Papers

Recent Advances in Microplastics Removal from Water with Special Attention Given to Photocatalytic Degradation: Review of Scientific Research

This review examines methods for removing microplastics from water, with a focus on photocatalytic degradation, which uses light-activated materials to break down plastic particles. These advanced processes generate reactive molecules that can fragment microplastics into harmless byproducts. While promising, the technology still needs optimization and more research into potential harmful byproducts before it can be widely deployed.

Microplastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: A Challenge for Food Safety

This review examines microplastics as an emerging contaminant in the food supply, covering how they enter the food chain, their characteristics, and the challenges of assessing their health risks. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected in a wide range of food products, current scientific data is insufficient to complete a thorough risk assessment of dietary exposure. The study calls for standardized detection methods and more research to establish safe exposure thresholds for microplastics in food.

Marine mammal conservation: over the horizon

This review examines the conservation status of marine mammals, which play important ecological roles and serve as indicators of ocean health. The researchers found that at least 25% of marine mammal species are classified as threatened, facing risks from climate change, fisheries bycatch, pollution, and maritime development. The study outlines research priorities and conservation strategies needed to protect at-risk species while building on recent recovery successes.

The Essentials of Marine Biotechnology

This comprehensive article reviews the field of marine biotechnology, which harnesses ocean organisms for applications in medicine, food, cosmetics, agriculture, and energy. Researchers describe the enormous diversity of marine life, from microorganisms to deep-sea species, and the promising biomolecules they produce. The study outlines both the opportunities and the environmental responsibilities involved in developing products inspired by or derived from marine resources.

Presence of microplastics in the groundwater of volcanic islands, El Hierro and La Palma (Canary Islands)

For the first time, researchers detected microplastics in the groundwater of volcanic islands El Hierro and La Palma in the Canary Islands, finding six different plastic types at concentrations up to 23 particles per liter. Polypropylene and polyethylene from packaging and water pipes were the most common, likely entering groundwater through leaky sewage systems. This finding is alarming because groundwater is often considered a clean water source, and its contamination with microplastics means even remote island communities face exposure through their drinking water.

Microplastics in snow of a high mountain national park: El Teide, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Researchers collected 63 snow samples from El Teide National Park in Tenerife, a high-altitude site over 2,000 meters above sea level, and found microplastics present in the snow. The study compared samples from accessible tourist areas with remote locations, helping to distinguish between local human activity and long-distance atmospheric transport as sources of contamination. The findings demonstrate that microplastics can reach even remote mountain environments through the atmosphere.

Chemometric discrimination of airborne fibres: microplastics, regenerated cellulose and natural fibres

Researchers measured airborne fiber concentrations across a variety of indoor and outdoor settings and used advanced analytical methods to distinguish between synthetic microplastics, regenerated cellulose, and natural fibers. They found that cellulosic fibers, often overlooked in microplastic surveys, frequently dominated particle counts in many environments. The study highlights the importance of identifying all fiber types in air quality assessments rather than focusing exclusively on synthetic plastics.

Assessment of anthropogenic particles in Holothuria sanctori from Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Researchers examined sea cucumbers and surrounding seawater from tidal pools in the Canary Islands and found man-made particles in every sample tested. Most particles were transparent and blue microfibers, with the majority being cellulosic in origin, though synthetic microplastics including polyester and PVC were also identified.

Microplastics in Agricultural Systems: Analytical Methodologies and Effects on Soil Quality and Crop Yield

This review analyzed 177 scientific studies on the occurrence and effects of microplastics in agricultural soils. Researchers found that microplastic contamination from sources like plastic mulch films, fertilizers, and irrigation water can alter soil properties, affect microbial communities, and influence crop yield, highlighting a growing concern for food production systems.

Occurrence and size distribution study of microplastics in household water from different cities in continental Spain and the Canary Islands

Researchers sampled tap water from 24 locations across mainland Spain and the Canary Islands to measure microplastic contamination in household drinking water. They found an average of about 12.5 microplastic particles per cubic meter of tap water, with synthetic fibers being the most common type detected. The study provides one of the first standardized comparisons of drinking water microplastic levels across multiple cities within a single country.

Assessment of anthropogenic particles content in commercial beverages

Researchers tested 73 commercially available beverages in different containers for the presence of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles. The study found contamination across all beverage types, with beer showing the highest particle counts and water the lowest, suggesting that the type of packaging and production process both influence how many particles end up in the drinks we consume.

Bacterial Colonization of Microplastics at the Beaches of an Oceanic Island, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Researchers analyzed microplastics collected from seven beaches on the oceanic island of Tenerife for bacterial contamination. The study found that microplastic fragments and pellets harbored E. coli, intestinal Enterococci, and Vibrio species, demonstrating that microplastics can act as reservoirs for potentially harmful bacteria in coastal bathing areas.

Assessment of multiclass organic pollutants in microplastics from beaches of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Researchers analyzed polyethylene microplastics collected from three beaches in Tenerife, Spain over nine months to identify what organic pollutants were attached to them. They detected several concerning chemicals including triclosan, bisphenol A, and UV filter compounds like oxybenzone on the plastic surfaces. The findings highlight how microplastics can act as carriers for multiple classes of environmental pollutants, potentially increasing exposure risks.

Simultaneous determination of persistent and emerging organic pollutants in microplastics

Researchers developed and validated a new analytical method to simultaneously detect 45 persistent and emerging organic pollutants sorbed onto microplastics. The method was tested on several polymer types including polypropylene and polyethylene, both pristine and weathered, using solvent extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study provides a practical tool for assessing the chemical contamination that microplastics can carry and transport through the environment.

Microplastics in salt: A critical review of contamination, analytical methodologies, and health implications

This critical review examined microplastic contamination in salt products worldwide, covering analytical methods, polymer types, and potential health implications. Researchers found that polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET are the most commonly identified polymers in salt, with fibers being the dominant form, and emphasized the need for standardized detection protocols to enable meaningful comparisons across studies.

Vertical distribution and composition of microplastics and marine litter in the open ocean surrounding the Canary Islands (0–1200 m depth)

Researchers assessed the vertical distribution of small microplastics and marine litter in the open ocean around the Canary Islands, sampling from the surface down to 1,200 meters depth. The study found that polyethylene and polypropylene were the most abundant polymers, and that microplastics were present throughout the water column, with weathering and degradation processes influencing their distribution at different depths.

Recycled wastewater as a potential source of microplastics in irrigated soils from an arid-insular territory (Fuerteventura, Spain)

Researchers found that recycled wastewater used for irrigation in Fuerteventura, Spain, contained up to 40 microplastic particles per liter, resulting in three times higher microplastic concentrations in irrigated soils compared to those irrigated with desalinated water.

Bacterial colonization dynamics and antibiotic resistance gene dissemination in the hospital environment after first patient occupancy: a longitudinal metagenetic study

Researchers tracked how bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes spread throughout a newly opened hospital ward after its first patients arrived, providing new insights into how clinical environments become colonized with potentially dangerous microbes. The findings could help guide infection control strategies in healthcare facilities.

Microplastic-adsorbed organic contaminants: Analytical methods and occurrence

Micro and Nano-Plastics in the Environment: Research Priorities for the Near Future

This perspectives paper identified the most important knowledge gaps in micro- and nanoplastic research, covering entry pathways into the environment, environmental fate, food web transfer, human health effects, and the role of associated chemicals and microorganisms.

A nationwide monitoring of atmospheric microplastic deposition

Researchers conducted a year-long nationwide monitoring of atmospheric microplastic deposition across ten urban areas in Spain with varying population sizes, economic activities, and climates. The study provides a systematic quantification of airborne microplastic fallout, contributing to understanding the role of the atmosphere in the transport and distribution of microplastic pollution.

The Association of Desert Dust with the Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Subjects of a Younger Age

Researchers examined whether desert dust events are associated with acute coronary syndrome in patients under 55 years of age at a hospital in Spain. The study found that elevated particulate matter concentrations during desert dust episodes were linked to increased incidence of cardiac events in younger patients, suggesting that airborne particulate pollution may pose cardiovascular risks.

Exploring the origin and fate of surface and sub-surface marine microplastics in the Canary Islands region

Researchers investigated the origin, transport, and fate of microplastics at various ocean depths around the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The study found high concentrations of microplastics at known hotspot beaches and provided new insights into how large-scale and mesoscale ocean dynamics influence the distribution of plastic particles in both surface and sub-surface waters.

Occurrence and assessment of emerging contaminants adsorbed onto microplastic debris in the Macaronesia region

This three-year coordinated study characterized emerging contaminants adsorbed onto microplastic debris (pellets and fragments) collected from 32 beaches across Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cabo Verde). UV filters, UV stabilizers, and other hydrophobic organic chemicals were consistently detected on plastic debris, with concentrations varying by plastic type and beach location.