Papers

Plastic additives and legacy persistent organic pollutants in the preen gland oil of seabirds sampled across the globe

Researchers analyzed preen gland oil from 145 seabirds across 32 species worldwide for plastic additives and legacy persistent organic pollutants. The study found PCBs and pesticides were ubiquitous and correlated with trophic level, while plastic-associated UV stabilizers were detected in 46% of individuals, suggesting that seabirds are exposed to plastic-derived chemicals alongside traditional pollutants through their diet.

Soil texture governs the influence of different microplastics on soil hydraulic properties

This study tested how different types of microplastics affect soil hydraulic properties across varying soil textures, finding that soil texture strongly governs the magnitude of MP impacts on water retention and hydraulic conductivity, with fine-textured soils showing different responses than coarse-textured ones.

Microplastic alteration in agricultural soils across Europe: Comparative study of MPs inside and outside soil aggregates over two years

Researchers tracked microplastic aging inside and outside soil aggregates in European agricultural soils over two years, comparing fields in multiple countries. Microplastics enclosed within aggregates showed less physicochemical aging than surface-exposed particles, suggesting that aggregate formation can temporarily protect plastics from degradation and prolong their persistence in soil.

Osmoregulation affects elimination of microplastics in fish in freshwater and marine environments

This study examined how osmoregulation -- the physiological process fish use to balance salt and water -- affects the retention and elimination of ingested microplastics in both freshwater and seawater fish. The salinity of the fish's environment influenced gut passage rates and microplastic elimination, with important implications for accurately comparing field and lab exposure studies across species.

Microplastic sampling with the AVANI trawl compared to two neuston trawls in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific

Researchers compared the performance of the high-speed AVANI trawl against the manta trawl and DiSalvo neuston net for microplastic collection in the Bay of Bengal and South Pacific, finding that the AVANI trawl generally collected greater abundances while producing comparable results that allow cross-study comparisons.

Synthesis of Micro ¹⁴ C‐Labeled Polylactide for Environmental Assessment Analysis

Researchers developed the first synthesis of 14C-radiolabelled polylactide (PLA) using ring-opening polymerisation of labelled lactide derived from a biocompatible precursor, enabling radiotracking of PLA degradation and microplastic formation in environmental matrices. The method addresses the inadequacy of conventional analytical techniques for quantifying PLA breakdown in complex environments, providing a tool for assessing the environmental fate of this widely used biodegradable polymer.

Microplastic incorporation into soil aggregates: Insights from two-year field experiments in European agricultural topsoils

Researchers conducted two-year field experiments in European agricultural topsoils comparing microplastic incorporation into soil aggregates from biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films, finding that soil properties and MP size and shape influence the degree of occlusion, with aggregate embedment potentially protecting MPs from further degradation.

Mineralization and Transfer of Polymer-Derived Carbon from Biodegradable Mulch into the Soil Microbial Biomass and Organic Matter Pool

Researchers tracked the fate of biodegradable mulch polymer carbon in soil using isotope tracing, finding that polymer-derived carbon enters both microbial catabolic (mineralization to CO2) and anabolic (immobilization into microbial biomass and soil organic matter) pathways, with implications for carbon cycling in agroecosystems.

Sedentary fish Cynoglossus joyneri reveals microplastic pollution in the coastal water of Lvsi Fishing Ground

International pellet watch: Global monitoring of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in plastic resin pellets

Scientists analyzed plastic resin pellets from 65 beaches in 27 countries and found flame retardant chemicals (PBDEs) in 75% of samples, at concentrations up to 46 nanograms per gram of plastic. This global survey demonstrates that plastic pellets act as worldwide carriers of toxic flame retardants in the marine environment.

Methods for sampling, processing, identification,and quantification of microplastics in the marine environment

This paper reviews and compares the various methods used to collect, process, identify, and quantify microplastics across different environmental samples. It highlights the lack of standardized protocols as a major obstacle to comparing results across studies and calls for methodological harmonization.