We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
66 resultsShowing papers from Incheon National University
ClearEffects of microplastics on the terrestrial environment: A critical review
This review summarizes what is known about microplastic contamination in land-based environments, covering sources, fate, and effects on soil and the organisms that depend on it. Microplastics in soil can interact with pesticides, heavy metals, and other pollutants, acting as carriers that move toxins through the food web and potentially up to humans. The authors note that compared to ocean research, the effects of microplastics on land ecosystems are much less studied and urgently need more attention.
Interlaboratory Comparison Reveals State of the Art in Microplastic Detection and Quantification Methods
This large international study compared how 84 laboratories around the world performed when identifying and measuring microplastics using five common detection methods. The results showed significant differences between labs, with spectroscopy-based methods generally outperforming heat-based techniques for accuracy. The findings highlight that standardized methods are urgently needed so that microplastic measurements in food, water, and the environment can be reliably compared across studies.
Key mechanisms of micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) toxicity across taxonomic groups
This review examines the key ways micro- and nanoplastics cause biological harm across different types of organisms, from bacteria to humans. Researchers identified several common toxicity mechanisms including cell membrane damage, reactive oxygen species generation, DNA damage, and disruption of cellular structures like lysosomes and mitochondria. The study found that toxicity depends heavily on particle size, surface characteristics, and polymer type, and that human cell studies provide especially valuable insights into potential health risks.
Effects of microplastics and phenanthrene on gut microbiome and metabolome alterations in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma
Researchers exposed marine medaka fish to microplastics combined with phenanthrene, a common organic pollutant, and found that the combination disrupted gut bacteria and metabolism more than either substance alone. Specific gut bacterial communities shifted in response to the combined exposure, leading to changes in important metabolic processes. This study underscores that microplastics in the ocean don't act alone; they interact with other pollutants to amplify harm to aquatic organisms and potentially to the humans who consume seafood.
Challenges and opportunities in sustainable management of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment
This review examines the challenges and emerging strategies for sustainably managing micro- and nanoplastic pollution in the environment. Researchers assessed various approaches including advanced filtration, biodegradation, chemical recycling, and policy interventions aimed at reducing plastic waste. The study emphasizes that achieving meaningful progress will require combining technological solutions with stronger regulations and changes in how plastics are produced and consumed.
Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve Crassostrea gigas
Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics interact with cadmium and phenanthrene, two common coastal pollutants, using Pacific oyster larvae as a test species. They found that microplastics generally reduced the toxicity of these pollutants but could also act as carriers that alter how the toxins are delivered to the organisms. The study highlights the complex and sometimes unpredictable ways microplastics can change the impact of other pollutants on marine life.
Is 5 mm still a good upper size boundary for microplastics in aquatic environments? Perspectives on size distribution and toxicological effects
This review questions whether the widely used 5-millimeter upper size limit for defining microplastics is still scientifically appropriate for aquatic research. After analyzing over 80 studies, researchers found significant inconsistencies in how the boundary is applied, which makes comparing results across studies difficult. The evidence indicates that smaller particles tend to cause greater biological harm, suggesting that refining size categories could improve both research consistency and risk assessment.
A review on enhanced microplastics derived from biomedical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic with its toxicity, health risks, and biomarkers
This review examined the increase in microplastic pollution derived from biomedical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study discusses how discarded personal protective equipment and other medical plastics break down into microplastics through sunlight, oxidation, and biodegradation, and explores the associated toxicity, health risks, and potential biomarkers for monitoring exposure in organisms and humans.
Short- and long-term single and combined effects of microplastics and chromium on the freshwater water flea Daphnia magna
Researchers investigated the individual and combined effects of microplastics and chromium on the water flea Daphnia magna in both short- and long-term experiments. They found that microplastics interacted with chromium, reducing its concentration in water, and that co-exposure caused acute toxicity but lacked the chronic effects seen with chromium alone. The study suggests that microplastics may alter the bioavailability and toxicity of metal pollutants in freshwater environments.
Effects of polystyrene in the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis: Size-dependent acute toxicity, ingestion, egestion, and antioxidant response
Researchers investigated the effects of different-sized polystyrene beads on the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis, examining ingestion, tissue distribution, and antioxidant responses. While none of the particle sizes caused mortality, the smallest nano-sized beads (0.05 micrometers) were widely distributed throughout the body including embryos and induced lipid damage. The findings suggest that smaller microplastics penetrate deeper into tissues and cause greater oxidative stress than larger particles.
Arctic Ocean sediments as important current and future sinks for marine microplastics missing in the global microplastic budget
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across multiple environments in the western Arctic Ocean and found that Arctic sediments serve as a major, previously unrecognized sink for the world's missing microplastics. Sediment core analysis revealed that microplastic deposition has been increasing by about 3 percent per year, with sea ice acting as a temporary reservoir that releases trapped particles as it melts. The study helps explain why surface ocean plastic loads are lower than expected and warns that Arctic microplastic accumulation will likely accelerate as climate change reduces ice cover.
Maternal exposure to nanoplastic induces transgenerational toxicity in the offspring of rotifer Brachionus koreanus
Researchers demonstrated that nanoplastics can be transferred from parent rotifers to their offspring through maternal transfer, providing evidence of an alternative uptake route beyond ingestion. The study found that this maternal exposure to nanoplastics induced transgenerational toxic effects in the offspring of Brachionus koreanus rotifers, suggesting that the ecological impacts of nanoplastic pollution may extend across generations in aquatic organisms.
Phenotypic and transcriptomic responses of the rotifer Brachionus koreanus by single and combined exposures to nano-sized microplastics and water-accommodated fractions of crude oil
Researchers exposed marine rotifers to nano-sized polystyrene microplastics combined with crude oil fractions and found that the combination produced synergistic toxic effects on population growth. Single exposure to nanoplastics alone did not cause observable harm, but when combined with oil pollutants, gene expression changes were dramatically amplified, particularly in metabolism and reproduction pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastics can act as carriers that intensify the harmful effects of organic pollutants in marine organisms.
Complementary Therapeutic Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Ulcerative Colitis after the Response to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Agent Was Lost: A Case Report
This case report describes a patient with ulcerative colitis who lost response to anti-inflammatory biologic therapy and was then treated with fecal microbiota transplantation as a complementary approach. The patient showed improvement after the transplant, suggesting that restoring gut bacterial balance may help manage inflammatory bowel disease. The study highlights the growing interest in microbiome-based therapies for digestive conditions.
Phenotypic toxicity, oxidative response, and transcriptomic deregulation of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis exposed to a toxic cocktail of tire-wear particle leachate
Researchers exposed the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis to tire-wear particle leachate and observed acute toxicity, oxidative stress, and widespread changes in gene expression related to cellular processes and metabolism. The study suggests that tire-wear particles may pose a greater threat to marine organisms than other microplastics because they release a complex cocktail of nano-sized particles and chemical additives with synergistic toxic effects.
Arsenic exposure combined with nano- or microplastic induces different effects in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis
Researchers exposed marine rotifers to arsenic combined with either nanoplastics or microplastics and found that particle size significantly influenced the combined toxic effects. Nanoplastics enhanced arsenic toxicity more than microplastics, likely due to their greater surface area and cellular uptake. The study suggests that nanoplastic-pollutant interactions may pose greater ecological risks than microplastic-pollutant combinations in marine environments.
Toward a long-term monitoring program for seawater plastic pollution in the north Pacific Ocean: Review and global comparison
This review compared marine plastic monitoring methods and contamination levels across ocean basins, finding that the North Pacific showed the highest microplastic levels globally and that minimum sampling cut-off size is crucial for meaningful data comparison across studies.
Estimating microplastic-bound intake of hydrophobic organic chemicals by fish using measured desorption rates to artificial gut fluid
Desorption rates of five hydrophobic organic chemicals (HCHs, PeCB, HeCB) from polyethylene microplastics into artificial gut fluid were measured and used in Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the fraction of chemical intake from MP ingestion by fish, finding that MP-mediated intake was less than 1% of total dietary uptake for all compounds. The study provides a quantitative framework for assessing when microplastics are and are not meaningful vectors for chemical contamination in fish.
Acute and Chronic Effects of the Antifouling Booster Biocide Diuron on the Harpacticoid Copepod Tigriopus japonicus Revealed through Multi-Biomarker Determination
Researchers investigated the acute and chronic effects of diuron, an antifouling biocide, on the copepod Tigriopus japonicus across three generations. The study found that chronic low-level exposure significantly reduced reproductive output and triggered oxidative stress responses, suggesting that this widely used marine chemical may have long-term impacts on planktonic crustacean populations.
Biokinetics of fluorophore-conjugated polystyrene microplastics in marine mussels
Researchers studied the biokinetics of fluorophore-labeled polystyrene microplastics in marine mussels, finding size-dependent tissue absorption and clearance rates that inform understanding of how microplastics accumulate in commercially harvested bivalves.
Tailored synthesis of pH-responsive biodegradable microcapsules incorporating gelatin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid for effective-controlled release
Researchers synthesized biodegradable pH-responsive microcapsules from gelatin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid as an alternative to conventional plastic-based drug delivery systems. The capsules demonstrated effective controlled release of vitamin E with high encapsulation efficiency and responded to different pH conditions. The study presents a sustainable approach to microencapsulation that avoids generating microplastic pollution from synthetic polymer capsules.
Property assessment of an eco-friendly mortar reinforced with recycled mask fiber derived from COVID-19 single-use face masks
Researchers developed an eco-friendly mortar reinforced with recycled polypropylene fibers from COVID-19 single-use face masks, demonstrating a practical approach to repurposing pandemic waste while reducing environmental microplastic contamination.
Exposure to Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Polystyrene Microplastics Increases Hexavalent Chromium Toxicity in Aquatic Animals
Researchers found that environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics significantly increased the toxicity of hexavalent chromium across multiple aquatic species, acting as vectors that amplify heavy metal harm.
Negligible additive effect of environmental concentrations of fragmented polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on the growth and reproductive performance of Java medaka exposed to 17β-estradiol and bisphenol A
Researchers exposed Java medaka fish to PET microplastics combined with endocrine-disrupting chemicals over 200 days. The study found that at environmentally relevant concentrations, fragmented PET microplastics showed negligible additional effects beyond those caused by the chemicals alone, suggesting that the direct endocrine-disrupting impact of PET microplastics at low concentrations may be limited.