Papers

Occurrence, spatiotemporal trends, fate, and treatment technologies for microplastics and organic contaminants in biosolids: A review

This meta-analysis examines how microplastics and organic pollutants end up in biosolids (treated sewage) and what happens when those biosolids are applied to farmland. The data show that microplastics are among the most common contaminants found in biosolids, raising concerns about long-term buildup in the soils where our food is grown.

Causes and consequences of tipping points in river delta social–ecological systems

This systematic review examines how cascading effects across anthropogenic, ecological, and geophysical processes trigger tipping points in river delta social-ecological systems, generally enhancing economic development at the expense of environmental sustainability. While not specifically about microplastics, the framework illustrates how cumulative environmental stressors — including pollution — push deltas toward collapse or transformation.

Harvesting the benefits of nutritional research to address global challenges in the 21st century

Researchers reviewed progress in aquaculture nutrition over the past 20 years, highlighting improvements in feed conversion efficiency and the expanded use of diverse feed ingredients. The study identifies ongoing challenges including the need for better understanding of nutrient requirements across aquaculture species and the importance of addressing global food security through continued nutritional research.

Effects of microplastics on sessile invertebrates in the eastern coast of Thailand: An approach to coastal zone conservation

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in three abundant intertidal invertebrate species along Thailand's eastern coast, including rock oysters, barnacles, and periwinkles. They found microplastic accumulation rates of 0.2 to 0.6 particles per gram across all species, with filter-feeding organisms showing higher accumulation. The study suggests that sessile intertidal organisms can serve as effective bioindicators for monitoring coastal microplastic pollution levels.

Microplastics contamination in different trophic state lakes along the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River Basin

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediments of 18 lakes along the middle and lower Yangtze River Basin in China. They found microplastics present in all sampled lakes and identified a correlation between lake trophic state and microplastic abundance. The study suggests that wastewater discharge, which drives both eutrophication and microplastic pollution, is a common underlying factor linking these two environmental issues.

Depositions of airborne microplastics during the wet and dry seasons in Pathum Thani, Thailand

Microplastics contamination in commercial marine fish from the Bay of Bengal

Exploring Personal Exposure to Airborne Microplastics across Various Work Environments in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

Researchers used personal air samplers to measure microplastic exposure across seven different occupations in Thailand during working hours. They found that waste segregation officers had the highest exposure levels, with over 3,900 microplastics per cubic meter of air, while office workers had the lowest at around 130. The study highlights that workplace activities and environmental conditions significantly influence how many breathable microplastic particles workers encounter daily.

Recent ecological change in ancient lakes

This review examined ecological change in ancient lakes (those >100,000 years old), finding that all ancient lakes with available data show significant surface warming, with eutrophication, invasive species, and habitat degradation threatening both their unique biodiversity and their value as long-term environmental archives. The authors argue that despite their unusual resilience and longevity, ancient lakes are now facing human-induced stressors at unprecedented rates.

A geospatial investigation of microplastics leaching in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand: fuzzy logic-based analysis

Researchers applied GIS combined with fuzzy logic analysis in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand to map microplastic leakage sources and predict pollution transport through river networks, demonstrating that this spatial modeling approach can identify priority catchment areas for microplastic management.

Spatial and temporal variations of microplastics in the lower Chao Phraya River, Thailand: an investigation during the COVID-19 pandemic period

Researchers systematically measured microplastics in the lower Chao Phraya River, Thailand, during the COVID-19 pandemic period across spatial and temporal gradients. Average MP abundance was 8.3 ± 5.8 particles/m, dominated by PE and PP fibers and fragments, with higher concentrations downstream in urbanized areas and slight seasonal elevation in wet season runoff.

Evaluating Microplastics Removal Efficiency of Textile Industry Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plant of Thailand

A Thai textile wastewater treatment plant was found to be releasing significant quantities of microplastics into adjacent waterways, with conventional treatment processes failing to remove the majority of plastic particles.

Towards Plastic Circularity: Current Practices in Plastic Waste Management in Japan and Sri Lanka

A comparison of plastic waste management in Japan and Sri Lanka found that Japan practices the full plastic value chain while Sri Lanka relies heavily on an informal recycling sector, and recommends Japan's Extended Producer Responsibility approach as a model for Sri Lanka to improve plastic circularity.

Issues of Microplastics Pollution in Tap and Drinking Water Sources in Thailand and Health Impacts

This review examines microplastic contamination in tap and drinking water sources in Thailand, linking the problem to poor solid waste management that allows single-use plastics to enter aquatic systems. Thailand is among the top 10 countries for mismanaged plastic waste, with an estimated 60,000 tons per year entering the ocean.

Detection of River Plastic Using UAV Sensor Data and Deep Learning

This study modeled the global transport and accumulation of microplastics in the ocean using a hydrodynamic particle tracking model. Results suggest that subtropical gyres act as convergence zones, while polar regions receive significant inputs via surface currents.

Land use-based characterization and source apportionment of microplastics in urban storm runoffs in a tropical region

Urban stormwater runoff in a tropical monsoon region contained 4.7 particles/L and 3.8 mg/L microplastics on average, with concentrations following land use order of industrial > transportation > commercial > residential, and approximately 85% of sources identifiable by morphology and polymer type.

Microplastics Ingestion by Fish Species in Thailand’s Aquatic Ecosystems

Concentrations of Airborne Microplastics during the Dry Season at Five Locations in Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand

Researchers measured airborne microplastic concentrations across five sites in Bangkok during the dry season, finding an average of 333 particles per cubic meter with the highest concentrations at dumpsite locations, providing the first airborne microplastic data for Thailand.

Assessing the Selection of PET Recycling Optionsin Japan: Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

This study examines PET plastic recycling options in Japan using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, set against the global context in which only 9% of plastic waste is recycled and 22% bypasses proper waste management. The analysis evaluates competing recycling pathways to identify the most sustainable and economically viable approaches for managing Japan's PET waste streams.

Marine Plastic Litter in Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area, Vietnam: Current Status and Mitigation Approaches

Researchers assessed the current status of marine plastic litter in Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Vietnam using secondary data analysis, semi-structured interviews, field measurements, and quadrat-based sampling methods. The study documented plastic debris impacts on the MPA's ecosystems, marine services, human wellbeing, and economy, proposing mitigation approaches for managing plastic pollution in this protected marine region.

Coral Feeding Behavior on Microplastics

Non-Destructive Trace Detection of Explosives Using Pushbroom Scanning Hyperspectral Imaging System

This study investigated hyperspectral imaging for non-destructive detection of explosive traces, demonstrating the potential of reflectance-based systems for identifying materials by their spectral signatures. Hyperspectral and Raman-based approaches are also being developed for identifying microplastic polymer types in environmental samples.

Comparative Analysis of Environmental, Economic, and Social Criteria for Plastic Recycling Technology Selection in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Thailand

This study surveyed stakeholders in four Asian countries about criteria for selecting PET plastic recycling technologies, finding that environmental and economic factors were rated highest. Improving PET recycling capacity is critical for reducing plastic waste that ultimately becomes microplastic pollution.

Microparticle filtration ability of pervious concrete mixed with recycled synthetic fibers