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Papers
159 resultsShowing papers from University of Bologna
ClearMicro-nanoplastics pollution and mammalian fertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This meta-analysis of 79 studies across five mammalian species found that micro- and nanoplastics cause reproductive toxicity in a concentration-dependent manner, particularly at high doses. Polystyrene was the most studied polymer, and most research focused on male fertility in mice, leaving a significant gap in knowledge about effects on food-producing animals that could serve as vectors for human exposure.
Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events
Researchers analyzed 35 years of mass mortality events across the Mediterranean Sea affecting nearly 400 bottom-dwelling species, finding that larger, slower-growing animals like corals and sponges are most vulnerable to die-offs driven by warming, disease, and other stressors. Over the last five years alone, roughly 11% of the region's functional biodiversity may have been temporarily lost, signaling rapid ecological transformation.
Metal-Based Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Mechanisms and Biomedical Application
This review examines how metal-based nanoparticles kill bacteria and their potential use as alternatives to antibiotics in medicine. While not about microplastics directly, the antibacterial mechanisms described are relevant because microplastics in the environment can carry both metal nanoparticles and bacteria on their surfaces. Understanding these interactions helps explain how microplastics may influence the spread or suppression of harmful bacteria in the environment.
Microplastics in aquatic environments: A comprehensive review of toxicity, removal, and remediation strategies
This comprehensive review covers the toxicity of microplastics on aquatic life at every level of the food chain, from algae to fish, as well as current methods for removing microplastics from water. Treatment methods like filtration and electrocoagulation can remove over 86-90% of microplastics, but no single method eliminates them completely. The review highlights the urgent need for better water treatment to protect both aquatic ecosystems and the humans who rely on them for food and water.
Exploring the Impact of Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Fish and Invertebrates Physiology in the Mediterranean Sea
This study examines how emerging pollutants including pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics affect marine organisms in the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers used catsharks and mussels as indicator species to measure contamination levels and biological effects. The findings are relevant to human health because contaminated seafood from the Mediterranean is widely consumed across Europe.
Penetration of Microplastics and Nanoparticles Through Skin: Effects of Size, Shape, and Surface Chemistry
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics can penetrate human skin, with smaller particles being more likely to pass through. Beyond direct toxicity, these tiny plastic particles may also carry harmful chemicals through the skin barrier, acting as unwanted delivery vehicles for toxic substances we encounter in the environment.
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.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders: The Mediterranean Diet as a Protective Choice
This review explores how the Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, olive oil, and fish, may protect against autoimmune thyroid diseases by reducing inflammation and supporting gut health. While not focused on microplastics, the mechanisms discussed are relevant because microplastics can disrupt the same systems the Mediterranean diet protects, including gut bacteria balance, oxidative stress, and immune function. The findings suggest that diet choices may help counteract some of the inflammatory effects of environmental pollutant exposure.
Analysis of microplastics in commercial vegetable edible oils from Italy and Spain
Researchers tested commercial vegetable oils from Italy and Spain for microplastic contamination and found an average of 1,140 microplastic particles per liter across olive oil, sunflower oil, and seed oil. Most particles were tiny fragments under 100 micrometers, made primarily of polyethylene and polypropylene. This study is one of the first to document microplastics in cooking oils, revealing another dietary pathway through which people regularly consume microplastics.
Chemical composition and ecotoxicity of plastic and car tire rubber leachates to aquatic organisms
Researchers tested chemical leachates from five types of common plastic and car tire rubber microplastics for their effects on algae and mussels. Car tire rubber and PVC produced the most toxic leachates, containing compounds like benzothiazole and zinc that significantly inhibited algal growth. The study reveals that the chemical additives leaching from degrading plastics may pose a greater immediate risk to aquatic organisms than the physical particles themselves.
Single exposure of food-derived polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics profoundly affects gut microbiome in an in vitro colon model
Using a lab model of the human colon, researchers found that a single exposure to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics, at levels matching a typical meal, significantly disrupted the gut microbiome. Harmful bacteria overgrew while beneficial bacteria declined, and the balance of bacterial metabolism shifted in unhealthy ways. This suggests that even routine dietary microplastic intake could alter gut health in humans.
Prevention of Biofouling Due to Water Absorption of Natural Fiber Composites in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review
This review examines how natural fiber composites used in boats and marine structures absorb water and become damaged by marine organisms over time. While focused on engineering materials rather than health effects, the study is relevant to microplastic research because degrading composite materials in aquatic environments can release plastic particles and chemical additives into the water. Understanding how these materials break down helps identify an often-overlooked source of microplastic pollution in marine environments.
Multitechnique characterization of eco-corona formation on airborne nanoplastics
Researchers used multiple analytical techniques to study how airborne nanoplastics interact with bee pollen, forming an "eco-corona" layer on the plastic particle surface. They found that pollen components adsorbed onto PET nanoplastics under environmentally realistic conditions, potentially altering both the behavior of the nanoplastics and the ecological function of the pollen. The study also evaluated the sustainability of the analytical methods used, promoting greener approaches to nanoplastic research.
Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on in vitro maturation of pig cumulus-encosed oocytes
Researchers exposed pig egg cells to polystyrene nanoplastics during laboratory maturation and found that while the eggs still completed their basic development stages, the nanoplastics significantly increased harmful reactive oxygen species levels. This oxidative stress reduced the quality of resulting embryos, as indicated by fewer cells per embryo, suggesting nanoplastic exposure could be a concern for reproductive health.
An All-in-One Sustainable Smartphone Paper Biosensor for Water Toxicity Monitoring Combining Bioluminescence Detection with Artificial Intelligence
Researchers created a paper-based smartphone biosensor that uses bioluminescent bacteria and artificial intelligence to monitor water toxicity in real time. The device integrates all the steps normally required in a laboratory, including a built-in calibration curve and an AI app that converts phone images into quantitative toxicity readings. The tool offers a portable, sustainable alternative for detecting harmful contaminants like microplastics and heavy metals in drinking water.
Microplastic characterization and factors influencing its abundance in coastal wetlands: insights from the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem, Sundarbans
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove ecosystem, examining both water and sediment samples from 20 sites. They found microplastics at every location, with polystyrene being the most abundant polymer and fragments the most common shape. The study identified proximity to port activity and organic carbon levels as key factors influencing microplastic distribution, underscoring the vulnerability of this critical ecosystem.
Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices
Researchers characterized polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and measured their ability to adsorb heavy metals, finding that both types can bind copper and iron ions from water — raising concern that microplastics may act as carriers that transport toxic metals deeper into aquatic ecosystems and food chains.
Meta-Analysis of a New Georeferenced Database on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Western and Central Mediterranean Seafood
This meta-analysis built a georeferenced database of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in Western and Central Mediterranean seafood, finding that PAH levels vary significantly by species biology, habitat, and proximity to pollution sources. Filter-feeding organisms and those in coastal areas showed higher contamination levels. PAHs are among the hydrophobic organic pollutants that readily adsorb onto microplastic surfaces, making microplastics potential vectors for concentrating and transporting these carcinogens through marine food webs.
Identification and quantification of tire wear particles by employing different cross-validation techniques: FTIR-ATR Micro-FTIR, Pyr-GC/MS, and SEM
Researchers developed and cross-validated methods using FTIR-ATR, micro-FTIR, pyrolysis-GC/MS, and scanning electron microscopy to identify and quantify tire wear particles in highway stormwater runoff. The study optimized pretreatment methods to extract tire wear particles without degradation, providing more accurate identification and reducing the risk of underestimating this important source of microplastic pollution.
Estimate of Growth Parameters of Penaeus kerathurus (Forskäl, 1775) (Crustacea, Penaeidae) in the Northern Adriatic Sea
Scientists estimated the growth characteristics of the caramote prawn in the northern Adriatic Sea, a species that has become increasingly important commercially. Researchers found that these prawns show distinct growth patterns that are important for managing the fishery sustainably. The study provides baseline biological data needed to set catch limits and protect this species as fishing pressure increases.
Applicability of Face Masks as Recyclable Raw Materials for Self-Made Insulation Panels
Researchers tested whether used surgical face masks could be repurposed as building insulation panels. The study suggests that mask-based panels perform well as thermal insulators, show acceptable fire resistance and water vapor permeability, and could offer a low-cost way to improve indoor comfort while keeping plastic waste out of landfills.
Emerging Solutions to Return Nature to the Urban Ocean
Researchers identified emerging strategies for restoring nature in heavily urbanized ocean environments, which impact 1.5% of global exclusive economic zones. They describe approaches including greening gray infrastructure, restoring habitats, and developing biotechnologies to reduce urban pressures like pollution. The study highlights how better design and management of urban ocean spaces can address challenges such as plastic pollution while supporting ecosystem services and human needs.
A Comparative Assessment of the Chronic Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics on the Physiology of the Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
Researchers compared the chronic effects of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics on Mediterranean mussels over a 21-day exposure at very low concentrations. They found that nanoplastics generally produced stronger biological responses than microplastics, including greater impacts on immune function, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity markers. The study suggests that smaller plastic particles may pose greater risks to marine filter feeders even at trace environmental concentrations.
Microplastic ingestion and co-exposure to Nosema ceranae and flupyradifurone reduce the survival of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)
Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastics, the insecticide flupyradifurone, and the gut parasite Nosema ceranae on honey bee health. They found that all treatments reduced bee survival compared to controls, with the three-way combination being the most harmful, and that microplastics and the pesticide increased parasite reproduction. The study suggests that microplastics may worsen the effects of other stressors on bee health, compounding existing threats to pollinators.