Papers

Toxicity of methylmercury in aquatic organisms and interaction with environmental factors and coexisting pollutants: A review

This review examines how methylmercury, a toxic form of mercury found in fish, interacts with environmental factors including microplastics in aquatic ecosystems. The findings show that microplastics can alter how mercury accumulates in aquatic organisms, potentially changing the level of mercury contamination in seafood that people eat.

Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on liver health: Current understanding and future research directions

This review summarizes what scientists know about how micro- and nanoplastics affect the liver, which is one of the first organs exposed because it processes everything absorbed from the gut. The particles trigger oxidative stress, disrupt energy metabolism, cause cell death, and promote inflammation, and may contribute to conditions like fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. The paper also highlights how plastics can disturb the gut microbiome, which communicates with the liver through the gut-liver axis and may amplify liver damage.

Biodegradable microplastics interaction with pollutants and their potential toxicity for aquatic biota: a review

Marine microplastics as vectors of major ocean pollutants and its hazards to the marine ecosystem and humans

Researchers reviewed how microplastics in the ocean act as "hitchhikers" for other pollutants — absorbing and carrying heavy metals, pesticides, and chemicals into marine food webs and ultimately toward humans. While direct proof of microplastic harm to humans is still limited, the accumulated evidence of toxic chemical transport through seafood and drinking water raises serious concern.

Pathological and biochemical effects of polyethylene microplastic exposure in hydrothermal vent crab, Xenograpsus testudinatus

Researchers exposed hydrothermal vent crabs, which are adapted to extreme environments, to polyethylene microplastics and found that even these resilient animals suffered significant organ damage and oxidative stress. Higher microplastic concentrations caused severe damage to the liver-like organ and gills, and overwhelmed the crabs' antioxidant defenses. The finding that even organisms built to survive harsh conditions are vulnerable to microplastics underscores how pervasive the threat is to marine life.

Acute and multigenerational toxicity of polylactic acid microplastics on a copepod bioindicator

The comparative toxicity of biobased, modified biobased, biodegradable, and petrochemical-based microplastics on the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis

This study compared the toxicity of four types of microplastics, including biodegradable and biobased alternatives, on a small aquatic organism. All microplastic types, regardless of whether they were "eco-friendly" or petroleum-based, caused similar levels of reproductive decline. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable and biobased plastics are safer for the environment, suggesting they may pose comparable ecological risks as they break down.

Microplastics interactions and transformations during in vitro digestion with milk

This study simulated human digestion to see how microplastics change as they pass through the stomach and intestines, with and without milk. Microplastics digested with milk showed 15-25% more clumping due to milk proteins coating the plastic surfaces, and the digestive process caused chemicals to leach from the plastics. The findings suggest that microplastics in food may become more biologically active during digestion, potentially increasing their ability to interact with the body.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Health Concerning Cellular Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Pathways, and Global Mitigation Strategies

This review synthesizes current knowledge on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular damage in the human body, covering mechanisms like oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and disruption of cell signaling pathways. Researchers note that exposure occurs through multiple routes including ingestion and inhalation, allowing particles to reach organs throughout the body. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding long-term and low-dose exposure effects that are most relevant to everyday human contact with these particles.

Risk-based integrated framework for evaluating effects of microplastics to aquatic ecosystems and human health

Researchers developed an integrated risk assessment framework to evaluate how microplastics in water and seafood affect both aquatic ecosystems and human health. They studied microplastic levels in surface water and wild oysters from estuaries in Taiwan and assessed ecological risk, oyster mortality, human intake exposure, and potential liver damage. The study provides a more comprehensive approach to understanding the full chain of risks from microplastic pollution, from waterways to the dinner table.

Toxicity comparison of polylactic acid and polyethylene microplastics co-exposed with methylmercury on Daphnia magna

Researchers compared the toxicity of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics with conventional polyethylene microplastics, both alone and in combination with methylmercury, on water fleas. The biodegradable microplastics caused greater harm, significantly reducing survival and reproduction while also increasing mercury accumulation in the organisms. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment, suggesting they may actually enhance the toxicity of co-occurring pollutants.

Evaluation of antibiofilm activity of metal oxides nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes coated styrofoam on the bacterium Jeotgalicoccus huakuii

Researchers tested whether coating styrofoam microplastics with metal oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes could prevent bacterial biofilm formation on plastic surfaces. They found that these coatings significantly reduced biofilm growth by the bacterium Jeotgalicoccus huakuii, especially under light exposure. The findings suggest that nanomaterial coatings could potentially be used to limit harmful bacterial colonization on microplastic debris in the environment.

Herbal nanoemulsions in cosmetic science: A comprehensive review of design, preparation, formulation, and characterization

This review provides an overview of herbal nanoemulsion formulations used in cosmetics, covering how they are designed, produced, and characterized for delivering plant-based active ingredients through the skin. Researchers found that nanoemulsion technology improves the solubility and stability of natural compounds while offering better skin penetration than conventional formulations. The study highlights nanoemulsions as a promising, more natural alternative for cosmetic product delivery.

Nano- and microplastics trigger secretion of protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances from phytoplankton

Researchers exposed four marine phytoplankton species to polystyrene nano- and microplastics and found that the smallest particles (55 nm nanoplastics) caused the most stress, reducing cell survival and altering the composition of secreted extracellular substances. The stressed phytoplankton produced protein-rich exopolymeric substances that facilitated the formation of aggregates around the plastic particles. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution can change how marine microorganisms interact with their environment, affecting both plastic fate and microbial ecology.

Mesoplastic and Microplastic Pollution in the Soil of Small-Scale Agricultural Areas in Iligan, Mindanao, Philippines

Researchers investigated plastic pollution in agricultural soils in the Philippines and found both mesoplastics and microplastics at all sampling sites. Mesoplastics were more prevalent than microplastics, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the dominant plastic types. Low-elevation farming areas had higher contamination levels, suggesting that factors like water runoff and proximity to populated areas contribute to plastic accumulation in agricultural soil.

Lactobacillus brevis GKJOY Supplementation Ameliorates Oxidative Stress and Reproductive Dysfunction in Male Rats with Polystyrene Microplastics-Induced Reproductive Toxicity

Researchers investigated whether the probiotic Lactobacillus brevis GKJOY could protect against reproductive damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in male rats. The study found that probiotic supplementation helped reduce oxidative stress and improved reproductive function in microplastic-exposed animals, suggesting that certain probiotics may offer protective benefits against microplastic-related reproductive toxicity.

Microplastics in the air of Metro Manila, Philippines: Diurnal and seasonal dynamics and potential health risk

Researchers measured suspended atmospheric microplastics in Metro Manila, Philippines across both dry and wet seasons and found higher concentrations during the dry season, with levels typically peaking during daytime hours. Temperature was positively associated with airborne microplastic levels, while humidity and rainfall helped reduce concentrations. The study estimates that people in the area could inhale more than 130 microplastic particles per month during the dry season, highlighting the need to include microplastics in air quality monitoring.

Solution or Pollution? A paradigm shifts in understanding the fate and threats of biodegradable plastics in the marine environment

This review challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are inherently eco-friendly by examining their degradation behavior in marine environments. Researchers found that biodegradable plastics often require specific conditions to break down and can themselves become sources of microplastic pollution when those conditions are not met. The study highlights a significant research gap in understanding the fate of biodegradable nano- and pico-plastics in marine ecosystems.

Therapeutic Benefits of Nano-Echinacea Extract on Reproductive Injury Induced by Polystyrene Plastic Materials in Rat Model via Regulating Gut–Brain Axis

Researchers investigated whether nano-formulated Echinacea extract could protect against reproductive damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in a rat model. The study found that the nano-Echinacea treatment provided therapeutic benefits against nanoplastic-induced reproductive injury by modulating the gut-brain axis, suggesting that natural plant-based interventions may help counteract some harmful effects of plastic particle exposure.

Microplastic mitigation in urban stormwater using green infrastructure: a review

Adverse effects of environmentally relevant microplastics on in vivo endpoints, oxidative stress, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and multixenobiotic resistance system in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Researchers compared the toxicological effects of different types of microplastics on marine rotifers, including fossil fuel-based, bio-based, and biodegradable varieties. The study found that all microplastic types reduced reproductive output and lifespan at environmentally relevant concentrations, with each type triggering distinct patterns of oxidative stress and cellular defense responses, highlighting ecological risks from both conventional and alternative plastics.

Microplastics in seawater and two sides of the Taiwan Strait: Reflection of the social-economic development

Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in surface seawater and coastal sediments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, finding differences in contamination levels that reflected contrasting levels of industrialization and urban development on the Chinese mainland versus Taiwan sides.

Bacterial community responses of the hydrothermal vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus fed on microplastics

This study examined how polyethylene microplastic contamination affects the gut bacterial communities of the hydrothermal vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus over a 7-day feeding exposure. Researchers found that different concentrations of microplastics altered the microbial community composition in the crabs, suggesting that microplastic ingestion can disrupt gut microbiome balance in marine organisms.

Microplastic and nanoplastic exposure and risk of diabetes mellitus

This editorial highlights emerging evidence linking microplastic and nanoplastic exposure to potential risks for diabetes mellitus. Researchers note that these particles can cause DNA damage, oxidative stress, and cytotoxicity, with known impacts on the liver and respiratory system, and growing concern about effects on metabolic processes. The study calls attention to the risk of co-exposure to chemical contaminants adsorbed onto microplastics, which may compound the potential health effects.