Papers

Vertical Stratification and Driving Factors of Microplastics in the South China Sea: Distributions, Mechanisms, and Ecological Risks

Researchers collected water samples from 15 stations across the South China Sea to map the vertical distribution of microplastics through the water column. They found that depth, ocean currents, and biological activity strongly influenced microplastic stratification, with ecological risk higher in surface and subsurface layers.

The impact of microplastic contamination in cow manure on reproductive behavior and larval survival in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus

Researchers investigated the impact of microplastic-contaminated cow manure on the reproductive behavior and ecosystem functioning of dung beetles, which provide vital agricultural services. Microplastic-contaminated manure disrupted beetle reproductive activity, raising concerns about cascading effects on nutrient cycling in agricultural soils.

Dyeing to Know: Harmonising Nile Red Staining Protocols for Microplastic Identification

Researchers tested eight carrier solvents for Nile Red fluorescence staining of ten common microplastic polymer types to identify which combinations best distinguish MPs. Carrier solvent choice significantly affected fluorescence behavior and classification accuracy, identifying specific solvent-polymer combinations that optimize MP identification—a step toward harmonizing the widely used but unstandardized Nile Red staining protocol.

Road sediment, an underutilized material in environmental science research: A review of perspectives on United States studies with international context

This review synthesizes US road sediment research in the context of international literature, presenting the most comprehensive table of US road sediment studies to date and arguing that this pervasive environmental medium — which acts as both source and sink for heavy metals, microplastics, and other pollutants — is significantly understudied relative to other countries such as China and the UK.

Comprehensive characterization of individual tire- and road-wear particles through image and elemental analysis