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Papers
105 resultsShowing papers from University of Oxford
ClearMicroplastic-stressor responses are rarely synergistic in freshwater fishes: A meta-analysis
A meta-analysis of 838 responses from 36 studies found that combined microplastic-stressor effects on freshwater fish are predominantly antagonistic (48%) or additive (34%), with synergistic effects least frequent at only 17%. This means that addressing either microplastic pollution or co-occurring stressors individually is likely to produce positive outcomes, rather than both needing to be resolved simultaneously.
Systematic Review on Indoor Microplastics: Unveiling Sources, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Implications
This systematic review reveals that indoor environments are a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure. People spend most of their time indoors, where microplastics shed from textiles, furniture, and packaging accumulate in dust and air, meaning your home and office may be major contributors to the microplastics you breathe and ingest daily.
Microplastics mediates the spread of antimicrobial resistance plasmids via modulating conjugal gene expression
This study found that four common types of microplastics can increase the spread of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria by up to 200-fold. The microplastics activated stress-response genes in bacteria that promote the sharing of resistance-carrying DNA. This links two major public health threats, showing that microplastic pollution could make antibiotic-resistant infections more common and harder to treat.
Understanding the mechanism of microplastic-associated antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic ecosystems: Insights from metagenomic analyses and machine learning
By analyzing large-scale genetic datasets with machine learning, researchers found that the type of microplastic strongly influences which bacteria grow on it and which antibiotic resistance genes those bacteria carry. Surprisingly, biodegradable plastics like PLA (often marketed as eco-friendly) posed a higher risk of harboring antibiotic resistance genes than conventional plastics, raising concerns about resistance spreading through water systems to humans.
Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds
Researchers combined ocean plastic density maps with GPS tracking data for over 7,000 seabirds across 77 petrel species to identify where birds are most likely to encounter and accidentally eat plastic debris. High-risk zones were identified in the Mediterranean, northeast Pacific, and South Atlantic, with threatened species facing disproportionately greater exposure — often in international waters beyond any single country's control.
Addressing chemical pollution in biodiversity research
This paper argues that chemical pollution, including microplastics, deserves far more attention in biodiversity research alongside climate change and habitat loss. Evidence shows that anthropogenic chemicals are a growing threat to ecosystems worldwide, yet pollution is often left out of biodiversity studies. The authors call for interdisciplinary collaboration between ecologists and environmental chemists to better understand and combat pollution-driven biodiversity decline.
A theoretical assessment of microplastic transport in river catchments and their retention by soils and river sediments
Researchers developed a mathematical model to theoretically assess how microplastics move through river systems, from agricultural soils where sewage sludge is applied to rivers and eventually the sea. The model predicted that 16 to 38 percent of heavier-than-water microplastics added to soils would remain stored locally, while smaller and lighter particles would be transported downstream. The study provides a framework for understanding microplastic pathways through landscapes, even as real-world monitoring data remain scarce.
Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution
Researchers modeled five different intervention scenarios for reducing global plastic pollution between 2016 and 2040 and found that even implementing all feasible solutions would only cut pollution rates by 40% compared to 2016 levels. Under a business-as-usual scenario, 710 million metric tons of plastic waste would still accumulate in ecosystems even with immediate action. The study makes clear that coordinated global efforts across consumption reduction, recycling, waste collection, and innovation are urgently needed.
Top 10 public health challenges to track in 2023: Shifting focus beyond a global pandemic
This article identifies the top 10 global public health challenges for 2023, including climate change, infectious disease preparedness, and environmental pollution. Microplastic contamination is highlighted as part of the broader environmental health threat that demands coordinated international attention. The authors argue that shifting focus beyond pandemic response is essential to address the interconnected health challenges facing the world.
Ecotoxicity of microplastics to freshwater biota: Considering exposure and hazard across trophic levels
This review examines the toxic effects of microplastics on freshwater organisms across multiple levels of the food web, from biofilms and plankton to fish and amphibians. Researchers found evidence of harm in several species, though effects varied widely depending on particle size, type, and concentration. The study highlights that freshwater microplastic toxicity is still poorly understood compared to marine environments and calls for more standardized research.
Tackling Heavy Metal Pollution: Evaluating Governance Models and Frameworks
This review evaluates different governance approaches for managing heavy metal pollution in water, comparing state-run, market-based, network, and voluntary models. While focused on heavy metals rather than microplastics directly, the governance frameworks discussed are applicable to microplastic pollution management as well. The findings are relevant because microplastics can absorb and transport heavy metals, making these two pollution challenges interconnected.
Evaluating the impact of the documentary series <i> Blue Planet <scp>II</scp> </i> on viewers' plastic consumption behaviors
This clinical trial tested whether watching the documentary Blue Planet II actually changed people's plastic consumption habits. While the show increased environmental knowledge and concern about ocean plastics, the study found limited evidence that it led to lasting changes in plastic-buying behavior. This highlights the challenge of translating awareness about microplastic pollution into meaningful reductions in plastic use.
Unraveling the threat: Microplastics and nano-plastics' impact on reproductive viability across ecosystems
This review summarizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect reproduction across many species, from aquatic invertebrates to mammals including humans. In males, exposure leads to testicular damage, lower sperm quality, and hormone disruption; in females, it causes ovarian and uterine problems, inflammation, and reduced fertility. The evidence also shows these reproductive harms can be passed to offspring, raising serious concerns about long-term effects on human fertility.
Global meta-analysis of microplastic contamination in reservoirs with a novel framework
Microplastic abundance in reservoirs worldwide varied over 2-6 orders of magnitude, with small particles (<1 mm) comprising over 60% of total counts; geographic location, seasonal variation, and land-use type were the main drivers, and current mitigation policies were found insufficient.
Understanding the environmental and social risks from the international trade in ornamental plants
This review examines the environmental and social risks tied to the global ornamental plant trade, including biodiversity loss, invasive species spread, pesticide use, and labor concerns. Analysis of trade interception data from the Netherlands and UK revealed contaminants and pests hitchhiking on imported plants, underscoring the need for stronger regulation of this rapidly growing international industry.
Temporal patterns in multiple stressors shape the vulnerability of overwintering Arctic zooplankton
Researchers studied how multiple environmental stressors, including microplastics, a chemical pollutant, and warming, affect the survival of an important Arctic marine species during the harsh polar night. They found that continuous exposure to these combined stressors caused greater harm than intermittent exposure, and that the presence of microplastics intensified the toxic effects of the other stressors. The study highlights that recovery periods without stressor exposure significantly improved survival, emphasizing how the timing and duration of pollution exposure matters for Arctic ecosystems.
Plastic microfibre ingestion by deep-sea organisms
Researchers provided the first evidence that microplastics are being ingested and internalized by deep-sea organisms living on the ocean floor. The study found plastic microfibres in multiple deep-water species, demonstrating that microplastic contamination has already reached some of the most remote habitats on Earth.
Nano-plastics and gastric health: Decoding the cytotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nano-plastics size
Researchers examined how different sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics affect human stomach cells in the laboratory. They found that smaller nanoplastics were more readily taken up by the cells and caused greater damage, including increased oxidative stress and reduced cell survival. The study suggests that nanoplastic particle size plays a critical role in determining their potential impact on gastrointestinal health.
Illicit Drugs in Surface Waters: How to Get Fish off the Addictive Hook
This review examines how illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids, enter waterways through wastewater discharge and accumulate in fish at concentrations that can cause measurable harm. Evidence indicates that these substances induce oxidative stress, neurological changes, altered behavior, and tissue damage in exposed fish. The study highlights an underexplored dimension of water pollution where pharmaceuticals and microplastics coexist in aquatic environments.
Elucidating the characteristic of leachates released from microplastics under different aging conditions: Perspectives of dissolved organic carbon fingerprints and nano-plastics
Researchers investigated how different aging conditions affect the release of dissolved organic carbon and nanoplastics from PVC and polystyrene microplastics over 130 days. The study found that UV aging and high temperatures promoted the release of nanoplastics and altered the chemical characteristics of leached substances, with UV-aged treatments producing smaller, rougher nanoparticles that may pose greater ecological risks.
The urgent need for microbiology literacy in society
This paper argues that society urgently needs better microbiology literacy to make informed decisions about issues ranging from public health to environmental management. Researchers highlight that microbes underpin critical functions in ecosystems, human health, and the biosphere, yet public understanding of microbiology remains extremely limited. The study calls for integrating microbiology education into broader scientific literacy efforts to help individuals and policymakers make better evidence-based decisions.
Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world
This study examines how changing environmental conditions, particularly thermal shifts, can influence infectious disease dynamics. The research suggests that temperature conditions can strongly affect both host and pathogen traits related to infection.
The transport and fate of microplastic fibres in the Antarctic: The role of multiple global processes
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across air, seawater, and sediment samples in the Antarctic Weddell Sea and identified 47 distinct microplastic categories, predominantly fibers. The overlap of fiber types across different sample media suggests that microplastics reach Antarctica through multiple transportation pathways, including atmospheric and oceanic currents. The study demonstrates that even one of the most remote regions on Earth is affected by diffuse microplastic pollution from global sources.
Competitive heavy metal adsorption on pinecone shells: Mathematical modelling of fixed-bed column and surface interaction insights
Researchers tested pinecone shells as a low-cost biosorbent for removing multiple heavy metals from water in a continuous-flow column setup. They found the material was particularly effective at capturing lead and copper, with adsorption capacities that compared favorably to other natural materials. The study provides mathematical models that could help scale up pinecone shell-based water treatment for real-world applications.