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Papers
28 resultsShowing papers from Yunnan Institute of Environmental Sciences
ClearUpcycling of polyethylene to gasoline through a self-supplied hydrogen strategy in a layered self-pillared zeolite
Researchers developed a special zeolite material (a porous mineral catalyst) that converts polyethylene plastic waste into high-quality gasoline with over 80% yield, without needing expensive metals or added hydrogen. This breakthrough offers a practical pathway for recycling one of the most common plastics into usable fuel, potentially reducing plastic waste and reliance on fossil fuel extraction.
Polystyrene microplastics enhance the microcystin-LR-induced gonadal damage and reproductive endocrine disruption in zebrafish
Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene microplastics along with microcystin-LR (a common toxin from algae blooms) suffered worse reproductive damage than when exposed to either pollutant alone. The microplastics acted as carriers that increased the amount of toxin accumulating in the fish's reproductive organs. This study demonstrates that microplastics can worsen the effects of other water pollutants by helping toxic chemicals build up in the body.
Microcystin-LR and polystyrene microplastics jointly lead to hepatic histopathological damage and antioxidant dysfunction in male zebrafish
This study exposed zebrafish to a common water toxin (microcystin-LR) both alone and combined with polystyrene microplastics, and found that the microplastics made the liver damage significantly worse. The microplastics acted as carriers, increasing how much toxin accumulated in the fish liver and amplifying oxidative stress. This is relevant to human health because it shows microplastics can boost the harmful effects of other pollutants commonly found in drinking water sources.
Combined effects of co-exposure to microcystin-LR and polystyrene microplastics on growth, brain pathology and thyroid hormone homeostasis in adult zebrafish
Researchers exposed zebrafish to microcystin-LR (a toxin from algal blooms) combined with polystyrene microplastics and found that the combination caused significantly worse brain damage and thyroid hormone disruption than either pollutant alone. The microplastics appeared to overwhelm the fish's ability to compensate for the algal toxin, leading to hormone imbalances that could affect growth and development. This is concerning because algal blooms and microplastics frequently occur together in polluted waterways, and their combined effects on the hormone system may be worse than expected.
The Occurrence of Microplastics Pollution in the Surface Water and Sediment of Lake Chenghai in Southwestern China
This study measured microplastic pollution in the water and sediment of Lake Chenghai, a plateau lake in southwestern China. Researchers found microplastics at all sampling sites, with fibers and fragments being the most common types, mainly from synthetic clothing and plastic packaging. The findings show that even remote freshwater lakes used by local communities are contaminated with microplastics, raising concerns about drinking water safety.
Perfluorooctanoic acid and concomitant microplastics pollution impact nitrogen elimination processes and increase N2O emission in wetlands through regulation of the functional microbiome
This study found that the industrial chemical PFOA, when combined with microplastics, significantly disrupts nitrogen processing in wetlands and increases emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Researchers observed that PFOA alone inhibited important nitrogen-removal processes, and the addition of microplastics, especially biodegradable PLA plastic, made the problem worse. The findings suggest that combined pollution from forever chemicals and microplastics may be undermining the natural water-cleaning ability of wetland ecosystems.
Current status of microplastic pollution in China’s aquatic environment and its interactions with metal pollutants on aquatic organisms
Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic pollution in China's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters and how microplastics interact with metal pollutants to affect aquatic organisms. They found that microplastics can absorb metals from the water and that the combined exposure is often more harmful to aquatic life than either pollutant alone. The study highlights that tire wear microplastics are a particularly concerning source because they release high levels of metals, creating compounding risks for freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Changes in microplastic-associated bacterial communities along a salinity gradient in Central Anatolian lakes of Türkiye
Researchers examined bacterial communities growing on microplastic surfaces across 11 Turkish lakes spanning a wide range of salinity levels. They found that Pseudomonadaceae bacteria dominated the microplastic biofilms, and several salt-tolerant pathogenic species were detected on plastic surfaces even in highly saline lakes. The study highlights that microplastics can serve as vehicles for potentially harmful bacteria across diverse freshwater environments.
Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal histopathology, oxidative stress, and microbiota of Acrossocheilus yunnanensis
Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal health of a freshwater fish species and found significant damage to the gut lining, including ruptured tissue and damaged nutrient-absorbing structures. The nanoplastics also increased oxidative stress markers and shifted the composition of gut bacteria, reducing beneficial species. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure can compromise both the physical barrier and microbial balance of fish intestines.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics across the watershed of the world’s third-largest river
Researchers conducted a large-scale survey of microplastic pollution across the entire Yangtze River watershed, the world's third-largest river. They found microplastics throughout the river system, with concentrations decreasing from upstream to downstream, and fiber-shaped particles smaller than 1 mm being most common. The study provides important baseline data showing that even remote upstream areas of major river systems carry significant microplastic contamination.
Ecotoxicology of microplastics in Daphnia: A review focusing on microplastic properties and multiscale attributes of Daphnia
This review synthesizes research on how microplastics affect Daphnia, a key organism in aquatic food webs, across individual, population, and community levels. Researchers found that the toxicity of microplastics to Daphnia depends heavily on the physical and chemical properties of the particles, and that combined exposure with other pollutants can produce more severe effects. The study highlights Daphnia as an important indicator species for understanding how microplastic pollution cascades through aquatic ecosystems.
Rainfall is a significant environmental factor of microplastic pollution in inland waters
Researchers investigated the role of rainfall as a driver of microplastic pollution in inland waters, a factor that had been largely overlooked in previous studies focused on human activities. The study found that rainfall is a significant environmental factor influencing microplastic distribution in freshwater systems, suggesting that non-anthropogenic processes play an important role in how microplastics move through watersheds.
Converting waste PET plastics into automobile fuels and antifreeze components
Researchers developed a single-step chemical process that converts waste PET plastic bottles into p-xylene (used in gasoline) and ethylene glycol (antifreeze) using methanol as both a solvent and hydrogen source over a copper-based catalyst. The approach offers a potentially scalable, hydrogen-free way to chemically recycle plastic waste into useful fuels and chemicals.
Microplastics affect interspecific interactions between cladoceran species in the absence and presence of predators by triggering asymmetric individual responses
Researchers studied how microplastics affect the competition between two species of tiny freshwater crustaceans, both with and without a predator present. Microplastics reduced feeding rates and reproduction differently in each species, shifting the competitive balance between them. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could alter species interactions in aquatic ecosystems, potentially changing which organisms thrive and which decline.
The Bioaccumulation, Fractionation and Health Risk of Rare Earth Elements in Wild Fish of Guangzhou City, China
Researchers measured rare earth element concentrations in wild fish from Guangzhou, China, and found levels ranging widely depending on species, feeding habits, and habitat. Bottom-dwelling and omnivorous fish accumulated more of these elements, and smaller fish were more susceptible to bioaccumulation. Despite elevated levels in some species, the estimated daily intake from eating these fish remained within safe limits for human consumption.
Environmental nano-particulates induced pre-implantation embryonic toxicity in pluripotent stem cell-derived blastoids
Researchers used stem cell-derived blastoids as a model to study how nano-sized pollutants, including polystyrene nanoplastics and carbon black nanoparticles, affect early embryonic development. They found that both pollutants impaired the structure and cell specialization of the embryo models in a dose-dependent manner. The study provides a new high-throughput platform for assessing early developmental toxicity from environmental nanoparticle exposure.
Modulation of soil microenvironment and plant gene expression by earthworms reduces polypropylene microplastic-induced growth stress in Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.)
Researchers found that earthworms can mitigate the harmful effects of polypropylene microplastics on Chinese milk vetch by modifying soil properties and influencing plant gene expression. In pot experiments, microplastics significantly reduced plant growth, but the presence of earthworms counteracted these effects by improving soil structure and nutrient availability. The study suggests that soil organisms like earthworms play an important role in buffering plants against microplastic stress.
A review and assessment of cyanobacterial toxins as cardiovascular health hazards
Researchers reviewed over 100 studies on the cardiovascular effects of cyanotoxins—potent compounds produced by algal blooms in eutrophic waters—finding evidence of harm across seven toxin classes but concluding that typical environmental exposures pose a greater risk to the liver than the heart.
Spectroscopic investigations on the interaction between nano plastic and catalase on molecular level
Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with the enzyme catalase at different pH levels, finding that nanoplastics alter the protein's secondary structure and reduce its enzymatic activity through static quenching and hydrophobic binding mechanisms.
Rice Straw-Derived Biochar Mitigates Microcystin-LR-Induced Hepatic Histopathological Injury and Oxidative Damage in Male Zebrafish via the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Researchers found that rice straw-derived biochar reduced the liver toxicity caused by the algal toxin microcystin-LR in zebrafish. The biochar decreased toxin bioavailability in the liver and activated the Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway, alleviating oxidative damage and tissue lesions, suggesting biochar could be a useful tool for mitigating the effects of water contaminants on aquatic organisms.
[Effects of Flow Concentration on Water Microplastic Pollution in the Luoshijiang Sub-watershed of Erhai Lake Basin].
Researchers studied how variations in river flow concentration affect microplastic transport and distribution in the Luoshijian River, China, finding that higher flow events resuspend and redistribute MPs stored in sediments, increasing waterborne concentrations and downstream transport.
Nanoplastic-mediated disruption of freshwater carbon cycling via modulating of plankton communities
Researchers exposed freshwater mesocosms to polystyrene nanoplastics (80–500 nm) at 1 mg/L and found significant disruption of zooplankton and bacterial community structure, which altered carbon cycling processes — suggesting nanoplastics can impair the ecosystem functions that regulate freshwater carbon flux.
Spatial and Temporal Variations in Phytoplankton Community in Dianchi Lake Using eDNA Metabarcoding
This paper is not about microplastic pollution. It uses environmental DNA metabarcoding to study phytoplankton communities in Dianchi Lake, China, identifying seasonal and spatial variation in algal species and the environmental factors that drive those changes.
Sensors Applied for the Detection of Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Freshwaters
This review surveys sensors developed for detecting pesticides and heavy metals in freshwater, covering electrochemical, optical, and nanomaterial-based detection technologies. The authors highlight recent advances in sensitivity and selectivity that improve the ability to monitor water quality for ecological protection and public health.