Papers

Immunological, neurological, and intestinal changes in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) exposed to the combined toxicity of Pyrogallol and microplastics

Crayfish exposed to both the chemical pyrogallol and microplastics together suffered worse immune suppression, nerve damage, and intestinal injury than those exposed to either pollutant alone. This synergistic effect is concerning because aquatic organisms face mixtures of pollutants in real waterways, and the combined damage can move up the food chain to affect the safety of seafood consumed by humans.

Functionalized siRNA-chitosan nanoformulations promote triple-negative breast cancer cell death via blocking the miRNA-21/AKT/ERK signaling axis: in-silico and in vitro studies

This study developed nanoparticles made from chitosan (a natural material) loaded with gene-silencing molecules to target triple-negative breast cancer cells. While not about microplastics, this research uses nanoscale particle technology similar to what is studied in nanoplastic research, and the chitosan-based delivery system demonstrates how tiny particles can penetrate cells and alter gene activity -- the same mechanisms that make nanoplastics concerning for human health.

Vaping, Environmental Toxicants Exposure, and Lung Cancer Risk

This review examines how vaping and environmental toxicants, including microplastics and heavy metals found in e-cigarette aerosols, may contribute to lung cancer risk. E-cigarettes contain carcinogenic compounds like nicotine derivatives and heavy metals that can damage lung tissue. Combined exposure to vaping and environmental pollutants like air pollution and plastic particles may have a synergistic effect that increases cancer risk beyond either exposure alone.

Exploring the Coexposure Effects of Pyrogallol and Microplastic on the Red Swamp Crayfish <i>Procambarus clarkii</i>

Researchers exposed freshwater crayfish to microplastics and pyrogallol (a plant-derived chemical) both alone and together, and found that the combination caused worse damage than either pollutant alone. The crayfish showed liver damage, reduced antioxidant defenses, and immune system changes. Since crayfish are a common food source, this study highlights how microplastics interacting with other environmental chemicals could affect food safety.

The hidden power of secondary metabolites in plant-fungi interactions and sustainable phytoremediation

This review explores how plants and fungi produce secondary metabolites that play important roles in their interactions with each other and can be harnessed for cleaning up contaminated environments. Researchers examined how fungal compounds help plants tolerate pollutants like heavy metals and microplastics in soil. The findings suggest that leveraging plant-fungi partnerships could offer sustainable, nature-based approaches to environmental remediation.

Plastic residues and microplastics in agroecosystems: How Egyptian farmers perceive the risks?

Researchers surveyed Egyptian farmers across three regions to understand their awareness and perceptions of microplastic contamination in agricultural settings. They found that nearly half of the farmers had low awareness of microplastic pollution, though most perceived plastics as a significant threat to their communities. The study highlights a gap between farmers' recognition of visible plastic waste and their understanding of how microscopic plastic particles affect soil, water, and crop health.

Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Restraining Greenhouse Gases Emission and Improving Soil Carbon Sink: Current Situation and Ways Forward

Researchers reviewed the effectiveness of biochar as a soil amendment for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing soil carbon storage. The study found that while biochar shows promise in laboratory settings, field-scale results are mixed, with effectiveness depending on feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and application rate.

Emerging investigator series: microplastic sources, fate, toxicity, detection, and interactions with micropollutants in aquatic ecosystems – a review of reviews

This comprehensive review of reviews analyzed hundreds of studies on microplastic sources, fate, toxicity, and interactions with other pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. Researchers found contradictions among existing studies and emphasized the critical need to standardize methods for microplastic characterization to improve comparability and reproducibility of research.

Melatonin Alleviates Intestinal Barrier Damaging Effects Induced by Polyethylene Microplastics in Albino Rats

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics damaged the intestinal barrier in rats by causing inflammation, reducing protective mucus, and disrupting the tight junctions between gut cells. The damage was more severe at higher doses and included changes in gut bacteria composition. The study also found that melatonin treatment helped protect against these intestinal effects, suggesting potential avenues for reducing microplastic-related gut damage.

Nano Iron Versus Bulk Iron Forms as Functional Feed Additives: Growth, Body Indices, Hematological Assay, Plasma Metabolites, Immune, Anti-oxidative Ability, and Intestinal Morphometric Measurements of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Researchers compared the effects of feeding Nile tilapia fish diets supplemented with regular iron oxide versus nano-sized iron oxide particles. Fish fed the nano-iron at higher concentrations showed the best growth performance, stronger immune responses, better antioxidant protection, and healthier intestinal structure. The study suggests that nano-sized iron supplements may be more efficiently absorbed and utilized by fish compared to conventional bulk iron forms.

Mixed Contaminants: Occurrence, Interactions, Toxicity, Detection, and Remediation

This review examines how mixed environmental contaminants, including microplastics, heavy metals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, interact when present together in the environment. The study highlights that pollutant mixtures can produce synergistic toxic effects that are greater than the sum of individual pollutants, making combined contamination a more complex risk than single-pollutant assessments suggest.

Towards Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions Agriculture in North Africa through Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Systematic Review

This systematic review found that climate-smart agriculture practices in North Africa, including conservation tillage, agroforestry, and improved water management, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining crop productivity. However, adoption remains limited due to lack of localized research, policy gaps, and insufficient financial incentives for farmers in the region.

Polyethylene nanoplastics intensify toxicity of potassium clavulanate in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene nanoplastics and the antibiotic potassium clavulanate on African catfish over a 15-day exposure period. They found that smaller nanoplastics (20 nm) significantly amplified the antibiotic's toxicity, causing persistent DNA damage, blood cell death, and spleen tissue damage that did not fully recover. The study suggests that nanoplastics can act as a "Trojan horse" that intensifies pharmaceutical toxicity in aquatic organisms.

Enhanced depolymerization of microplastic debris in water by a hybrid ZnO-based photocatalysis-persulfate activation system

Ameliorating arsenic and PVC microplastic stress in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) using copper oxide nanoparticles: an environmental bioremediation approach

Researchers studied the combined stress of PVC microplastics and arsenic on barley plants, along with the potential mitigating effect of copper oxide nanoparticles. They found that increasing levels of microplastics and arsenic significantly reduced plant growth, photosynthesis, and biomass while increasing oxidative stress markers. Application of copper oxide nanoparticles substantially improved plant health by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative damage.

Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polypyrrole Functionalized Nanocellulose for the Removal of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution

Researchers synthesized a polypyrrole-functionalized nanocellulose nanocomposite for removing chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions, demonstrating effective heavy metal adsorption using this sustainable material.

The protective efficacy of dual dietary rosemary plus cinnamon mix against lead nitrate-induced immune suppression, genotoxicity, and oxidant/antioxidant status in Nile tilapia fingerlings

Researchers tested whether a dietary mix of rosemary and cinnamon could protect Nile tilapia from the harmful effects of lead exposure. Fish exposed to lead showed reduced growth, suppressed immunity, increased oxidative stress, and DNA damage, but those fed the herbal supplement showed significant improvements across all measures. The study suggests that rosemary and cinnamon supplementation may help mitigate heavy metal toxicity in farmed fish.

Polystyrene microplastics impact on cardiac and pulmonary physiology and microenvironment in a mouse model: Role of taurine supplementation and molecular docking insights

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on heart and lung tissues in mice and found that exposure disrupted antioxidant defenses, increased lipid peroxidation, and elevated cardiac injury markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Microplastic exposure also upregulated inflammatory and pyroptotic gene expression in both tissues. Co-administration of taurine significantly ameliorated these alterations, suggesting it may offer protective effects against microplastic-induced cardiopulmonary damage.

Effective degradation of synthetic micropollutants and real textile wastewater via a visible light-activated persulfate system using novel spinach leaf-derived biochar

Researchers created a novel biochar from spinach leaves and used it to activate persulfate for degrading methylene blue dye under visible light conditions. The system achieved over 83% degradation efficiency and showed promise for treating real textile wastewater, demonstrating a sustainable approach to removing organic pollutants from contaminated water.

Effects of Irrigation Water Sources on Soil Fertility, Heavy Metal Accumulation in both Soil and Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Scientists found that rice grown with sewage water contains higher levels of heavy metals like cadmium, which can be harmful if eaten regularly. While this wastewater helps crops grow better by adding nutrients to soil, the toxic metals that build up in the rice could pose health risks to people who eat it. This research shows we need better monitoring of crops grown with recycled wastewater to keep our food supply safe.

Planning for disposal of COVID-19 pandemic wastes in developing countries: a review of current challenges

Researchers review the acute challenges developing countries face in managing the surge of COVID-19-related medical waste, highlighting how pre-existing deficiencies in waste infrastructure, treatment capacity, and disposal practices create serious risks of accelerating viral spread and environmental contamination.

Silica Nanoparticle Acute Toxicity on Male Rattus norvegicus Domestica: Ethological Behavior, Hematological Disorders, Biochemical Analyses, Hepato-Renal Function, and Antioxidant-Immune Response

Researchers assessed the acute toxicity of silica nanoparticles in male rats, finding significant hematological disorders, liver and kidney damage, oxidative stress, and immune system disruption at higher doses after 24 and 96 hours of exposure.

Assessing microplastic pollution vulnerability in a protected coastal lagoon in the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt using GIS modeling

Researchers measured microplastic distribution in Lake Burullus, a protected coastal lagoon in Egypt, and used GIS modeling to assess vulnerability to non-point source pollution. Microplastic concentrations near drainage points were five times higher than in open water, with eight thermoplastic polymer types identified, and vulnerability maps revealed drainage proximity as the dominant risk factor.

Impacts of high temperatures on microbial degradation of microplastics and strategies for optimization

This review examined how temperature affects microbial degradation of microplastics, finding that moderate warming can reduce plastic crystallinity and facilitate biodegradation, while excessively high temperatures can inhibit microbial activity, and summarizing strategies to optimize degradation efficiency.