Papers

Sorption of representative organic contaminants on microplastics: Effects of chemical physicochemical properties, particle size, and biofilm presence

This study examined how organic pollutants like flame retardants and industrial chemicals attach to microplastics in saltwater conditions. Smaller microplastic particles absorbed more contaminants per unit weight, and natural biofilms growing on the plastic surfaces changed how much pollution they could carry. The findings help explain how microplastics act as carriers of toxic chemicals through the environment and potentially into the food chain.

Long-Term Exposure to Environmentally Relevant Doses of Large Polystyrene Microplastics Disturbs Lipid Homeostasis via Bowel Function Interference

Researchers exposed mice to environmentally relevant doses of large polystyrene microplastics in their diet for 21 weeks and found significant disruptions to fat metabolism and gut bacterial communities. The microplastics interfered with bowel function, which in turn altered how the body processes and stores lipids. The study provides evidence that even low-level, long-term microplastic exposure through food may affect metabolic health in mammals.

Microplastic biofilms as potential hotspots for plastic biodegradation and nitrogen cycling: a metagenomic perspective

Researchers used genetic analysis to study the microbial communities that form biofilms on different types of microplastics in an estuarine environment. They found that these plastic-associated communities contained genes for both plastic degradation and nitrogen cycling, suggesting the biofilms may play dual roles in the ecosystem. The study indicates that microplastic surfaces in waterways create unique microbial habitats that could influence both pollution breakdown and nutrient processing.

Extraordinary human energy consumption and resultant geological impacts beginning around 1950 CE initiated the proposed Anthropocene Epoch

This study examines the extraordinary growth in human energy consumption beginning around 1950, proposing it as a key marker for the start of the Anthropocene epoch. Researchers found that total human energy expenditure since 1950 exceeds that of the entire preceding 11,700 years of the Holocene. The dramatic acceleration in energy use, economic activity, and population growth has driven geological-scale environmental changes including widespread pollution and ecosystem disruption.

Addressing the Issue of Microplastics in the Wake of the Microbead-Free Waters Act—A New Standard Can Facilitate Improved Policy

Researchers reviewed the U.S. Microbead-Free Waters Act and its limitations, noting that while it eliminated one source of microplastic pollution, it was criticized for its narrow scope and for discouraging biodegradable alternatives. They propose a framework called "Ecocyclable" that could serve as a standard for evaluating whether microplastics are environmentally safe based on their degradation properties. The study suggests that better-defined standards would enable more effective and nuanced regulation of microplastic pollution.

Comparative accumulation and effects of microplastics and microplastic-associated PCB-153 in the white hard clam (Meretrix lyrata) and giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) following chronic exposure

Researchers compared how microplastics and microplastic-bound PCB-153 accumulate in clams and prawns over a chronic exposure period. They found that both species accumulated microplastics and associated contaminants, but the patterns of accumulation and toxic effects differed between the two organisms. The study demonstrates that microplastics can act as carriers of harmful chemicals into seafood species, with the combined exposure causing more oxidative stress than either pollutant alone.

Microplastic Leachate Negatively Affects Fertilization in the Coral <i>Montipora capitata</i>

Researchers tested whether chemical compounds leaching from microplastics affect coral reproduction by exposing coral gametes to microplastic leachate during fertilization. They found that the leachate significantly reduced fertilization success in the coral species Montipora capitata. The study highlights that the chemical pollution from degrading plastics, not just physical ingestion, poses a direct threat to coral reef reproduction and recovery.

Microplastics exacerbate virus-mediated mortality in fish

Researchers discovered that microplastics can significantly worsen virus-related mortality in fish, finding that salmonids co-exposed to a virus and microplastics, particularly microfibers, died at higher rates than fish exposed to the virus alone. Natural non-plastic microparticles did not produce the same effect, indicating a plastic-specific interaction. The study presents evidence that microplastic pollution may amplify the impacts of infectious disease in aquatic populations.

Polystyrene microplastics reduce abundance of developing B cells in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) primary cultures

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics reduced the abundance of developing B cells in rainbow trout immune cell cultures. Trout phagocytic B cells efficiently took up small microplastic particles, and exposure led to decreased expression of key immune genes involved in antibody production. The findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure could potentially compromise the adaptive immune response in fish.

Efficacy of Three Vaccine Regimens Against Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus Transmission Potential in Rainbow Trout

Researchers tested three vaccine regimens against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in rainbow trout and found that while the vaccines improved host survival, they provided minimal protection against virus transmission. The study suggests that current vaccines may have limited long-term effectiveness in field settings because vaccinated fish can still spread the virus to others. The findings highlight the need for vaccines that not only protect individual fish but also reduce disease transmission in aquaculture.

Comparative Description and Analysis of Oyster Aquaculture in Selected Atlantic Regions: Production, Market Dynamics, and Consumption Patterns

This study compares oyster aquaculture across several Atlantic regions, examining differences in production methods, market dynamics, and consumption patterns. Researchers found that oysters represent a promising sustainable food source, though regional variations in farming practices and market conditions significantly influence the industry's economic and environmental outcomes.

Effects of organic matter on the aggregation of anthropogenic microplastic particles in turbulent environments

Researchers examined how different types of organic matter affect microplastic aggregation in turbulent water, finding that cationic and neutral compounds like chitosan and guar gum promote larger microplastic flocs more effectively than anionic organic matter.

Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling

A microcosm experiment showed that microplastics added to salt marsh sediment altered microbial community composition and disrupted nitrogen cycling, including reduced denitrification rates, suggesting that microplastic contamination could impair important biogeochemical functions.

Single-Use Plastics and COVID-19: Scientific Evidence and Environmental Regulations

This commentary examines how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased single-use plastic consumption and waste, reviewing the scientific evidence for the environmental impacts and discussing regulatory frameworks being developed in response.

Plastic debris: An overview of composition, sources, environmental occurrence, transport, and fate

Estuaries as Filters for Riverine Microplastics: Simulations in a Large, Coastal-Plain Estuary

Hydrodynamic simulations of a large US coastal plain estuary found that estuaries function as effective filters for riverine microplastics by promoting particle settling and biofouling-induced sinking, potentially explaining the discrepancy between high river inputs and relatively lower microplastic concentrations observed in coastal ocean surveys.

Comment on “Drinking Boiled Tap Water Reduces Human Intake of Nanoplastics and Microplastics”

A commentary raises methodological concerns about a previously published study claiming that boiling tap water significantly reduces nanoplastic and microplastic intake, questioning the validity of the quantification approach used.

Particle separation mechanisms in suspension-feeding fishes: key questions and future directions

This review synthesizes current knowledge about particle separation mechanisms in suspension-feeding fish, examining how gill raker morphology, ram and suction feeding mechanics, and cross-step filtration interact to retain food particles. The authors identify key unanswered questions about the minimum particle size that can be selectively retained and how microplastics are handled compared to natural food particles.

Analytical challenges associated with the determination of microplastics in the environment

This commentary discusses the significant analytical challenges involved in detecting and quantifying microplastics in environmental matrices, highlighting issues of contamination, standardization, and the complexity of characterizing a diverse range of plastic fragments and fibers.

Future Research Directions on the “Elusive” White Shark

This review identifies critical knowledge gaps in white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) biology and ecology, covering aggregation patterns, long-distance migration, reproduction, and population structure across separate global populations. Researchers found that while recent technological advances have substantially improved understanding, key questions around demography, behaviour, and conservation status remain unanswered.

Quantifying and identifying microplastics in the effluent of advanced wastewater treatment systems using Raman microspectroscopy

Researchers developed a new method combining chemical digestion and Raman microspectroscopy to identify and quantify microplastics in advanced wastewater treatment effluents, finding large numbers of particles smaller than 10 μm in reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and activated carbon filtration outputs with polyethylene as the most common polymer.

Effects of organic matter on interaction forces between polystyrene microplastics: An experimental study

Researchers examined how organic matter in seawater affects the aggregation and adhesion forces between polystyrene microplastics, finding that organic coatings alter surface interaction forces in ways that influence whether microplastics clump together and sink or remain dispersed in the water column.

Conservation Needs Diverse Values, Approaches, and Practitioners

This commentary examines ongoing tensions in conservation science between protecting ecosystems for their intrinsic value versus their value to humanity, arguing that the field benefits from diverse values, approaches, and practitioners rather than a single unified paradigm. Researchers contend that both ecocentric and anthropocentric perspectives are legitimate and complementary within conservation.

Five Years Measuring the Muck: Evaluating Interannual Variability of Nutrient Loads From Tidal Flooding

Researchers measured nutrient pollution carried by tidal floodwaters in a Chesapeake Bay watershed over five years, finding that a single flooding event can deliver more dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus than the entire annual pollution limit set by federal regulations. As sea levels rise and tidal flooding becomes more frequent, this overlooked pollution pathway could significantly worsen coastal water quality and ecosystem health.