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Papers
178 resultsShowing papers from South China University of Technology
ClearPolystyrene Nanoplastics Hitch-Hike the Gut–Brain Axis to Exacerbate Parkinson’s Pathology
Scientists found that polystyrene nanoplastics can travel from the gut to the brain along nerve pathways and worsen Parkinson's disease in mice. The nanoplastics accelerated the clumping of alpha-synuclein, a protein central to Parkinson's, which triggered brain inflammation, damaged mitochondria, and impaired the cellular cleanup system. Mice exposed to both nanoplastics and the disease protein showed progressive physical and motor decline resembling Parkinson's symptoms.
Differences of microplastics and nanoplastics in urban waters: Environmental behaviors, hazards, and removal
This review compares microplastics and nanoplastics in urban water systems, finding that nanoplastics are harder to remove but potentially more dangerous because their tiny size allows them to penetrate human tissue barriers more easily. The authors evaluate emerging technologies like advanced filtration and chemical oxidation that could help remove these particles from drinking water and wastewater.
A review of advancements in chitosan-essential oil composite films: Better and sustainable food preservation with biodegradable packaging
This review covers how films made from chitosan (a natural material from shellfish) combined with essential oils are being developed as biodegradable food packaging to replace conventional plastics. By reducing reliance on plastic packaging, these alternatives could help decrease the amount of microplastics that migrate into food and are ultimately consumed by people.
Polystyrene nanoplastics trigger pyroptosis in dopaminergic neurons through TSC2/TFEB-mediated disruption of autophagosome-lysosome fusion in Parkinson’s disease
This study found that polystyrene nanoplastics accelerated the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease in lab models by disrupting the brain cells' waste-clearing system. The nanoplastics interfered with how brain cells break down damaged proteins, triggering a type of inflammatory cell death in the dopamine-producing neurons that are critical for movement control.
Microplastics and environmental pollutants: Key interaction and toxicology in aquatic and soil environments
This review tracks how microplastics move through soil, water, and air ecosystems, acting as carriers for other pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals. When microplastics absorb these toxins, the combined effect on organisms can be worse than either pollutant alone. The paper highlights the need for better understanding of how these pollutant combinations affect ecosystems and ultimately human health through contaminated food and water.
Formation of environmentally persistent free radicals on microplastics under UV irradiations
This study found that UV light from the sun creates long-lasting free radicals on the surface of microplastics, with stronger UV producing more radicals faster. These environmentally persistent free radicals are chemically reactive and can damage cells and DNA. The finding is important because it means sunlight-weathered microplastics in the environment may be more harmful than fresh plastics, carrying these damaging free radicals into the body when ingested or inhaled.
Microplastics on the Planet: Current Knowledge and Challenges
This review summarizes the current state of microplastic research worldwide, noting that while detection methods have improved, measuring nano-sized plastic particles remains a major challenge. There are still no established safety thresholds for human exposure to microplastics, and the scientific community urgently needs to develop these standards to properly assess the health risks people face.
Eco-friendly lily bulb-derived polysaccharide aerogel for efficient microplastics and nanoplastics removal
Scientists created an eco-friendly filter material from lily bulb polysaccharides that can remove over 93% of microplastics and 96% of nanoplastics from water. The filter maintained its effectiveness for three months of continuous use, working through hydrogen bonding and its porous structure to capture plastic particles. This plant-based approach offers a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to synthetic filter materials for cleaning microplastics from water.
Cerebral to Systemic Representations of Alzheimer’s Pathogenesis Stimulated by Polystyrene Nanoplastics
Researchers found that environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene nanoplastics worsened Alzheimer's disease symptoms in mice, triggering brain inflammation, neuron death, and cognitive decline. The nanoplastics also disrupted metabolism and caused organ damage beyond the brain, including liver and kidney effects. This study provides some of the first evidence that nanoplastic exposure could accelerate brain diseases like Alzheimer's, especially as nanoplastics have been found in human brain tissue.
Microglial clearance of Alzheimer's amyloid-beta obstructed by nanoplastics
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics interfere with the brain's ability to clear amyloid-beta, the protein that builds up in Alzheimer's disease. The nanoplastics accelerated amyloid clumping and drained the energy of brain immune cells that normally clean up these harmful proteins. This study suggests that nanoplastic exposure could worsen or contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Microplastic pollution in Pearl River networks: Characteristic, potential sources, and migration pathways
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across the Pearl River Basin in China, one of the country's largest river systems, and found microplastics in every water sample at an average of about 1,093 particles per liter. Population density and rainwater runoff were the main factors driving contamination levels, with rainfall washing plastics from land into the river. Since the Pearl River supplies water for millions of people, these findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through drinking water sources.
A Review of Processes and Models for the Export of Microplastics From Terrestrial to Aquatic Systems
This review examines models and processes that control how microplastics move from land into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Understanding these transport pathways is essential for predicting where microplastics accumulate and developing strategies to stop them from reaching water sources. The research could help protect human health by informing better land management and waste reduction policies.
Sustainable Remediation of Polyethylene Microplastics via a Magnetite-Activated Electro-Fenton System: Enhancing Persulfate Efficiency for Eco-Friendly Pollution Mitigation
Researchers developed a new water treatment system combining electro-Fenton technology with magnetite-activated persulfate to break down polyethylene microplastics. The system achieved over 78% removal of microplastics while being more environmentally friendly than conventional chemical methods. This type of advanced treatment technology could help remove microplastics from drinking water and wastewater, reducing human exposure.
Impact of persistent rain on microplastics distribution and plastisphere community: A field study in the Pearl River, China
Researchers studied the Pearl River in China and found that persistent rain increased the amount and variety of microplastics in surface water while decreasing them in sediments. The heavy rainfall stirred up settled particles, temporarily turning river sediments from microplastic sinks into sources. The study highlights how weather events can redistribute microplastic pollution and alter the microbial communities that grow on plastic surfaces.
Occurrence, fate, and risk assessment of antibiotics in typical pharmaceutical manufactories and receiving water bodies from different regions
Researchers surveyed four pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in China and found thirteen different antibiotics in their wastewater and nearby receiving water bodies at concentrations up to 727 nanograms per liter. Fluoroquinolones and macrolides were the most prevalent classes, and while wastewater treatment removed some antibiotics, significant residues persisted in the environment. The study highlights pharmaceutical manufacturing as an important source of antibiotic pollution in waterways.
Low-Energy Photoresponsive Magnetic-Assisted Cleaning Microrobots for Removal of Microplastics in Water Environments
Researchers developed tiny light-powered magnetic microrobots that can actively seek out and collect microplastics from water, achieving 98% removal efficiency in under two minutes. The microrobots can be guided using magnetic fields and recovered for reuse, making the approach both effective and eco-friendly. This technology could eventually help clean microplastics from water sources before they reach people, though it is still at the laboratory stage.
A review on marine plastisphere: biodiversity, formation, and role in degradation
This review explored the "plastisphere," the community of bacteria, fungi, and algae that colonize microplastic surfaces in the ocean. Researchers found that these microbial communities differ from those in surrounding seawater and include species capable of degrading plastic, though the process is extremely slow. Understanding the plastisphere is important because it influences how microplastics behave in the ocean, including whether they sink or float and how they interact with marine life.
Influencing mechanisms of microplastics existence on soil heavy metals accumulated by plants
This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics in soil affect the uptake of heavy metals by plants. Microplastics can change soil chemistry and microbial communities in ways that alter how much toxic metals plants absorb through their roots. This is concerning for human health because microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could lead to crops that contain higher levels of dangerous heavy metals.
Influence of the co-exposure of microplastics and tetrabromobisphenol A on human gut: Simulation in vitro with human cell Caco-2 and gut microbiota
Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and the flame retardant TBBPA on human gut cells and gut bacteria in laboratory experiments. The study found that both substances damaged human intestinal cells, with TBBPA playing the larger role, while microplastics amplified certain harmful effects at high concentrations. TBBPA also selectively killed beneficial gut bacteria like Lactobacillus while promoting potentially harmful species, and microplastics enhanced this imbalance.
The combined toxicity of polystyrene nano/micro-plastics and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) on HepG2 cells
This study found that polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics made a common flame retardant chemical (TPHP) more toxic to human liver cells than the chemical alone. The nanoplastics absorbed the flame retardant and delivered it to cells, causing increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and cell death. Smaller nanoplastics caused more harm than larger microplastics, suggesting that as plastics break down into smaller pieces, their ability to carry toxic chemicals into human cells increases.
Occurrence of microplastics and distinct plastisphere in aquatic environments of metal mining areas in South China
Researchers studied microplastic pollution in waterways near metal mining areas in southern China and found that acid mine drainage creates a unique microbial community on the surface of microplastic particles. The microplastics were present in both water and sediment, and they carried heavy metals from the mining operations. The study reveals that in mining regions, microplastics may act as carriers that spread heavy metal contamination further through aquatic environments.
Biomass constructing double-layer 3D solar evaporator for highly-efficient seawater desalination and wastewater treatment
Researchers built a solar-powered water evaporator using entirely plant-based materials that achieved a 96.4% energy efficiency and could purify seawater at a rate of 3.31 kilograms per square meter per hour. The device effectively removed salt, heavy metals, organic dyes, and other pollutants from contaminated water. The study presents a sustainable, low-cost approach to both seawater desalination and wastewater treatment using renewable biomass materials.
Recent Advances in Polyvinyl Alcohol–Based Biodegradable Packaging: Preparation, Modification, and Applications in Food Packaging
This review examines polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a promising biodegradable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging, summarizing recent advances in how PVA films are prepared and modified to improve their performance. Researchers highlight methods for making PVA more water-resistant and better at blocking gases, which are key challenges for food packaging applications. The findings suggest that PVA-based materials could help reduce microplastic contamination from traditional plastic packaging.
Antimony release from e-waste-derived microplastics in aqueous environments: Effect of plastic properties and environmental factors
Researchers studied how antimony, a toxic element used as a flame retardant in electronics, leaches out of e-waste microplastics into water. They found that smaller particle sizes and UV aging dramatically increased antimony release, with some conditions boosting it by over 600 percent. The study suggests that electronic waste breaking down into microplastics could be a significant and underappreciated source of antimony contamination in aquatic environments.