Papers

A systematic review of the impacts of exposure to micro- and nano-plastics on human tissue accumulation and health

This systematic review found growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in human tissues including lungs, gut, and blood, with lab studies showing potential disruption to immune, reproductive, endocrine, and nervous systems. The review identifies ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact as the three main exposure routes and highlights that the smallest nanoplastic particles pose the greatest concern due to their ability to cross biological barriers.

Nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse impacts on plants at environmentally relevant levels: A systematic review

Systematic review of 78 studies found that nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse effects on plants even at environmentally relevant concentrations, with germination and root growth more strongly affected than shoot growth during early development. Chlorophyll levels were consistently reduced while stress indicators (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes were consistently upregulated across species.

The combination of microplastics and glyphosate affects the microbiome of soil inhabitant Enchytraeus crypticus

Researchers tested how microplastics and the common herbicide glyphosate affect soil health when present together. Biodegradable PLA plastic combined with glyphosate had the most damaging effects on both soil bacteria and the gut microbiome of soil worms, worse than conventional PET plastic. These results suggest that using biodegradable plastics alongside pesticides in agriculture may pose greater ecological risks than previously thought.

Transport Dynamics and Physiological Responses of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Pakchoi: Implications for Food Safety and Environmental Health

Researchers tracked fluorescently labeled nanoplastics as they traveled through pakchoi (a leafy green vegetable), entering through the roots, moving up through the plant's water-transport system, and accumulating in the leaves. The nanoplastics caused oxidative damage and disrupted plant hormones, demonstrating a clear pathway by which plastic pollution in soil could enter the human food supply through everyday vegetables.

Pioneer plants enhance soil multifunctionality by reshaping underground multitrophic community during natural succession of an abandoned rare earth mine tailing

Researchers studied natural plant colonization of an abandoned rare earth mine and found that pioneer plants increased soil multifunctionality by up to 525% by reshaping underground microbial communities and building more complex multitrophic networks, pointing to plant-driven succession as a viable strategy for degraded mine rehabilitation.

Machine learning-driven QSAR models for predicting the mixture toxicity of nanoparticles

Researchers used machine learning to predict how toxic different mixtures of metal nanoparticles are to bacteria. Their models outperformed traditional methods at predicting combined toxicity effects. While focused on engineered nanoparticles rather than microplastics, the computational approach could be adapted to predict health risks from the complex mixtures of nano-sized pollutants people encounter.

Marine mammals and microplastics: A systematic review and call for standardisation

Microplastics were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of marine mammals in all but one of 30 studies reviewed, with 0-88 particles per animal, and were detected in pinniped scat in 8 of 10 studies, though considerable methodological inconsistencies make cross-study comparisons difficult.

A mechanistic understanding of the effects of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to nanoplastics made from PET, the plastic commonly used in water bottles and food packaging. The nanoplastics accumulated in the liver, intestine, and kidneys, causing oxidative stress, damaging cell energy systems, and disrupting metabolism. This is the first comprehensive study of PET nanoplastic toxicity mechanisms, and it is particularly relevant because PET is one of the most common plastics that humans encounter daily.

Citizen science in environmental and ecological sciences

This review describes how citizen science, where non-professional volunteers help collect data, is being applied in environmental and ecological research. Citizen science projects have contributed to monitoring pollution, biodiversity, and water quality across large geographic areas. The approach is relevant to microplastic research because trained volunteers can help sample and catalog microplastic contamination across many locations that professional scientists cannot cover alone.

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.

Tracing and trapping micro- and nanoplastics: Untapped mitigation potential of aquatic plants?

Researchers used fluorescently labeled polystyrene particles to trace microplastic and nanoplastic uptake in three aquatic plant species, finding that nanoplastics concentrated primarily in roots via apoplastic transport with bioconcentration factors up to 306, suggesting floating plants like water hyacinth may be useful for removing plastic from contaminated water.

Quantitative tracing of uptake and transport of submicrometre plastics in crop plants using lanthanide chelates as a dual-functional tracer

Researchers developed a new method using europium-tagged nanoplastics to precisely measure how 200-nanometer plastic particles are taken up by wheat and lettuce plants. The nanoplastics accumulated mainly in the roots, with a small but measurable amount transported to the shoots that people eat. This study confirms that food crops can absorb nanoplastics from contaminated soil, providing a direct pathway for these particles to enter the human diet.

Application of Machine Learning in Nanotoxicology: A Critical Review and Perspective

This review evaluates how machine learning and artificial intelligence are being used to predict the toxic effects of nanomaterials, including nanoplastics, on human health and the environment. These computational tools can help screen thousands of materials for potential hazards much faster than traditional lab experiments, though the authors note that better data quality and standardized methods are still needed.

Strategy towards producing relevant and reliable data for the hazard assessment of micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils

This paper outlines a strategy for producing better scientific data on the hazards of micro and nanoplastics in agricultural soils. Current research suffers from a lack of standardized testing methods, unrealistic experimental conditions, and inconsistent materials, making it hard to draw reliable conclusions. The authors provide specific recommendations for more environmentally relevant experiments that could support meaningful regulations to protect soil ecosystems and food safety.

Comparing the impact of microplastics derived from a biodegradable and a conventional plastic mulch on plant performance

Researchers directly compared how microplastics from biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films affect plant growth and found that biodegradable plastic particles actually reduced plant biomass more than conventional plastic particles in some cases. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for agriculture, since their breakdown products may still harm crops that end up in the human food supply.

The Toxicity of Microplastics Explorer (ToMEx) 2.0

This paper describes an update to the Toxicity of Microplastics Explorer (ToMEx), a public database of microplastic toxicity studies used by researchers worldwide for risk assessment. The updated database roughly doubled in size, yet key trends held steady: smaller particles tend to be more toxic, and there is still a lack of dose-response data needed to set safe exposure limits. This tool is important because it helps scientists and regulators determine what levels of microplastic contamination might actually harm human health and ecosystems.

Challenges in studying microplastics in human brain

The Effect of Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics on Amyloid-β Peptide Fibrillation

Lab experiments showed that PET nanoplastics, the type found in plastic bottles and clothing, accelerated the clumping of amyloid-beta proteins, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Smaller nanoplastics (50 nm) had a stronger effect than larger ones, cutting the time for protein clumping nearly in half. While this is a test-tube study, it raises the question of whether nanoplastics that reach the brain could potentially speed up the development of Alzheimer's-related protein buildup.

Seaweeds as a major source of dietary microplastics exposure in East Asia

This study found that seaweed is a major and previously overlooked source of dietary microplastic exposure in East Asia, with Chinese consumers estimated to ingest over 17,000 microplastic particles per year through seaweed alone. Seaweed-derived exposure accounted for up to 45.5% of total dietary microplastic intake, surpassing all other food sources. These findings are important for the millions of people in East Asian countries who regularly consume kelp and nori as dietary staples.

The role of algal EPS in reducing the combined toxicity of BPA and polystyrene nanoparticles to the freshwater algae Scenedesmus obliquus

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and the industrial chemical BPA affect freshwater algae when combined, and whether the algae's own protective secretions could reduce the damage. Carboxylated nanoplastics were the most toxic form, and the algae's natural exopolymeric substances helped buffer the combined toxicity. The findings suggest that biological interactions in real waterways may partially mitigate some harmful effects of nanoplastic pollution.

Microplastics in terrestrial ecosystem: Exploring the menace to the soil-plant-microbe interactions

This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics affect the complex relationships between soil, plants, and soil microbes. Microplastics alter soil structure, change the makeup of microbial communities, and disrupt beneficial partnerships between plants and helpful fungi and bacteria. These disruptions can reduce plant growth and nutrient cycling, which could ultimately affect crop yields and the quality of food produced on microplastic-contaminated farmland.

Toxicological impacts of microplastics on virulence, reproduction and physiological process of entomopathogenic nematodes

This study found that polystyrene microplastics are toxic to beneficial soil nematodes that naturally control insect pests in agriculture. The microplastics reduced the nematodes' survival, reproduction, and ability to kill pest insects, with smaller particles and higher concentrations causing the most damage. This matters because losing these natural pest controllers could lead to increased pesticide use, creating a cycle of more chemical contamination in the soil and food supply.

Creating the Dutch One Health Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs)

Researchers developed national-scale future health scenarios for the Netherlands by combining climate change projections with socioeconomic trends, finding that societies combining low greenhouse gas emissions with strong public institutions achieve the best outcomes for human, animal, and environmental health under a "One Health" framework.

Traded Plastic, Traded Impacts? Designing Counterfactual Scenarios to Assess Environmental Impacts of Global Plastic Waste Trade

This study used life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impact of global plastic waste trade in 2022 across 18 countries. The research found that trading plastic waste internationally resulted in lower overall environmental impacts compared to countries processing all their waste domestically, partly because importing countries have higher recycling rates. However, the benefits depend heavily on actual recycling rates, and the trade can shift pollution burdens to lower-income countries.