Papers

Current trends, limitations and future research in the fungi?

This broad review of modern mycology (the study of fungi) covers emerging fungal diseases, drug discovery from fungi, genomics advances, and how fungi can be used in construction and circular economies. While not directly about microplastics, some fungi show promise for biodegrading plastic waste, making mycology research relevant to addressing microplastic pollution.

Raman Spectroscopy and Its Application in Fruit Quality Detection

This review covers the use of Raman spectroscopy, a light-based analysis technique, for detecting quality attributes in fruit. While not about microplastics, this same technology is widely used to identify and analyze microplastic particles in environmental and food samples, making advances in the technique relevant to microplastic detection research.

Simultaneous exposure to nanoplastics and cadmium mitigates microalgae cellular toxicity: Insights from molecular simulation and metabolomics

In a surprising finding, researchers discovered that when nanoplastics and cadmium (a toxic metal) were present together at high concentrations, their combined effect on microalgae was actually less toxic than either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics appeared to bind with the cadmium, reducing its ability to enter and damage cells. While this suggests some pollutant interactions may be unexpectedly complex, it does not mean nanoplastics are protective -- the study highlights how much we still need to learn about how plastic pollution interacts with other contaminants.

Exposure to irregular microplastic shed from baby bottles activates the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway, causing intestinal inflammation

Researchers found that baby bottles made of polypropylene release irregularly shaped microplastics when exposed to boiling water or microwave heating, and these particles triggered inflammation in human intestinal cells. The microplastics activated a specific inflammatory pathway (NLRP3 inflammasome) that caused oxidative stress and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory signals. This is especially concerning for infant health, as babies may be exposed to these particles daily through heated formula and milk.

Toxic effects of microplastics in plants depend more by their surface functional groups than just accumulation contents

Researchers studied how differently charged microplastics affect lettuce plants grown in water, finding that all types caused growth problems, root damage, and oxidative stress. Microplastics were able to penetrate roots and travel to above-ground plant parts through the water transport system. Importantly, the study found that the type of chemical groups on the microplastic surface mattered more for toxicity than the total amount of plastic accumulated in the plant.

Influencing mechanisms of microplastics existence on soil heavy metals accumulated by plants

This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics in soil affect the uptake of heavy metals by plants. Microplastics can change soil chemistry and microbial communities in ways that alter how much toxic metals plants absorb through their roots. This is concerning for human health because microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could lead to crops that contain higher levels of dangerous heavy metals.

Synthesis and Characterization of Silica, Silver-Silica, and Zinc Oxide-Silica Nanoparticles for Evaluation of Blood Biochemistry, Oxidative Stress, and Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

Researchers synthesized silica nanoparticles combined with silver and zinc oxide and tested their effects on rat blood chemistry and liver health. The nanoparticles caused dose-dependent changes in liver enzymes and oxidative stress markers, with the silver-silica composite showing the strongest effects. This study contributes to understanding how engineered nanoparticles interact with biological systems, relevant to the broader field of particle toxicology.

Antimony release from e-waste-derived microplastics in aqueous environments: Effect of plastic properties and environmental factors

Researchers studied how antimony, a toxic element used as a flame retardant in electronics, leaches out of e-waste microplastics into water. They found that smaller particle sizes and UV aging dramatically increased antimony release, with some conditions boosting it by over 600 percent. The study suggests that electronic waste breaking down into microplastics could be a significant and underappreciated source of antimony contamination in aquatic environments.

Microplastics, invasive species and fungal stressors modulate antioxidative mechanisms, rhizosphere enzymes and microbial dynamics in alfalfa

Researchers tested how microplastics, an invasive plant species, and a fungal pathogen individually and in combination affect alfalfa growth and soil microorganisms. The invasive plant caused the most severe damage, reducing plant biomass by up to 72%, while microplastics primarily affected root growth and altered soil microbial communities. The study reveals that multiple environmental stressors can compound each other's effects, posing serious threats to the sustainability of managed grasslands.

Fate, characteristics, and potential threat of microplastics in sludge under various dewatering treatments

Researchers compared four different sludge dewatering treatments used at wastewater plants and examined how each process affected the microplastics trapped in the sludge. They found that advanced oxidation treatments altered the surface properties of the microplastics and increased their ability to absorb heavy metals. The findings raise concerns that certain sludge treatment methods could make microplastics more environmentally hazardous when the treated sludge is disposed of or reused.

The occurrence and abundance of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream, in the south of China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream in southern China. They found microplastics in all samples, with concentrations ranging widely and fibers being the dominant shape. The study suggests that the downstream section of the West River serves as both a conduit and accumulation zone for microplastic pollution heading toward coastal waters.

Effects of agricultural plastic films on crop growth and soil health in tobacco fields: A comparative study

Dysregulation of gut health in zebrafish by differentially charged nanoplastic exposure: an integrated analysis of histopathology, immunology, and microbial informatics

Researchers studied how nanoplastics with different surface charges affect gut health in zebrafish using histopathology, immunology, and microbial analysis. The study found that gut damage and microflora disturbance caused by nanoplastic ingestion significantly depended on the surface functional groups of the particles.

Microplastic exposure induces structural hyperplasia in the gill tissue of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) through immunosuppression, metabolic disruption, and structural damage

Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics affect the gill tissue of grass carp at two concentrations. They found that higher microplastic exposure caused significant structural damage to gills, activated inflammatory pathways, triggered oxidative stress, and promoted abnormal cell proliferation. The study suggests that microplastics can induce structural hyperplasia in fish gills through combined immunosuppression, metabolic disruption, and tissue damage mechanisms.

Microplastics in agricultural soil: Unveiling their role in shaping soil properties and driving greenhouse gas emissions

This review examines how microplastics in agricultural soils affect carbon and nitrogen cycles and alter greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers found that microplastics reduce soil water retention, decrease soil respiration, and increase emissions of carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The study reveals that microplastic contamination in farmland may have broader climate implications by disrupting the soil processes that regulate greenhouse gas fluxes.

Characteristics and Health Risks of Phthalate Ester Contamination in Soil and Plants in Coastal Areas of South China

Researchers investigated phthalate ester contamination across 37 sites in coastal South China, finding widespread contamination in both soil and plants with concentrations posing potential health risks, particularly from the plasticizers DEHP and DBP.

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in the basin of Chishui River in Renhuai, China

Researchers measured microplastic pollution in the Chishui River basin in Renhuai, China, finding abundances of 1.77–14.33 items/L dominated by fibrous particles (59.4%), with higher fiber levels in densely populated areas and more film-type MPs in agricultural zones.

Microplastics impair black soldier fly bioconversion of pigeon manure: Physiological and transcriptomic insights

Dissolution release of antimony from E-waste microplastics in aquatic solution: Kinetics, mechanisms and surface-release-layer thickness

Researchers investigated the kinetics and mechanisms of antimony (Sb) release from electronic-waste microplastics (high-impact polystyrene and ABS) into aqueous solution. They developed a method to calculate release layer thickness and found that Sb dissolution followed surface-layer-controlled kinetics, with implications for e-waste contamination of water bodies.

Partition-Transformation Coupling Effect on Photolytic Detoxification of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Bonding with Polystyrene Microplastics: The Critical Role of Hydrogen Donor and Aryl on Mitigation of Polybrominated Dibenzofurans (PBDFs) Formation

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics suppress the formation of toxic polybrominated dibenzofurans during photolysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, finding that hydrogen abstraction and aryl addition reactions on polystyrene compete with cyclization to significantly reduce toxic byproduct formation.

Toxicity of Microplastic Exposure on Black Soldier Fly and Interference in Pigeon Feces Transformation: Transcriptomic Insights

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the amino acid composition of Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea)

Researchers exposed Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) to polystyrene nanoplastics and measured changes in their amino acid composition, finding significant alterations in essential and non-essential amino acid profiles compared to unexposed controls. The results indicate that nanoplastic exposure disrupts protein metabolism in bivalves, which could have cascading effects on clam nutrition and health.

Characteristics of Rhizosphere Microbiome, Soil Chemical Properties, and Plant Biomass and Nutrients in Citrus reticulata cv. Shatangju Exposed to Increasing Soil Cu Levels

This study characterized rhizosphere microbiome composition, soil chemical properties, and plant biochemistry in relation to soil management practices, finding that treatment type drives distinct rhizosphere microbial communities with functional consequences for plant health.

Advanced microplastics remediation: From environmental formation to Fenton-based degradation — mechanisms, system optimization, and remaining challenges