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Papers
665 resultsShowing papers from Wageningen University & Research
ClearEffects of plastic residues and microplastics on soil ecosystems: A global meta-analysis
Global meta-analysis of 6,223 observations found that plastic residues and microplastics decreased soil water movement by 14%, dissolved organic carbon by 10%, and total nitrogen by 7%, while reducing plant height by 13% and root biomass by 14%. Soil animal body mass and reproduction decreased by 5% and 11% respectively, though soil enzyme activity increased by 7-441%.
The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt
Researchers analyzed 1,816 freshwater invertebrate community datasets from 22 European countries spanning 1968 to 2020, finding that biodiversity recovered steadily through the 1990s and 2000s thanks to water quality improvements, but has largely plateaued since the 2010s. Emerging threats including climate warming, emerging pollutants like microplastics, and invasive species are now offsetting earlier conservation gains, signaling that stronger protections are urgently needed.
Risk-based management framework for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems
This meta-analysis pooled data from 21 toxicity studies to create a risk management framework for microplastics in water. The researchers identified specific concentration thresholds where microplastics begin to harm aquatic life — either by diluting their food supply or by particles entering their tissues. This framework could help regulators set pollution limits to protect ecosystems and, ultimately, human food sources.
The contribution of aquaculture systems to global aquaculture production
This review examines how global aquaculture has grown since 2000 through better feeds, improved management, and intensification, and discusses the environmental challenges that remain. While not directly about microplastics, aquaculture environments are increasingly contaminated with plastic particles, which can accumulate in farmed fish and shellfish that millions of people depend on for food.
The in vitro gastrointestinal digestion-associated protein corona of polystyrene nano- and microplastics increases their uptake by human THP-1-derived macrophages
When microplastics pass through the digestive system, stomach and intestinal proteins coat them in a layer called a "protein corona" that makes immune cells absorb the smallest particles up to six times more readily than undigested ones. This finding means that the body's own digestive process may actually increase how much microplastic gets taken up by immune cells, which is important for accurately assessing health risks from swallowed plastics.
Using artificial intelligence tools for data quality evaluation in the context of microplastic human health risk assessments
Researchers tested whether AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini could help evaluate the quality of microplastics research studies, a task that is normally slow and inconsistent when done manually. The AI tools proved effective at extracting information and assessing study reliability, which could speed up the process of identifying trustworthy data for assessing how microplastics affect human health.
Exposure scenarios for human health risk assessment of nano- and microplastic particles
This paper focuses on developing realistic exposure scenarios for assessing human health risks from nano- and microplastic particles. Establishing accurate models of how much plastic people actually encounter through food, air, and water is a critical step for determining whether current exposure levels pose real health dangers.
A triple increase in global river basins with water scarcity due to future pollution
Researchers modeled global water availability through 2050 and found that nitrogen pollution from agriculture and cities could triple the number of river basins facing water scarcity, potentially affecting 3 billion more people beyond those already impacted by simple water shortages. The findings underscore that clean water policy must address pollution, not just supply.
Fragmentation and depolymerization of microplastics in the earthworm gut: A potential for microplastic bioremediation?
Researchers explored whether earthworms can break down microplastics in soil by passing them through their digestive systems. They found that earthworms fragmented and partially broke down polyethylene and biodegradable plastic particles, reducing their size and altering their chemical structure. This suggests earthworms could play a role in naturally reducing microplastic contamination in soil, though more research is needed to understand whether the smaller fragments pose their own risks.
Lifetime Accumulation of Microplastic in Children and Adults
Using a computer model, researchers estimated that adults consume around 883 microplastic particles per day through food and breathing, with particles gradually accumulating in body tissues over a lifetime. By age 70, an adult may have accumulated over 50,000 tiny plastic particles in their body that cannot be cleared out. This model, which matched real-world measurements of microplastics in human stool, provides the first detailed picture of how lifetime microplastic exposure builds up in the body.
International consensus guidelines for the definition, detection, and interpretation of autophagy-dependent ferroptosis
This scientific review provides guidelines for understanding a specific type of cell death called autophagy-dependent ferroptosis, where cells essentially digest their own protective components and then die from iron-driven damage. While not directly about microplastics, this process is relevant because microplastics and nanoplastics have been shown to trigger oxidative stress and iron-related cell damage in tissues. Understanding these cell death pathways helps researchers assess how plastic particle exposure could harm organs like the liver, brain, and lungs.
Assessing the Behavior of Microplastics in Fluvial Systems: Infiltration and Retention Dynamics in Streambed Sediments
Scientists used laboratory river-bed simulations to study how microplastics move from surface water down into streambed sediments. Smaller particles (1 micrometer) penetrated deeper into the sediment than larger ones, and higher water flow pushed more particles downward. This research helps explain how microplastics accumulate in river beds, which serve as both drinking water sources and habitats for aquatic organisms.
Soil pollution in the European Union – An outlook
This review assesses the state of soil pollution across the European Union, finding that contamination from heavy metals, pesticides, and emerging pollutants like microplastics is widespread but poorly monitored. The authors call for standardized measurement methods and updated regulations, noting that soil pollution can affect human health through contaminated crops and drinking water.
Current challenges on the widespread adoption of new bio-based fertilizers: insights to move forward toward more circular food systems
This review examines the challenges of adopting bio-based fertilizers made from food and agricultural waste as replacements for synthetic mineral fertilizers. While bio-based fertilizers can improve soil health and reduce reliance on finite resources, barriers include inconsistent nutrient content, concerns about contaminants like microplastics and heavy metals in waste-derived products, and the need for farmer-friendly application methods. The study is relevant because sewage sludge used in some fertilizers is a known source of microplastic contamination in farmland.
Pesticide exposure and the microbiota-gut-brain axis
This review examines how pesticide exposure can disrupt gut bacteria and, through the gut-brain connection, potentially affect behavior and brain health. Animal studies show that pesticides change the makeup of gut microbes in ways linked to anxiety, depression, and other neurological effects. While focused on pesticides rather than microplastics, the research highlights how environmental chemicals can harm health through the gut.
River plastic transport and deposition amplified by extreme flood
This study found that extreme flooding events dramatically increase the amount of plastic transported and deposited by rivers. During a major flood in the Netherlands, plastic transport rates surged and large amounts of plastic were deposited on riverbanks and floodplains. This matters because climate change is making extreme floods more frequent, which could spread plastic pollution into new areas and increase human exposure.
Nano- and microplastics: a comprehensive review on their exposure routes, translocation, and fate in humans
This comprehensive review traces the journey of nano- and microplastics through the human body, covering how they enter through breathing, eating, drinking, and skin contact. Once inside, the smallest particles can cross the gut and lung barriers, enter the bloodstream, and accumulate in organs including the liver, kidneys, and placenta. The review highlights significant knowledge gaps about long-term health effects but notes that the evidence for internal accumulation in humans is growing.
Soil texture is an important factor determining how microplastics affect soil hydraulic characteristics
This study tested how polypropylene microplastics of different sizes affect how water moves through three types of soil. Adding microplastics reduced the soil's ability to absorb and hold water by up to 96%, with clay soils being the most affected. These changes to soil water flow could affect crop growth and potentially increase the movement of other pollutants through contaminated farmland.
Accumulation of airborne microplastics on leaves of different tree species in the urban environment
Researchers measured airborne microplastics collected on tree leaves in urban areas of the Netherlands and Portugal, finding that needle-shaped leaves from pine and fir trees captured the most particles per surface area. Trees appear to act as natural filters for airborne microplastics, especially the smallest particles, and more plastic accumulated on leaves during dry periods. This matters for human health because airborne microplastics are a growing source of exposure through breathing.
The Open Burning of Plastic Wastes is an Urgent Global Health Issue
Open burning of plastic waste is a widespread but overlooked global health crisis that releases toxic gases and ash into the air, soil, and water. Campaigns against plastic pollution sometimes inadvertently increase burning, and existing laws against the practice are rarely enforced. The authors call for greater awareness of burning risks and phasing out certain single-use plastics.
Nano- and microplastic PBK modeling in the context of human exposure and risk assessment
This review evaluates how computer models that simulate the movement of chemicals through the human body (called PBK models) can be applied to nano- and microplastics to better assess health risks. The authors found that most existing studies on plastic particle behavior in the body have significant quality gaps, making reliable risk assessment difficult. The paper proposes a framework for building better models, which is an important step toward understanding what micro- and nanoplastics actually do once they enter the human body.
Toxicity of true-to-life microplastics to human iPSC-derived intestinal epithelia correlates to their protein corona composition
Using a human intestinal cell model, researchers showed that real-world microplastics from common products (like PET bottles and PVC) damaged the gut lining, increased harmful reactive oxygen species, and triggered inflammatory immune responses. Importantly, the standard polystyrene microplastics commonly used in lab studies did not cause these effects, suggesting that most research may be underestimating the true danger of microplastics. The type of protein coating that forms on each plastic's surface in the body determines how toxic it is to the gut.
A brief history of microplastics effect testing: Guidance and prospect
This review provides a history of how scientists have tested the effects of microplastics on living organisms and finds that while study quality has improved since 2016, many methodological problems remain. Current risk assessments show that microplastic levels found in many ecosystems already exceed concentrations known to cause harmful effects in lab studies. The review offers practical guidance for researchers to design better experiments, which is essential for accurately determining the health risks of microplastic exposure.
Interlaboratory Comparison Reveals State of the Art in Microplastic Detection and Quantification Methods
This large international study compared how 84 laboratories around the world performed when identifying and measuring microplastics using five common detection methods. The results showed significant differences between labs, with spectroscopy-based methods generally outperforming heat-based techniques for accuracy. The findings highlight that standardized methods are urgently needed so that microplastic measurements in food, water, and the environment can be reliably compared across studies.