Papers

Reduced Glutathione Promoted Growth Performance by Improving the Jejunal Barrier, Antioxidant Function, and Altering Proteomics of Weaned Piglets

A study of 180 weaned piglets showed that adding reduced glutathione to their diet improved growth, strengthened the intestinal barrier, and boosted antioxidant defenses in the gut. These findings suggest that glutathione supplementation could serve as a potential alternative to antibiotics for supporting young animal health during the stressful weaning period.

The microplastics distribution characteristics and their impact on soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities in food legumes farmland in northern China

Researchers surveyed farmland soil across five provinces in northern China and found microplastic contamination ranging from 1,600 to over 36,000 particles per kilogram of soil. Most of the microplastics were small fibers and fragments, primarily from agricultural plastic film and organic fertilizer use. The study found that microplastic presence altered soil properties and shifted bacterial community composition, suggesting these particles may affect soil health in food-growing regions.

Environmental behavior and mechanistic interactions of biochar-derived dissolved organic matter with microplastics

This review examines how dissolved organic matter released from aging biochar interacts with microplastics in soil and water environments. Researchers found that biochar-derived organic matter can alter the surface properties, mobility, and toxicity of microplastic particles through mechanisms like adsorption and coating. The study highlights these interactions as an important but underappreciated factor in understanding the environmental fate of microplastics.

Investigation of Microplastics in Digestion System: Effect on Surface Microstructures and Probiotics

Researchers investigated how the digestive system affects five common microplastic types and found that digestion altered the surface microstructures of the particles while also negatively impacting probiotic bacteria, suggesting potential health risks from ingested microplastics.

Response of microbial communities and biogeochemical cycling functions to sediment physicochemical properties and microplastic pollution under damming and water diversion projects

Researchers investigated how damming and water diversion projects affect microbial communities and biogeochemical cycling in reservoir sediments, with a focus on carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycle functional genes. They found that microplastic pollution in sediments interacted with these altered conditions to influence microbial function. The study highlights the complex interplay between infrastructure projects, microplastic contamination, and the microbial processes that drive nutrient cycling in freshwater systems.

Research on the aging mechanism of polypropylene nonwoven geotextiles under simulated heavy metal aging scenarios

Occurrence Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments of Cascade Reservoirs Along the Middle-Lower Han River

The occurrence characteristics and ecological risk of microplastics were assessed in a specific environment, providing spatial distribution data and risk indices. Such assessments are important for establishing baseline contamination levels and identifying sites requiring remediation.

Microplastics from Ocean Depths to Landfall: Typhoon-Induced Microplastic Circulation in a Warming Climate

Typhoon events were found to transport microplastics from the ocean surface to coastal land areas, with storm-driven sea spray and flooding depositing plastic particles far inland. The study demonstrates that extreme weather events are an underappreciated pathway for redistributing marine microplastics onto terrestrial environments.

Response of Strawberry Fruit Yield, Soil Chemical and Microbial Properties to Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation with Biochar and Rice Bran

Not relevant to microplastics research; this paper evaluates anaerobic soil disinfestation using rice bran and biochar to control soil-borne fungal pathogens and improve strawberry yields, with no connection to microplastic pollution.

A Cost-Effective Standardized Quantitative Detection Method for Soil Microplastics in Different Substrates

Scientists developed and validated a low-cost, standardized method for extracting and counting microplastics from different soil types—sandy, loam, and clay—achieving a 96.4% recovery rate at roughly $10 per sample in about 68 hours. The lack of consistent protocols has made it hard to compare microplastic data across studies globally, and this streamlined workflow directly addresses that problem. Better standardization will help researchers build a reliable picture of how contaminated agricultural soils really are worldwide.

Blending controlled-release urea and urea under ridge-furrow with plastic film mulching improves yield while mitigating carbon footprint in rainfed potato

Researchers found that blending controlled-release urea with conventional urea under plastic film mulching in rainfed potato farming increased tuber yield by up to 27% while reducing the carbon footprint by 14%, offering an effective strategy for sustainable dryland agriculture.