Papers

Next Generation Risk Assessment approaches for advanced nanomaterials: Current status and future perspectives

This paper proposes a framework for assessing the safety of advanced nanomaterials using newer testing methods that reduce the need for animal studies. The tiered approach combines existing data with targeted testing to evaluate health risks cost-effectively. While focused on engineered nanomaterials broadly, the framework is relevant to understanding the risks of nanoplastics and could help regulators develop safety standards for these emerging contaminants.

Environmental degradation and fragmentation of microplastics: dependence on polymer type, humidity, UV dose and temperature

Researchers systematically tested how UV light, temperature, and humidity cause five common plastic types to break apart into secondary microplastics and nanoplastics. They found that the type of plastic — not the aging conditions — was the main factor determining how quickly it fragmented and what byproducts it released, data that can improve models predicting how plastics break down in the environment.

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.

Desorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Microplastics in Human Gastrointestinal Fluid Simulants─Implications for Exposure Assessment

Scientists used a lab model of the human digestive system to study how cancer-causing chemicals called PAHs are released from microplastics as they pass through the gut. They found that 21-29% of the chemicals absorbed onto microplastics were released during digestion, with the most release happening in the intestines. However, the overall contribution of microplastic-carried PAHs to total dietary intake was very low, suggesting that for most people, microplastics are not a major source of PAH exposure through food.

FRAGMENT-MNP: A model of micro- and nanoplastic fragmentation in the environment

Researchers developed an open-source computer model called FRAGMENT-MNP that simulates how plastic debris breaks down into smaller micro- and nanoplastic particles over time in the environment. The model predicts fragmentation patterns based on the physical properties of different plastics and environmental conditions. This tool gives scientists a new way to understand and forecast how plastic pollution evolves, which is important because particle size affects how plastics move through ecosystems and interact with living organisms.

The power of centrifugation: How to extract microplastics from soil with high recovery and matrix removal efficiency

This study developed and validated a centrifugation-based method for extracting microplastics from soil samples with high recovery and efficient removal of organic matter. The approach is particularly useful for monitoring the fragmentation and biodegradation of both conventional and biodegradable polymers released into agricultural soils.

Biodegradation of poly(butylene succinate) in soil laboratory incubations assessed by stable carbon isotope labelling

Researchers used carbon isotope labeling to precisely track how biodegradable plastic (poly(butylene succinate)) breaks down in agricultural soil over more than a year, finding that 65% fully converted to CO2 while the rest integrated into the soil. This new tracking method provides a reliable way to evaluate whether "biodegradable" plastics actually decompose as claimed in real soil conditions.

Environmental Degradation of Microplastics: How to Measure Fragmentation Rates to Secondary Micro- and Nanoplastic Fragments and Dissociation into Dissolved Organics

Researchers developed an adapted protocol for measuring UV-driven fragmentation of microplastics into nano-sized fragments and dissolved organics, providing a standardized method to better understand microplastic degradation rates in the environment.

A comparative investigation of the sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to various polydisperse micro- and nanoplastics using a novel third-phase partition method

Researchers developed a novel third-phase partition method to measure sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons onto various micro- and nanoplastics, finding that particle size, polymer type, and surface area significantly influence pollutant adsorption capacity.

A novel 3D intestine barrier model to study the immune response upon exposure to microplastics

Scientists developed a three-dimensional in vitro intestinal model using human epithelial cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29) to study the immune response to ingested microplastics, finding that microplastics induced inflammatory cytokine release and altered barrier integrity in a dose-dependent manner.

Microplastic regulation should be more precise to incentivize both innovation and environmental safety

This perspective argued that regulatory restrictions on intentional primary microplastics should be more precise and differentiated, acknowledging that hazard uncertainty and the availability of substitutes vary greatly by application, and that blunt bans may sometimes cause greater harm than the microplastics they replace.

Soil-biodegradable mulch film: Distinguishing between persistent microplastics and fragments released from certified soil-biodegradable products

Researchers incubated a certified soil-biodegradable mulch film in agricultural soil and used μ-FTIR microscopy to track fragmentation and biodegradation kinetics, distinguishing between fragments that biodegraded within the study period and those that would persist as microplastics.

Microplastic extraction protocols can impact the polymer structure

Researchers found that common laboratory extraction protocols used to isolate microplastics from environmental samples can alter the polymer structure of the particles, potentially skewing identification and quantification results.

Fragmentation and Mineralization of a Compostable Aromatic–Aliphatic Polyester during Industrial Composting

Researchers tracked the fragmentation and biodegradation of a compostable aromatic-aliphatic polyester spiked into compost under industrial composting conditions, finding that while disintegration occurred as expected, microplastic-sized fragments with incomplete mineralization raised concerns about residual polymer persistence.

Influence of plastic shape on interim fragmentation of compostable materials during composting

Researchers studied how the physical shape of biodegradable plastics affects the amount of microplastic fragments produced during composting, finding that thin films shed the most interim fragments while plastic-coated paper cups shed fewer — suggesting current lab tests using plastic granules may not accurately reflect how real consumer products break down.

An innovative microplastic extraction technique: The switchable calcium chloride density separation column tested for biodegradable polymers, polyethylene, and polyamide

Researchers developed an innovative non-destructive microplastic extraction method using a switchable calcium chloride density separation column that avoids harsh chemical treatments which can alter particle properties. The protocol was validated for biodegradable polymers, polyethylene, and polyamide, enabling reliable physicochemical characterization for fate and hazard assessment.

The Frontier of Plastics Recycling: Rethinking Waste as a Resource for High‐Value Applications

This review examines the current state and future prospects of plastics recycling within a circular economy framework, arguing that mechanical recycling alone is insufficient and that chemical recycling, design-for-recyclability, and extended producer responsibility must all be scaled simultaneously. The authors identify high-value applications for recycled plastics as essential incentives for building economically sustainable recycling systems.

Effect of Polymer Properties on the Biodegradation of Polyurethane Microplastics

Researchers investigated biodegradation of different thermoplastic polyurethane formulations in compost, finding that the ester bond chemistry of polyurethanes enables some degree of hydrolytic degradation. The rate and extent of biodegradation varied substantially with polymer chemistry, with ester-based polyurethanes degrading faster than ether-based types.

Micro- and Nanoplastic Processes: Degradation, Fragmentation, Aggregation and the Need for Environmentally Relevant Reference Materials

This research review explains how tiny plastic particles break down and change when exposed to sunlight, water, and bacteria in the environment. These weathered plastic pieces behave very differently from fresh plastics—they can clump together and move through soil and water in new ways, potentially affecting where they end up in our food and water systems. Understanding how plastics age and change is crucial for predicting their long-term impacts on human health and the environment.

Life cycle impact assessment of microplastics as one component of marine plastic debris

Microplastic regulation should be more precise to incentivize both innovation and environmental safety

This commentary argues that current microplastic regulations are too broad and imprecise, failing to distinguish between harmful and benign microplastic applications. The authors call for more targeted regulation that incentivizes innovation in safer materials while effectively controlling the most environmentally damaging uses of microplastics.

Field and mesocosm methods to test biodegradable plastic film under marine conditions

Researchers developed and tested new field and mesocosm methods to assess the fate of biodegradable plastic films under real marine conditions. Reliable marine field testing methods are needed to evaluate whether biodegradable plastics actually degrade in ocean environments or persist like conventional plastics.