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Papers
63 resultsShowing papers from University of Bristol
ClearExposure to microplastics and human reproductive outcomes: A systematic review
This systematic review examined evidence linking microplastic exposure to reproductive health problems in humans. While early findings raise concerns, the review emphasizes that more high-quality studies are needed to clearly establish how microplastics affect fertility and reproduction.
International consensus guidelines for the definition, detection, and interpretation of autophagy-dependent ferroptosis
This scientific review provides guidelines for understanding a specific type of cell death called autophagy-dependent ferroptosis, where cells essentially digest their own protective components and then die from iron-driven damage. While not directly about microplastics, this process is relevant because microplastics and nanoplastics have been shown to trigger oxidative stress and iron-related cell damage in tissues. Understanding these cell death pathways helps researchers assess how plastic particle exposure could harm organs like the liver, brain, and lungs.
LDPE and biodegradable PLA-PBAT plastics differentially affect plant-soil nitrogen partitioning and dynamics in a Hordeum vulgare mesocosm
Researchers compared how conventional LDPE plastic and biodegradable PLA-PBAT plastic affect nitrogen cycling in soil where barley was growing. LDPE microplastics reduced the amount of fertilizer nitrogen taken up by plants and increased nitrogen lost through leaching, while biodegradable plastics boosted microbial activity in the soil. The study shows that different types of plastic pollution affect soil nutrient cycles in different ways, which could influence both crop nutrition and groundwater contamination.
Biodegradation of microplastics derived from controlled release fertilizer coating: Selective microbial colonization and metabolism in plastisphere
Scientists studied how microplastics from fertilizer coatings break down in soil over more than two years, finding that polyethylene degraded the most (nearly 17% weight loss) while producing secondary microplastic fragments and chemical byproducts. Specific bacteria and fungi colonized the plastic surfaces, forming biofilms that helped break down the material. This research shows that coated fertilizers are a direct source of microplastic pollution in farmland, where the breakdown products could enter crops and groundwater.
Macro- and microplastics leachates: Characterization and impact on seed germination
This study found that chemicals leaching out of plastic mulch films used in farming — not the plastic particles themselves — are what harm seed growth. Biodegradable plastics actually released higher concentrations of these chemicals than conventional plastics. Many of the leached compounds have no safety regulations, raising concerns about the chemicals that microplastics release into soil where food is grown.
Marine citizenship: The right to participate in the transformation of the human-ocean relationship for sustainability
This study explored how people in the United Kingdom understand and practice marine citizenship beyond just individual eco-friendly behaviors. Researchers found that active marine citizens also engage in collective political action and advocacy, and that knowledge alone does not drive behavior change. The study proposes a broader definition of marine citizenship that includes the right to participate in ocean policy decisions, not just the responsibility to reduce personal environmental impact.
Increasing concentration of pure micro- and macro-LDPE and PP plastic negatively affect crop biomass, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass
Researchers grew maize in soil mixed with pure polyethylene and polypropylene plastics of different sizes and found that higher plastic concentrations reduced crop biomass, disrupted nutrient cycling, and decreased soil microbial activity. Even plastics without chemical additives negatively affected plant growth, showing that the plastic material itself is harmful to soil health. This matters for food security because agricultural soils are accumulating plastic from mulch films and other farming materials.
The agricultural plastic paradox: Feeding more, harming more?
This review examines the trade-off between the agricultural benefits of plastic film mulch, which helps feed an estimated 85 million additional people in China alone, and the growing microplastic contamination it causes in farmland soils. Researchers found that current studies on the effects of mulch-derived microplastics use inconsistent methods and often unrealistically high concentrations, making it difficult to assess the true risks. The study calls for standardized research approaches to better understand whether the agricultural benefits of plastic mulch outweigh its environmental costs.
Mycelium Composites for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries: The Case for Africa
This review explores how mycelium composites, materials grown from fungal networks on agricultural waste, could support sustainable development in Africa. The technology could generate additional revenue for farmers, create jobs, and reduce environmental harm from current waste management practices. Researchers highlight locally available resources and potential applications while acknowledging challenges that need to be addressed for widespread adoption.
Plastic microfibre ingestion by deep-sea organisms
Researchers provided the first evidence that microplastics are being ingested and internalized by deep-sea organisms living on the ocean floor. The study found plastic microfibres in multiple deep-water species, demonstrating that microplastic contamination has already reached some of the most remote habitats on Earth.
Differential effects of field-aged versus new LDPE and PLA/PBAT plastic film fragments on soil quality and crop productivity
Researchers compared the effects of new versus field-weathered conventional and biodegradable plastic film fragments on soil quality and radish crop growth at various concentrations. They found that degradation state played a crucial role, with aged films increasing soil respiration similarly to organic matter, and aged biodegradable films positively affecting plant nitrogen uptake and biomass. The study emphasizes that research using only new, uniform microplastics may misrepresent how weathered plastic fragments actually behave in agricultural soils.
A multifaceted assessment of the effects of polyethylene microplastics on juvenile gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata)
Researchers examined the effects of polyethylene microplastic ingestion on juvenile gilthead seabream using multiple diagnostic approaches, assessing impacts across molecular, cellular, and organismal levels to better understand microplastic toxicity in fish.
Presence of nanoplastics in rural and remote surface waters
Researchers detected nanoplastics in surface waters at two contrasting sites—remote Siberian Arctic tundra and Swedish forests—confirming that nanoplastic contamination extends to rural and remote freshwater environments far from urban pollution sources.
Microbial degradation of bioplastic (PHBV) is limited by nutrient availability at high microplastic loadings
Researchers found that the degradation of the biodegradable plastic PHBV in soil becomes limited by nutrient availability when microplastic concentrations are high. Using pyrolysis GC-MS to quantify degradation, they observed that soil hydrophobicity increased while plant growth and soil microbial biomass decreased at higher microplastic loadings. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastics can negatively affect soil health when present in large quantities.
Exposure to micro- and nanoplastics and human reproductive outcomes: a systematic review
This systematic review summarizes existing research on whether micro and nanoplastics affect human fertility and pregnancy outcomes. While the evidence is still emerging, the review found that these particles have been detected in placenta and fetal tissue, raising important questions about potential effects on reproductive health that warrant further study.
Size-dependent effects of oxo-degradable plastic contamination on soil quality and the growth of $lt;I$gt;Zea mays$lt;/I$gt;
Researchers evaluated how different concentrations of oxo-degradable plastic mulch film fragments affect soil quality and maize (Zea mays) growth, examining whether these supposedly more sustainable plastics pose different risks than conventional agricultural plastics.
Understanding interactions between oligomeric plastic and lung-sufactants underpinning inhalation risks of airborne plastics
Researchers investigated how oligomeric plastic particles interact with lung surfactant bilayers to understand inhalation risks, proposing that as plastics break down to oligomeric sizes through environmental degradation they may penetrate and disrupt the protective surfactant layer lining the lungs.
Biodegradable mulch films exhibit slower-than-expected degradation with negligible effects on soil microbial communities
Researchers ran a year-long field trial with seven biodegradable plastic mulch films in the UK, finding that none fragmented into soil microplastics as expected and all degraded far more slowly than current industry standards suggest they should. Despite virtually no measurable impact on soil microbial communities, the results challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics reliably break down under real farming conditions.
Assessment of Four Artificial Methods for Aging Plastic Mulch Films According to Efficiency, Rate, and Similarity to Natural Field-Aged Plastics
Researchers compared four laboratory methods for artificially aging plastic mulch films — thin sheets used in agriculture that break into microplastics — to determine which best mimics how the films degrade naturally in farm fields. Identifying faster, more accurate aging tests helps scientists predict how quickly agricultural plastics will fragment and enter the soil.
Size-dependent transfer of microplastics across the intestinal wall of the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in drinking water sources across multiple regions, detecting particles in both treated and untreated water samples. The findings highlight the need for improved filtration and monitoring standards for potable water.
Comprehensive Analysis of Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition: Insights from North Wales, UK, and Global Collaborations.
This study conducted extensive atmospheric microplastic deposition monitoring in North Wales, UK, combining local data with global collaborations to characterize deposition rates, polymer types, and seasonal patterns, finding measurable microplastic fallout even in rural areas.
Using a non‐invasive technique to identify suspected microplastics in grey seals ( <i>Halichoerus grypus</i> ) living in the western North Sea
Faecal samples from living wild grey seals in the western North Sea were analyzed for suspected microplastics, representing the first non-invasive record of microplastic exposure in this wild pinniped population. The study demonstrates that faecal analysis can provide indirect evidence of microplastic ingestion in free-ranging marine mammals without requiring capture or euthanasia.
Using a forensic science approach to minimize environmental contamination and to identify microfibres in marine sediments
This paper argued for applying forensic science standards — including rigorous chain of custody and contamination controls — to microplastic sampling and analysis to reduce false positives from lab contamination. The study found that microfibers, which are ubiquitous in lab air, are particularly likely to contaminate samples unless strict protocols are followed.
Polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt glucose metabolism and cortisol levels with a possible link to behavioural changes in larval zebrafish
Researchers exposed larval zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated in the pancreas, lowering blood glucose and triggering a stress hormone (cortisol) spike that caused the fish to swim hyperactively. The study identifies a specific biological pathway — disrupted glucose regulation leading to stress hormone activation — through which nanoplastics may alter behavior in aquatic animals.