Papers

Complex release dynamics of microplastic additives: An interplay of additive degradation and microplastic aging

This study investigated how microplastics release their chemical additives -- including phthalates, bisphenol A, and flame retardants -- into water, especially under UV sunlight. The process is more complicated than simple leaching: sunlight both breaks down the additives and ages the plastic itself, which changes how fast chemicals are released. These findings matter because the toxic additives that leach from microplastics may pose a greater health risk than the plastic particles themselves.

Unraveling Microplastic Effects on Gut Microbiota across Various Animals Using Machine Learning

This meta-analysis used machine learning to compare how microplastics affect gut bacteria across different animal species. Mice showed the strongest negative effects, including reduced gut bacterial diversity and imbalanced gut flora — shifts linked to health problems in humans too. The study identified specific bacterial markers, including Lactobacillus, that could help detect microplastic-related gut damage.

Human exposure to microplastics via the consumption of nonalcoholic beverages in various packaging materials: The case of Hong Kong

Researchers tested 50 packaged nonalcoholic beverages in Hong Kong and found microplastics in every single one, with an estimated annual intake of about 6,200 microplastic particles per person from beverages alone. The contamination came from both the packaging materials and airborne particles during manufacturing, showing that everyday drinks are a meaningful source of human microplastic exposure.

Advanced nanobubble flotation for enhanced removal of sub-10 µm microplastics from wastewater

Scientists developed a nanobubble-assisted flotation technique that improves removal of very small microplastics (under 10 micrometers) from wastewater by up to 17% compared to traditional methods. Removing these tiny particles is especially important because their small size makes them more likely to pass through water treatment and eventually be consumed by humans.

A meta-analysis-based adverse outcome pathway for the male reproductive toxicity induced by microplastics and nanoplastics in mammals

This meta-analysis of 39 studies mapped the adverse outcome pathway for microplastic and nanoplastic-induced male reproductive toxicity in mammals. Increased reactive oxygen species triggers a cascade of cellular damage including mitochondrial dysfunction, sperm DNA damage, and disrupted hormone signaling, ultimately leading to reduced sperm quality, impaired spermatogenesis, and decreased testosterone levels.

Microplastic and Nanoplastic Interactions with Plant Species: Trends, Meta-Analysis, and Perspectives

This meta-analysis examines how microplastics and nanoplastics interact with plants, finding effects on germination, growth, and nutrient absorption. The findings raise concerns for human health because crops grown in microplastic-contaminated soil may take up these particles, creating another pathway for microplastics to enter our diet.

Analytical challenges in detecting microplastics and nanoplastics in soil-plant systems

This systematic review found that no universal, efficient, or cost-effective analytical method exists for detecting microplastics and nanoplastics in soil and plant samples, identifying this as the primary barrier to understanding plastic contamination in food systems. Current techniques like Py-GC/MS and vibrational spectroscopy each have significant limitations, especially for the smallest nanoplastic fractions that may pose the greatest health risks.

Meta-analysis of the relationship between internal microplastic and health outcomes

Tiny trouble: microplastics, nanoplastics, and their heartfelt impact on cardiovascular health

This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human heart tissue, arterial plaques, and blood, and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lab studies show these particles can damage blood vessel walls, disrupt cholesterol processing, trigger inflammation, and promote blood clot formation, raising serious concerns about heart health.

Adolescent exposure to micro/nanoplastics induces cognitive impairments in mice with neuronal morphological damage and multi-omic alterations

Adolescent mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed significant memory and learning problems, along with neuron loss and reduced new brain cell growth in the hippocampus. The nanoplastics also disrupted gut bacteria and brain chemistry, with strong links found between gut microbiome changes and brain metabolic disruption, suggesting that plastic exposure during youth may impair brain development through the gut-brain connection.

Microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: Detection, source tracing, and sustainable management strategies

This review paper summarizes what we know about microplastics in water environments, including how they spread, how to detect them, and how to manage the problem. It highlights that microplastics can carry toxic substances and calls for stronger global policies and new cleanup methods like biodegradation to protect ecosystems and human health.

Degradation efficiency of biodegradable plastics in subtropical open-air and marine environments: Implications for plastic pollution

Researchers tested several types of biodegradable plastics in real outdoor and ocean environments in Hong Kong and found that most failed to break down significantly over the study period. This means biodegradable plastics marketed as eco-friendly alternatives can still fragment into microplastics that persist in the environment and potentially enter the food chain, posing similar risks to conventional plastics.

Polystyrene microplastics induce size-dependent multi-organ damage in mice: Insights into gut microbiota and fecal metabolites

A mouse study found that microplastics of different sizes cause damage to multiple organs, but in different ways. Smaller particles (0.5 micrometers) spread more widely through the body and caused more inflammation in the spleen, kidneys, heart, lungs, and liver, while larger particles (5 micrometers) caused worse gut damage and disrupted gut bacteria linked to brain inflammation. This suggests that the size of microplastics we are exposed to matters for which organs are most affected.

On the use of deep learning for phase recovery

Researchers reviewed how deep learning — a type of artificial intelligence — can recover phase information from light, which is typically lost when cameras capture images, enabling sharper microscopy and better materials analysis. These advances improve the tools scientists use to study tiny particles, including microplastics, at very fine scales.

Soil microplastics pollution in agriculture

Assessing the combined impacts of microplastics and nickel oxide nanomaterials on soybean growth and nitrogen fixation potential

This study tested how polystyrene microplastics and nickel oxide nanoparticles affect soybean growth and nitrogen fixation in soil. Microplastics alone reduced photosynthesis, plant hormones, and the beneficial root bacteria that help plants capture nitrogen from the air. While this is a plant and soil study, it demonstrates how microplastics can disrupt agricultural ecosystems that humans depend on for food production.

Which Micropollutants in Water Environments Deserve More Attention Globally?

This review analyzed over 80 studies to determine which chemical micropollutants in water deserve the most attention for cleanup efforts worldwide. Using risk-based methods, researchers identified hundreds of compounds from pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals that pose risks to aquatic life and human health. While not focused on microplastics directly, the findings are relevant because microplastics can absorb and concentrate many of these same chemicals, potentially increasing human exposure through contaminated water.

Uptake and Accumulation of Nano/Microplastics in Plants: A Critical Review

This review summarizes the latest research on how microplastics and nanoplastics are taken up by food crops through roots and leaves. Nanoplastics can penetrate plant cell walls more easily than larger microplastics, and the water-pulling force of transpiration is the main driver moving particles up through the plant. These findings are important for food safety because they confirm that plastic particles in contaminated soil can end up inside the fruits and vegetables people eat.

Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond

This review examines the health and safety risks of airborne soil dust across the Americas, including its role in carrying heavy metals, pathogens, and microplastics. Dust exposure is linked to asthma, allergies, fungal infections, and premature death, with microplastics now recognized as one of the contaminants transported by wind-blown dust. The findings highlight that airborne dust is an underappreciated pathway for microplastic exposure, especially in dusty regions.

Microplastic pollution in Pearl River networks: Characteristic, potential sources, and migration pathways

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across the Pearl River Basin in China, one of the country's largest river systems, and found microplastics in every water sample at an average of about 1,093 particles per liter. Population density and rainwater runoff were the main factors driving contamination levels, with rainfall washing plastics from land into the river. Since the Pearl River supplies water for millions of people, these findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through drinking water sources.

Ostracoda (Crustacea) as indicators of anthropogenic impacts – A review

This review examines how ostracods, tiny crustaceans found in lakes, rivers, and oceans, can serve as living indicators of water pollution from human activities including heavy metals, pesticides, and nutrient runoff. The authors note that ostracods have barely been studied in relation to microplastic contamination, presenting an opportunity for future research. Since these organisms are sensitive to water quality changes, they could become useful biological tools for monitoring microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

Micro- and nanoplastics: Contamination routes of food products and critical interpretation of detection strategies

This review evaluates current methods for detecting micro and nanoplastics in food and beverages, from sample preparation to chemical identification. The authors highlight significant challenges including detection sensitivity limits, interference from food matrices, and a lack of standardized protocols. Better analytical tools are needed to accurately assess how much microplastic contamination people are actually consuming.

Co-exposure to tire wear particles and nickel inhibits mung bean yield by reducing nutrient uptake

Researchers grew mung bean plants for a full lifecycle in soil contaminated with tire wear particles and nickel, finding that tire particles alone reduced crop yields by up to 52%. When combined with high levels of nickel, a heavy metal, yields dropped by as much as 88%. This study shows that tire-derived microplastics in agricultural soil can significantly reduce food production and, when mixed with other pollutants, the damage is far worse than either contaminant alone.

Fate and Effects of Macro- and Microplastics in Coastal Wetlands

Researchers compiled data from 112 studies to evaluate how macro- and microplastics accumulate in and affect coastal wetlands including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. They found that plastic concentrations in wetland sediments and marine animals were roughly 200 times higher than in the water column, indicating these ecosystems act as major plastic sinks. The study warns that plastic accumulation can alter sediment properties, harm wildlife, and disrupt the carbon storage function of these critical habitats.