Papers

Ecotoxicological effects of polyethylene microplastics and lead (Pb) on the biomass, activity, and community diversity of soil microbes

A soil experiment found that polyethylene microplastics made lead (a toxic heavy metal) more available in soil and worsened its harmful effects on soil microorganisms. The combination reduced beneficial enzyme activity, lowered microbial efficiency, and shifted the soil microbial community, suggesting that microplastic pollution in contaminated soils could amplify heavy metal toxicity in ways that ultimately affect food crops and human health.

Comprehensive analysis of microplastics at typical outlets around Hainan Island: From spatial distribution to flux estimation and correlation analysis

A comprehensive study of sewage outlets around Hainan Island in the South China Sea found high concentrations of microplastics being discharged from wastewater treatment plants, industrial areas, residential zones, and aquaculture facilities. Researchers estimated that approximately 61.6 trillion microplastic particles are released annually into the South China Sea from this single island's rivers. The study identifies wastewater treatment plants as the most critical control point for reducing land-based microplastic pollution entering the ocean.

Cs3Bi2Br9/BiOCl S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with solid built-in electric field for efficient polystyrene microplastics degradation

Tissue accumulation of polystyrene microplastics causes oxidative stress, hepatopancreatic injury and metabolome alterations in Litopenaeus vannamei

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics accumulated in shrimp organs, especially the liver-like hepatopancreas, causing growth problems, abnormal swimming, and oxidative stress. Higher microplastic concentrations led to greater tissue damage and disrupted key metabolic pathways including sugar, fat, and amino acid processing. The study expands our understanding of how microplastics affect commercially important seafood species.

Microplastic pollution in tropical coral reef ecosystems from the coastal South China Sea and their impacts on corals in situ

Researchers studied microplastic contamination in coral reef ecosystems off southern China, finding plastic particles in seawater, sediment, corals, shellfish, and fish. Different coral species absorbed microplastics at different rates, with smaller particles penetrating deeper into coral tissue. Since coral reefs support fisheries and coastal communities, this contamination could affect both marine ecosystems and the seafood that people eat.

Modulating reactive oxygen species in O, S co-doped C3N4 to enhance photocatalytic degradation of microplastics

Acute Ammonia Causes Pathogenic Dysbiosis of Shrimp Gut Biofilms

Researchers studied how sudden ammonia exposure affects the gut microbiome of white shrimp and its connection to shrimp mortality. They found that high ammonia levels disrupted the balance of gut bacteria, allowing harmful species to proliferate while protective bacteria declined, leading to severe organ damage. The study suggests that ammonia spikes in aquaculture settings can trigger a cascade of gut microbiome disruption that contributes to shrimp disease and death.

Structure and assembly mechanisms of the microbial community on an artificial reef surface, Fangchenggang, China

Researchers studied bacterial communities on artificial reef structures in China and found that five-year-old reefs supported more diverse and stable microbial ecosystems than newer reefs, with random dispersal processes driving most community assembly — suggesting artificial reefs need considerable time before they fully replicate natural reef microbial ecology.

Insights into co-occurrence characteristics and interplay of microbial communities and environmental pollutants on biofilm-colonized microplastics in mangrove ecosystems

Researchers conducted an in situ study in mangrove ecosystems examining how microplastics accumulate biofilms over time, finding progressive development of microbial communities across seasons, polymer types, and exposure durations, with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants co-occurring on microplastic surfaces.

GC–MS metabolomics coupled with multi-biomarker analysis reveal toxic effects of functionalized nanoplastics in Paphia undulata

Researchers used combined metabolomics and multi-biomarker analyses to investigate how pristine, carboxylated, and aminated polystyrene nanoplastics accumulated in and affected the marine clam Paphia undulata. Surface-modified NPs showed greater bioaccumulation and distinct metabolic disruption patterns compared to pristine PS, highlighting surface chemistry as a key driver of nanoplastic toxicity.

Toxicological Studies of Fish and Fish Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

This review summarizes advances in in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies of fish and fish cells, examining the impacts of various industrial, agricultural, and urban pollutants -- including microplastics -- on fish health and potential risks to humans through the food chain.

Distribution and ecological risks of microplastics in a tropical tourism island area in Hainan, China

Enrichment and ecological risks of microplastics in mangroves of southern Hainan Island, China

Microplastics were detected in surface seawater and sediments of three mangrove ecosystems in southern Hainan Island, with fibre-shaped, transparent, small (100-500 micron) particles of polypropylene and PET dominating, and ecological risk assessments indicating varying degrees of concern across sites.

The mechanism of polystyrene nanoplastics hepatotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study investigated the hepatotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio), finding that nanoplastics accumulating in the liver triggered oxidative stress and cellular injury pathways. The results highlight nanoplastics as a significant liver toxicant in aquatic vertebrates.

Diversity and succession of microbial communities on typical microplastics in Xincun Bay, a long-term mariculture tropical lagoon

Researchers tracked microbial community succession on polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics over 60 days in a tropical mariculture lagoon, finding that plastisphere bacterial diversity exceeded that of surrounding seawater and that community structure shifted significantly over time.

A bacterial symbiont in the gill of the marine scallop <i>Argopecten irradians irradians</i> metabolizes dimethylsulfoniopropionate

This paper is not about microplastics; it reports the discovery of a bacterial symbiont in the gill of marine scallops that breaks down the sulfur compound DMSP, contributing to marine sulfur cycling.

Identification of Microplastics and Non-Microplastics Released from Masks under Environmental Conditions

Researchers found that single-use surgical masks worn during the COVID-19 pandemic release microplastics under environmental stress, with UV exposure generating the most particles (approximately 120 items per mask), followed by mechanical abrasion and high-temperature exposure.

Accumulation of Pd-doped Polystyrene Nanoplastics in the Digestive Tract of <i>Sebastes Schlegelii</i>

Researchers tracked the accumulation of palladium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics in the digestive tract of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) using ICP-MS, finding that nanoplastics accumulated in gut tissue and feces in a concentration-dependent manner after only three days of exposure.

[Effects of Microplastic Exposure on the Community Structure and Function of Symbiotic Bacteria in <i>Sinularia microclavata</i>].

Researchers found that exposure to polyamide microplastics disrupts the community structure and function of symbiotic bacteria in the soft coral Sinularia microclavata, with effects varying by concentration, raising concerns about microplastic impacts on coral health in marine environments.

Editorial: Transdisciplinary communication for sustainable food systems

This editorial synthesizes research on sustainable food systems topics including microplastic contamination in beverages, cultivated meat development, and food safety, highlighting the multifaceted nature of sustainable food research across disciplines.

Succession of Bacteria Attached to Microplastics After Transferring from a Mariculture Area to a Seagrass Meadow

Researchers investigated bacterial succession on polypropylene and expanded polystyrene microplastics and wood substrates after transferring from a mariculture area to a seagrass meadow, using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Alpha diversity declined significantly after transfer, potential pathogen-associated organisms decreased in abundance, xenobiotic biodegradation pathways declined, and energy metabolism pathways increased, with environmental drivers shifting from nutrient characteristics to basic physicochemical properties.

Influence of temperature changes on symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities’ structure: an experimental study on soft coral <i>Sarcophyton trocheliophorum</i> (Anthozoa: Alcyoniidae)

This study examined how temperature changes affect symbiotic algae and bacterial communities in the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum. Researchers found that temperature stress altered the composition and diversity of both microbial symbiont groups.

Cultivation and conservation of the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum: Light intensity and photoperiod regulation

This study investigated the effects of different light intensities and photoperiods on the cultivation of the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum, monitoring zooxanthellae density, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities over 50-day experiments. Results provide guidance for the controlled cultivation and conservation of this coral species.

Editorial: Macroecology of coastal zones under global changes

This is a journal editorial introducing a special issue on the macroecology of coastal zones under global change conditions. No original research findings are presented.