review of microplastics and chemical risk posed by plastic packaging on the marine environment to inform the Global Plastics Treaty

This review examines how plastic packaging, the largest sector of plastic production, contributes to microplastic pollution in the marine environment and poses chemical risks to both marine life and humans through the food chain. The authors argue that upstream solutions like reducing plastic production and banning harmful chemicals in packaging are essential for an effective Global Plastics Treaty.

The contribution of aquaculture systems to global aquaculture production

This review examines how global aquaculture has grown since 2000 through better feeds, improved management, and intensification, and discusses the environmental challenges that remain. While not directly about microplastics, aquaculture environments are increasingly contaminated with plastic particles, which can accumulate in farmed fish and shellfish that millions of people depend on for food.

Harnessing photosynthetic microorganisms for enhanced bioremediation of microplastics: A comprehensive review

This review examines how photosynthetic microorganisms like algae and cyanobacteria can break down microplastics using sunlight as their energy source. These organisms naturally colonize plastic surfaces and some can produce enzymes that degrade common plastics like PET. The research highlights a promising biological approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution in water and soil, which could ultimately reduce the amount of plastic entering the food chain and human bodies.

Exposure protocol for ecotoxicity testing of microplastics and nanoplastics

This paper presents a standardized testing protocol for evaluating the environmental toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics. Current studies often use uniform lab-made plastic particles that do not represent the irregular shapes and mixed compositions found in nature. The new protocol addresses this gap by providing methods for creating more realistic test particles and adapting existing guidelines for both soil and water organisms.

Plastiome: Plastisphere-enriched mobile resistome in aquatic environments

Researchers studying two Japanese rivers near Tokyo found that microplastics floating in the water carry communities of bacteria harboring antibiotic resistance genes that can be transferred between organisms. This collection of mobile resistance genes on plastics, which they call the "plastiome," could help spread antibiotic resistance through waterways, posing an indirect but significant threat to human health.

Disintegration of commercial biodegradable plastic products under simulated industrial composting conditions

Researchers tested ten commercial biodegradable plastic products under simulated industrial composting conditions to see how well they actually break down. While some products disintegrated significantly, others showed incomplete breakdown, and the process generated microplastic fragments during degradation. This raises questions about whether biodegradable plastics truly solve the plastic pollution problem or simply create smaller plastic particles.

Characterization of microplastics from antifouling coatings released under controlled conditions with an automated SEM-EDX particle analysis method

Researchers demonstrated that antifouling coatings on boat hulls release microplastic particles into seawater during normal sailing conditions, with most particles between 1 and 5 micrometers in size. These particles contain both plastic binder material and toxic metals like copper and zinc used as biocides. This study reveals an often-overlooked source of microplastic pollution in the ocean, where the released particles carry both plastic and heavy metal contamination into marine ecosystems.

Nanoplastics from ground polyethylene terephthalate food containers: Genotoxicity in human lung epithelial A549 cells

This study tested nanoplastics made from ground-up PET food containers on human lung cells in the lab and found they caused DNA damage and increased harmful reactive oxygen species. Unlike most studies that use standard polystyrene particles, this research used real-world PET plastic from supermarket containers, making the results more relevant to actual human exposure. The findings suggest that inhaling tiny PET particles shed from everyday food packaging could pose a risk to lung health.

Methodology to address potential impacts of plastic emissions in life cycle assessment

Researchers proposed a new method for including the environmental impact of plastic emissions in life cycle assessments, which currently tend to make plastic products appear less harmful than alternatives. The approach introduces characterization factors based on how long different plastics persist in the environment. The study suggests that accounting for plastic pollution in these assessments could significantly change how the environmental footprint of plastic products is evaluated.

Toxicity of tire particle leachates on early life stages of keystone sea urchin species

Chemical leachates from tire particles caused developmental abnormalities, stunted growth, and death in the larvae of three species of sea urchins, which are important species in marine ecosystems. The toxic effects were strongly dose-dependent, and zinc along with other metals and organic chemicals were identified as likely culprits. Since tire particles are one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution, this study highlights how the chemicals they release can harm marine life at the base of the food web.

Important questions to progress science and sustainable management of anguillid eels

A team of 30 eel experts reviewed the current state of knowledge about anguillid eels worldwide and identified critical research gaps across their lifecycle, the threats they face, and management strategies. The study notes that pollution, including microplastics, is among the many threats contributing to population declines in these ecologically important fish. Researchers emphasize that without better international coordination and adaptive management, the outlook for many eel species remains concerning.

A template wizard for the cocreation of machine-readable data-reporting to harmonize the evaluation of (nano)materials

Researchers created a user-friendly tool called the Template Wizard that helps scientists record and share their nanomaterial safety data in standardized, machine-readable formats. The tool includes over 60 templates for common experiments in nanosafety research, including toxicity testing. While focused on data management rather than microplastics directly, standardized reporting of nanoplastic safety data is critical for building a reliable evidence base on the health risks of micro- and nanoplastics.

An overview of the key topics related to the study of tire particles and their chemical leachates: From problems to solutions

Researchers reviewed the current state of knowledge on tyre wear particles — rubber fragments shed by vehicles that are a major source of microplastic pollution — identifying key gaps in emissions estimates, detection standards, and understanding of the toxic chemicals that leach from tyre rubber into the environment. The review calls for closer collaboration between scientists, regulators, and the tire industry to develop solutions that reduce the environmental and health impacts of tyre pollution.

Microplastics as vectors for environmental contaminants: Exploring sorption, desorption, and transfer to biota

This review explores how microplastics interact with hydrophobic organic chemicals in aquatic environments, examining the processes of chemical sorption onto and desorption from plastic particles. Researchers discuss the factors that influence whether microplastics act as significant carriers of environmental contaminants into living organisms compared to natural pathways. Understanding these processes is essential for accurately assessing the real-world risk that microplastics pose as chemical transport vehicles.

Synthetic biology enables mushrooms to meet emerging sustainable challenges

This perspective paper discusses how synthetic biology can enhance mushroom cultivation and fermentation to address sustainability challenges, including applications in biodegradable materials and pollution cleanup. While not directly about microplastics, mushroom-based materials could serve as biodegradable alternatives to plastics, and engineered fungi may help break down existing plastic pollution. The research points toward biological solutions for reducing plastic waste in the environment.

Shapes of Hyperspectral Imaged Microplastics

This study developed a standardized classification system for the shapes of microplastics found using hyperspectral imaging, proposing nine clear categories including fiber, rod, sphere, and others. When five experts tested the system on over 11,000 microplastic particles from various environments, the categories proved well-defined and distinguishable. Better shape classification matters because particle shape affects how microplastics interact with living organisms, including how easily they can be inhaled or ingested by humans.

2D nanomaterial for microplastic Removal: A critical review

Micro- and nanoplastics in soil: Linking sources to damage on soil ecosystem services in life cycle assessment

This review examines how micro and nanoplastics in soil damage the services that soil ecosystems provide, such as growing food, filtering water, and cycling nutrients. The plastics enter soil through wastewater, urban runoff, and breakdown of larger plastic debris, where they cause physical harm, chemical toxicity, and help other pollutants accumulate in organisms. The authors propose a framework for measuring this damage, which could help policymakers understand the true environmental cost of plastic pollution.

A protocol for lixiviation of micronized plastics for aquatic toxicity testing

Researchers developed a standardized protocol for creating plastic leachate solutions to test the toxicity of chemicals that microplastics release into water. Different types of microplastics released varying amounts of harmful additives, and the resulting leachates were toxic to marine organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. Having a consistent testing method is important because it allows scientists to compare results across studies and better assess real-world risks.

Challenges in biodegradation of non-degradable thermoplastic waste: From environmental impact to operational readiness

Researchers assessed current and emerging methods for degrading non-recyclable thermoplastics — PE, PP, PS, and PET — comparing thermal, chemical, and biological approaches by technology readiness level, concluding that biodegradation is promising but still limited by slow rates, and outlining a pathway toward greener, scalable plastic-waste treatment.

When polyethylene terephthalate microplastics meet Perfluorooctane sulfonate in thermophilic biogas upgrading system: Their effect on methanogenesis

This study examined how PET microplastics and PFOS (a forever chemical) interact in a biogas treatment system that converts carbon dioxide to methane. Rather than harming the process, both pollutants actually improved methane production, and some PFOS was broken down when iron was added. While focused on waste treatment rather than health, the findings are relevant because they show how microplastics and forever chemicals behave together in waste streams, which affects how these pollutants are managed before reaching the environment.

Do weathered microplastics impact the planktonic community? A mesocosm approach in the Baltic Sea

In a large-scale experiment simulating natural Baltic Sea conditions, researchers exposed plankton communities to weathered microplastics at two concentrations for five weeks. At the higher concentration, several groups of tiny organisms including bacteria, algae, and single-celled animals declined in number. Since plankton form the base of the marine food web, reductions in their populations could ripple up through the food chain, ultimately affecting the fish and seafood that humans consume.

A critical perspective on early communications concerning human health aspects of microplastics

This paper argues that the public debate around microplastics in food has outpaced the actual scientific evidence, which has mainly shown that microplastics are present in certain products without demonstrating specific health effects. The authors point out that food and beverages are likely a minor exposure pathway compared to the plastics we encounter in everyday life through packaging, clothing, and household items. They urge a more balanced discussion that addresses the root causes of plastic pollution rather than focusing narrowly on individual food products.

Ingestion of micro- and nanoplastics in Daphnia magna – Quantification of body burdens and assessment of feeding rates and reproduction

Researchers used a quantitative approach to measure how the water flea Daphnia magna ingests and excretes micro- and nanoplastic particles of different sizes. They found that larger 2-micrometer particles were ingested in greater mass than 100-nanometer particles, and that complete excretion did not occur within 24 hours. Chronic exposure reduced feeding rates and reproduction, suggesting that ongoing microplastic exposure could have meaningful ecological consequences for these important freshwater organisms.