Papers

A perspective on the potential impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on the human central nervous system

This paper discusses evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may be able to cross the blood-brain barrier, the protective layer that normally keeps harmful substances out of the brain. If confirmed in humans, this could mean plastic particles contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, though more research is needed to understand the extent of this risk.

Microplastic pollution promotes soil respiration: A global‐scale meta‐analysis

This global meta-analysis pooled data from multiple studies and found that microplastic pollution in soil increased CO2 emissions by 25%. Microplastics boost certain soil microbes while reducing overall microbial diversity, changing how carbon cycles through the environment. While focused on soil health, this research shows how widespread microplastic pollution is reshaping ecosystems in ways that could ultimately affect climate and agriculture.

Characterization of microplastics in skim-milk powders

Researchers tested 16 skim-milk powder samples from eight European countries and found microplastics in every single one, identifying 536 plastic particles across 29 different polymer types. The most common plastics found were polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET, suggesting widespread contamination of dairy products that could contribute to human microplastic intake.

Challenges and opportunities for digital twins in precision medicine from a complex systems perspective

Researchers argue that digital twins — virtual computer models of individual patients — could transform personalized medicine by simulating how a person's biology responds to different treatments. Combining AI with detailed biological models allows doctors to test therapeutic strategies virtually before applying them in real clinical settings.

Assessing microplastic contamination in milk and dairy products

Researchers tested 28 dairy samples and found microplastics in all of them, with ripened cheese containing the highest levels at about 1,857 particles per kilogram, followed by fresh cheese and milk. The most common plastics found were PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene, likely coming from packaging materials, confirming that dairy products are another route of microplastic exposure for humans.

Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review

This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in fish and seafood products and the associated human health risks. Microplastics found in fish can carry harmful chemicals and pathogens, and once eaten by humans, they may cause oxidative stress and move from the gut to other tissues. The review highlights seafood as a major dietary source of microplastic exposure and calls for better monitoring and risk assessment.

Biotransformation of nanoplastics in human plasma and their permeation through a model in vitro blood-brain barrier: An in-depth quantitative analysis

Researchers tracked how nanoplastics behave in human blood plasma and found they rapidly accumulate a coating of proteins and lipids (called a "biocorona"), which affects how they cross the blood-brain barrier — a protective membrane shielding the brain. PVC nanoplastics crossed the barrier more readily than polystyrene ones, and the protein coating actually reduced — but did not eliminate — their penetration into brain tissue.

Biodegradability of bioplastics in different aquatic environments: A systematic review

This systematic review examines whether bioplastics actually break down in water as promised. The findings reveal wide variability in how well different bioplastics biodegrade in freshwater and saltwater, and current testing standards lack clear targets, meaning some materials marketed as biodegradable may still persist in the environment and contribute to microplastic pollution.

Exposure protocol for ecotoxicity testing of microplastics and nanoplastics

This paper presents a standardized testing protocol for evaluating the environmental toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics. Current studies often use uniform lab-made plastic particles that do not represent the irregular shapes and mixed compositions found in nature. The new protocol addresses this gap by providing methods for creating more realistic test particles and adapting existing guidelines for both soil and water organisms.

Nanoplastics: Immune Impact, Detection, and Internalization after Human Blood Exposure by Single‐Cell Mass Cytometry

Using a new single-cell detection method, researchers tracked how nanoplastics interact with 37 different types of human immune cells from blood samples. The nanoplastics were absorbed by and interfered with several immune cell types, particularly monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Mouse experiments confirmed the nanoplastics accumulated in immune cells in the liver, blood, and spleen, raising concerns about how plastic exposure could disrupt immune function.

Preliminary characterization of microplastics in beef hamburgers

Microplastics were found in all ten beef hamburger samples tested, ranging from 200 to over 30,000 particles per kilogram. The most common types were polyethylene and polypropylene likely from processing equipment and packaging, highlighting that processed meat products are another route of microplastic exposure in the human diet.

Challenges in studying microplastics in human brain

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Human Health: Effects on Metabolism, Diabetes and Cancer

This review by a panel of Italian medical experts examines how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), flame retardant chemicals commonly found in plastics and electronics, affect human metabolism and may contribute to diabetes and cancer. PBDEs persist in the environment and accumulate in human tissues, where they disrupt hormone signaling and activate pathways linked to metabolic disease and tumor growth. These chemicals are relevant to microplastic concerns because they leach from plastic products and can be carried into the body on microplastic surfaces.

Biocomposites and Poly(lactic acid) in Active Packaging: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions

This review examines how bio-based and biodegradable materials, especially polylactic acid (PLA), are being developed as sustainable alternatives for food packaging. While these materials aim to reduce petroleum-based plastic pollution, the review notes that biodegradable plastics can still break down into microplastics during their degradation process. Understanding the full lifecycle of these alternative materials is important for determining whether they truly reduce microplastic contamination.

Pollutants bioavailability and toxicological risk from microplastics to marine mussels

Researchers tested whether polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics could absorb the pollutant pyrene from water and then transfer it to marine mussels. They found that both types of microplastics readily absorbed pyrene and that mussels exposed to contaminated microplastics showed increased levels of the pollutant in their tissues along with signs of cellular stress. The study provides direct evidence that microplastics can act as carriers of harmful chemicals into the bodies of filter-feeding marine organisms.

Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment

Scientists studied soil bacteria from a decades-old landfill to understand how microbes adapt to high concentrations of polyethylene and PET microplastics. They found that multiple bacterial species work together to break down these plastics, with different roles for bacteria floating freely versus those attached to plastic surfaces. While biodegradation of microplastics is possible, it is slow, and understanding these natural processes could eventually help with cleanup efforts.

Impact of Fibrous Microplastic Pollution on Commercial Seafood and Consumer Health: A Review

This review examines how microfibers, the most common type of microplastic in the ocean, contaminate commercial seafood species. Fish and shellfish ingest microfibers that accumulate primarily in their digestive tracts but can also reach muscle tissue that humans eat. The authors highlight gaps in understanding the food safety implications and call for more research on how microfiber consumption through seafood affects human health.

A Review on Cutting-Edge Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Composite Materials: Redefining Wastewater Remediation for a Cleaner and Sustainable World

This review examines how three-dimensional graphene-based composite materials can be used to remove pollutants like heavy metals, dyes, and pharmaceutical residues from contaminated water. Researchers highlight the materials' large surface area and porous structure as key advantages for filtration, desalination, and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The study also identifies particle size as an underexplored factor that could further improve water treatment performance.

Plasticizers determine a deeper reshape of soil virome than microplastics

Researchers compared how microplastics and the common plasticizer diethyl phthalate independently affect soil viral communities, finding that the plasticizer caused a much more dramatic shift in viral diversity than the plastic particles themselves. Diethyl phthalate exposure led to a three-fold increase in viral genetic material and triggered widespread activation of dormant viruses within soil bacteria. The findings suggest that the chemical additives leaching from plastics may pose a greater threat to soil ecosystems than the physical plastic particles.

International Society for Extracellular Vesicles workshop. QuantitatEVs: Multiscale analyses, from bulk to single extracellular vesicle

This workshop report summarizes discussions among scientists about improving methods for measuring and analyzing extracellular vesicles, which are tiny particles released by cells. Researchers explored strategies for standardizing both laboratory techniques and computational approaches, from bulk samples down to individual vesicles. The report identifies key challenges and emerging technologies needed to advance this rapidly growing field of biomedical research.

Earth Observations for Monitoring Marine Coastal Hazards and Their Drivers

Researchers reviewed the use of Earth observation technologies for monitoring coastal hazards including pollution, sea-level changes, and extreme weather events. The study highlights how satellite-based monitoring and forecasting systems are increasingly important for managing risks to densely populated coastal zones, including emerging threats from marine pollution such as microplastics.

Optimising microplastic polyethylene terephthalate fibre extraction from sediments: Tailoring a density-separation procedure for enhanced recovery and reliability

Researchers optimized a density-separation method for extracting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic fibers from sediment samples using sodium polytungstate solution. They systematically tested variables like solution density, settling time, and agitation to achieve reliable and reproducible extraction rates. The study provides a standardized protocol that could help make microplastic measurements across different research groups more consistent and comparable.

Microplastic pollution in the North-east Atlantic Ocean surface water: How the sampling approach influences the extent of the issue

Researchers compared two different sampling methods for measuring microplastic pollution in the open North-east Atlantic Ocean and found that results varied dramatically depending on the technique used. The grab sampling method captured significantly more small particles than the traditional Manta trawl approach. The study demonstrates that the choice of sampling method can fundamentally change our understanding of how much microplastic pollution exists in ocean waters.

From Pathogenesis to Treatment: Targeting Type-2 Inflammation in Eosinophilic Esophagitis

This review explores the molecular pathways behind eosinophilic esophagitis, a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus driven by type-2 immune responses. Researchers summarized recent advances in understanding the disease's connection to other allergic conditions and identified new molecular targets for treatment. The study highlights how emerging biologic therapies may offer more targeted relief for patients with this condition.