Papers

A Systematic Review of the Placental Translocation of Micro- and Nanoplastics

Nine out of eleven studies confirmed that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the placental barrier, with translocation depending on particle size, charge, chemical modification, and protein corona formation. Animal and in vitro studies showed emerging evidence of placental and fetal toxicity from plastic particle exposure.

Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy

Using a new high-speed imaging technique, researchers detected and identified nanoplastics in bottled water at the single-particle level, finding roughly 240,000 plastic particles per liter. This is far more than previously estimated and includes particles smaller than 100 nanometers made from common plastics, suggesting our exposure to nanoplastics from bottled water may be much higher than thought.

Incorporation of polylactic acid microplastics into the carbon cycle as a carbon source to remodel the endogenous metabolism of the gut

Researchers discovered that gut bacteria can break down so-called biodegradable PLA microplastics and incorporate the carbon into their own metabolism, fundamentally altering the gut's energy balance. This process reduced beneficial short-chain fatty acids that fuel gut lining cells and caused decreased appetite and weight loss in mice, suggesting that biodegradable plastics may not be as harmless inside the body as assumed.

US drinking water quality: exposure risk profiles for seven legacy and emerging contaminants

Researchers profiled the risk exposure patterns for seven contaminants found in US drinking water, including both legacy pollutants and emerging threats, finding that contamination is widespread even in developed water systems. Understanding which contaminants affect which communities is essential for targeting public health protections and clean water policies.

Elimination of microplastics, PFAS, and PPCPs from biosolids via pyrolysis to produce biochar: Feasibility and techno-economic analysis

Researchers found that heating sewage sludge (biosolids) through a process called pyrolysis at temperatures of 400-700 degrees Celsius removed virtually all harmful contaminants -- over 99.9% of pharmaceuticals and PFAS ("forever chemicals") and 91-97% of microplastics. The process also produces biochar that can be used as a fertilizer, potentially turning a waste disposal problem into a revenue source. This approach could prevent microplastics and other pollutants from spreading to farmland through standard biosolid application.

International consensus guidelines for the definition, detection, and interpretation of autophagy-dependent ferroptosis

This scientific review provides guidelines for understanding a specific type of cell death called autophagy-dependent ferroptosis, where cells essentially digest their own protective components and then die from iron-driven damage. While not directly about microplastics, this process is relevant because microplastics and nanoplastics have been shown to trigger oxidative stress and iron-related cell damage in tissues. Understanding these cell death pathways helps researchers assess how plastic particle exposure could harm organs like the liver, brain, and lungs.

Tracking the translocation of nanoplastics from soil to plant: Comparison of different analytical techniques

This study compared different lab techniques for tracking nanoplastics as they move from soil into wheat plants. Researchers found that wheat seedlings absorbed enormous quantities of nanoplastics through their roots in just five days, leading to a 77% drop in plant growth. The findings matter for food safety because they show nanoplastics in contaminated soil can be taken up by food crops.

Mechanism of microplastic and nanoplastic emission from tire wear

Scientists showed that normal tire wear produces two distinct populations of plastic particles: smaller airborne nanoplastics that stay suspended in the air, and larger microplastics that settle to the ground. Nanoplastic emissions increase dramatically with vehicle speed and weight, and electric charge keeps the smallest particles floating in the air where they can be inhaled. This research identifies tire wear as a major and previously underappreciated source of breathable nanoplastic pollution.

Marine Microplastic Levels and the Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Diseases in US Coastline Counties

A population-level study found a significant association between marine microplastic levels and the prevalence of heart and metabolic diseases like diabetes in U.S. coastal counties. While this does not prove microplastics directly cause these conditions, the correlation is notable and warrants further investigation at the individual level. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastic pollution may be linked to cardiovascular and metabolic health problems in humans.

Distinct lipid membrane interaction and uptake of differentially charged nanoplastics in bacteria

Researchers studied how nanoplastics with different surface charges interact with bacterial cell membranes, finding that positively charged particles penetrate bacteria far more effectively than neutral or negatively charged ones. The positively charged nanoplastics caused more cellular stress by generating reactive oxygen species and damaged cell structures differently depending on the bacterial type. These findings are important for understanding how nanoplastics may affect both environmental bacteria and the human microbiome.

Materials science underpinnings of micro and nanoplastics

This perspective paper explores the materials science behind how micro- and nanoplastics form and behave in the environment. Researchers highlight a major knowledge gap: the process by which molecular-level bond breaking leads to the creation of plastic fragments ranging from nanometers to millimeters in size is still poorly understood. The study calls for new measurement techniques that can accelerate aging experiments and better characterize these tiny particles.

Mechanism of quiescent nanoplastic formation from semicrystalline polymers

Researchers uncovered the mechanism by which semicrystalline polymers, which make up about 70% of commercial plastics, spontaneously release nanoplastic particles even without mechanical force. They found that chemical bond-breaking events concentrate in the non-crystalline regions of the plastic, eventually causing those layers to fail and release stacks of crystalline fragments as nanoplastics. This discovery helps explain why plastics continuously shed tiny particles into the environment under normal conditions.

Impact of Marine Microplastics on Neurologic and Functional Disabilities: A Population‐Level Study

Researchers analyzed county-level data across 218 U.S. coastal communities and found a significant association between marine microplastic pollution levels and self-reported rates of cognitive, mobility, and independent living disabilities. Communities with higher microplastic exposure showed higher prevalence of neurological and functional impairments. While the study notes the relationship is associative rather than causal, it highlights the urgent need for further research into how microplastic exposure may affect brain and nervous system health at a population level.

Networks of climate obstruction: Discourses of denial and delay in US fossil energy, plastic, and agrichemical industries

Researchers analyzed social media activity from major US fossil fuel, plastics, and agrichemical corporations to map how these industries coordinate messaging that delays climate and environmental action. The study found shared narratives across all three sectors that promote continued fossil fuel extraction, with implications for how policymakers understand and counter organized opposition to environmental regulation.

The interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change on aquatic ecosystems

This assessment reviews how stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change interact to affect UV radiation exposure in aquatic ecosystems. Researchers found that climate change is now the primary driver of UV exposure variations in water, through mechanisms like changing ice cover, water clarity, and mixing depths. The study notes that increased UV exposure can accelerate the breakdown of microplastics and other contaminants in surface waters, highlighting complex interactions between atmospheric changes and aquatic pollution.

300 Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: An fMRI pilot study

This fMRI pilot study found that psilocybin increased prefrontal cortex and caudate activity while decreasing insular and cerebellar activity in patients with alcohol use disorder, suggesting enhanced emotional regulation and diminished craving. The study is not related to microplastic research.

Navigating the continuum between adaptation and maladaptation

A Decision Framework for Selecting Critically Important Nutrients from Aquatic Foods

Researchers created a decision framework to help identify which nutrients from fish and other aquatic foods are most important for human health and nutrition research. The framework considers how essential each nutrient is to the body, how much a population needs it, and whether aquatic foods are a uniquely valuable source compared to other dietary options. The study highlights 41 key nutrients and provides guidance for prioritizing future research on the nutritional value of seafood.

Secretory MPP3 reinforce myeloid differentiation trajectory and amplify myeloid cell production

Researchers discovered that myeloid-biased multipotent progenitor cells (MPP3) in the bone marrow are functionally heterogeneous, with a distinct secretory subset that rapidly produces granulocyte and macrophage progenitors. This study provides new insights into how the blood system amplifies myeloid cell production on demand through specialized progenitor cell populations.

Chemical Fingerprinting: Advances in Analytical Techniques for Environmental Monitoring

This review examines advances in chemical fingerprinting techniques, including mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy, for identifying and tracking pollutants in the environment. Researchers discuss how these analytical methods can be applied to monitor complex chemical mixtures including microplastics across environmental media. The study suggests that improved fingerprinting approaches could enhance our ability to trace pollution sources and assess ecological risks.

Microplastics in the digestive tracts of 7 whale species

Researchers examined microplastic pollution in the digestive tracts of 12 individual whales across seven species, including freshwater and nearshore species. The study characterized microplastic pollution levels and types across different parts of the digestive system, providing data on how large marine mammals are exposed to microplastic contamination.

Mutational signatures associated with exposure to carcinogenic microplastic compounds bisphenol A and styrene oxide

Researchers exposed human cells to bisphenol A and styrene oxide and identified genome-wide mutational signatures dominated by guanine-targeted substitutions, finding similar mutation patterns in tumor samples from digestive and urinary organ cancers, supporting carcinogenic potential.

Surface modification significantly changed the effects of nano-polystyrene on sediment microbial communities and nitrogen metabolism

This study examined how different surface modifications of nano-polystyrene particles affect sediment microbial communities and nitrogen cycling over 60 days. Researchers found that amino-modified nanoplastics significantly inhibited fungal communities and disrupted nitrogen metabolism, while carboxylated and unmodified forms had different effects, demonstrating that surface chemistry is a key factor in nanoplastic toxicity.

A perspective on persistent toxicants in veterans and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: identifying exposures determining higher ALS risk

Researchers reviewed evidence that U.S. military veterans develop ALS (a fatal nerve disease) at higher rates than civilians, likely due to unique toxic exposures like burn pits, exhaust fumes, and nanoparticles during service. They call for direct measurement of these toxicants in veteran brain tissue to identify which exposures are driving the elevated risk.