Papers

Interactions between microplastics and insects in terrestrial ecosystems—A systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis with phylogenetic control found that microplastic exposure impairs key biological traits of insects, primarily behavior and reproduction, with effects varying by polymer type and particle size. Field evidence confirmed that insects ingest and transfer microplastics along food chains, and also contribute to bio-fragmentation of larger plastic debris into smaller particles.

Laboratory simulation of microplastics weathering and its adsorption behaviors in an aqueous environment: A systematic review

UV photo-oxidation and physical abrasion are the most practical laboratory methods for simulating microplastic weathering; aging increases surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups, altering pollutant adsorption behavior and potentially increasing environmental risks.

Is microplastic an oxidative stressor? Evidence from a meta-analysis on bivalves

Microplastics induce time-dependent oxidative stress in bivalves, with antioxidant enzymes (GPx, GST, SOD) increasing during short-term exposure but declining after long-term exposure, while glutathione levels and catalase activity remained elevated throughout and may serve as reliable biomarkers of sublethal microplastic effects.

Shrimp industry in China: overview of the trends in the production, imports and exports during the last two decades, challenges, and outlook

This review examines China's shrimp farming industry over the past two decades, highlighting its rapid growth and the environmental challenges associated with intensified production. While not focused on microplastics directly, aquaculture is a known source of microplastic contamination in seafood, making sustainable shrimp farming practices important for reducing human dietary exposure to these particles.

The bridging role of soil organic carbon in regulating bacterial community by microplastic pollution: Evidence from different microplastic additions

This study tested how three common microplastics -- polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC -- affect soil health when present at realistic concentrations. All three types changed the soil's chemistry and shifted the balance of bacterial communities, which matters because these same soil changes can affect the crops we grow and the food chain that ultimately impacts human health.

Reproductive Effects of Phthalates and Microplastics on Marine Mussels Based on Adverse Outcome Pathway

Researchers found that microplastics and the chemical plasticizer DEHP that leaches from them work together to disrupt reproductive function in female mussels by interfering with estrogen signaling and reducing hormone levels. While this study focused on marine mussels, DEHP is a known endocrine disruptor in humans as well, and the findings illustrate how microplastics can release harmful chemicals that affect hormone systems.

Multi-omics association pattern between gut microbiota and host metabolism of a filter-feeding fish in situ exposed to microplastics

Scientists exposed filter-feeding fish to environmentally realistic levels of microplastics and found that the particles reshaped gut bacteria communities, which in turn altered the fish's liver metabolism through changes in amino acid processing. This gut-microbiome-to-organ connection matters because it shows microplastics may affect human health not just through direct toxicity but by disrupting the beneficial bacteria in our digestive systems.

Combined effects of norfloxacin and polystyrene nanoparticles on the oxidative stress and gut health of the juvenile horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus

Researchers exposed juvenile horseshoe crabs to an antibiotic (norfloxacin) and polystyrene nanoparticles, finding that both pollutants disrupted gut microbiota composition and suppressed key metabolic pathways in the microbiome, while antioxidant defenses eventually compensated for initial oxidative stress after extended exposure.

Physiological response of mussel to rayon microfibers and PCB's exposure: Overlooked semi-synthetic micropollutant?

Researchers found that rayon microfibers — semi-synthetic plastic-like fibers common in marine environments — made the toxic effects of PCBs (a type of industrial chemical pollutant) worse in mussels, damaging their immune and digestive systems and disrupting their gut bacteria in ways that didn't fully recover. This suggests rayon fibers deserve the same regulatory attention as conventional microplastics.

Characteristics and risks of microplastic contamination in aquaculture ponds near the Yangtze Estuary, China

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in aquaculture ponds near the Yangtze River in China, finding an average of 36 particles per liter in water and 272 particles per kilogram in sediment. Polyethylene was the most common plastic type, and crab and prawn ponds had higher contamination than fish ponds. Since farmed seafood is a major food source, this contamination could be a pathway for microplastics to reach human diets.

Differential physiological response of marine and freshwater microalgae to polystyrene microplastics

Researchers compared how polystyrene microplastics affect marine versus freshwater algae species and found that freshwater algae were more severely harmed. While both types showed reduced photosynthesis and increased stress responses, marine algae recovered better over time, possibly due to differences in their cell membranes and ability to handle oxidative damage. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains, greater damage to freshwater species could have cascading effects on the ecosystems that supply human drinking water and freshwater fish.

The physiological effect of polystyrene nanoplastic particles on fish and human fibroblasts

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on skin cells from both zebrafish and humans, finding that the particles were taken up by all cell types and slowed down cell growth and wound healing in a size- and concentration-dependent manner. Human skin cells were more sensitive than fish cells, with larger particles at higher concentrations causing the greatest inhibition of cell movement. These results suggest that nanoplastics contacting human skin could potentially interfere with normal skin repair processes.

Bio-based microplastic polylactic acid exerts the similar toxic effects to traditional petroleum-based microplastic polystyrene in mussels

Researchers exposed mussels to bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics and traditional polystyrene microplastics and found that both caused similar levels of harm, including oxidative stress, immune disruption, and impaired feeding and respiration. PLA is often promoted as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics, but this study shows it poses comparable ecological risks once it breaks down into microplastics in the ocean. The findings suggest that switching to biodegradable plastics alone will not solve the marine microplastic problem.

Assessment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Symptoms and Gut–Liver Axis Status in Zebrafish after Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics and Oxytetracycline, Alone and in Combination

This zebrafish study found that exposure to polystyrene microplastics combined with the antibiotic oxytetracycline disrupted the gut-liver axis and produced symptoms similar to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The combination of these two common environmental contaminants was more harmful than either one alone. This research suggests that microplastics may interact with other pollutants in the environment to worsen liver health outcomes.

Occurrence and distribution characteristics of aged microplastics in the surface water, sediment, and crabs of the aquaculture pond in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in crab aquaculture ponds in China, finding particles in the water, sediment, and crab tissues. The crabs' intestines contained the most microplastics, followed by gills and liver, and contamination levels increased with body weight. Since these crabs are raised for human consumption, the study shows that farmed seafood can be a direct source of microplastic exposure for people.

H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress Responses in Eriocheir sinensis: Antioxidant Defense and Immune Gene Expression Dynamics

This study examined how Chinese mitten crabs respond to oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide, finding that their antioxidant defenses and immune gene activity initially ramp up but then collapse under prolonged or high-dose exposure. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because microplastics are known to trigger similar oxidative stress in aquatic organisms, and this research helps map the biological pathways involved.

Microplastic pollution in commercially important edible marine bivalves: A comprehensive review

This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in edible shellfish like mussels, clams, and oysters, which accumulate high levels of plastic particles in their tissues. Because bivalves are eaten whole including their digestive systems, they are a direct pathway for microplastics to enter the human body. While microplastics do not appear to kill shellfish outright, they can harm their immune systems and reproduction, potentially affecting both shellfish populations and human consumers.

Size-dependent effects of plastic particles on antioxidant and immune responses of the thick-shelled mussel Mytilus coruscus

Mussels exposed to plastic particles ranging from 70 nanometers to 100 micrometers showed that smaller particles caused more severe damage, including higher oxidative stress and greater immune system suppression. After 30 days of exposure, the mussels' immune cells had reduced ability to fight off threats through phagocytosis (the process of engulfing invaders). A seven-day recovery period reversed some effects, but the study highlights how chronic nanoplastic exposure may weaken marine organisms' defenses.

Exposure to Polypropylene Microplastics via Oral Ingestion Induces Colonic Apoptosis and Intestinal Barrier Damage through Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Mice

Researchers gave mice polypropylene microplastics (smaller than 10 micrometers) by mouth for 28 days and found significant damage to the colon, including inflammation, destruction of the gut barrier, and increased cell death. The smaller particles caused more severe damage than larger ones, triggering an inflammatory pathway that broke down the protective lining of the intestine. This is one of the first studies on polypropylene, the most common plastic found in human tissue, showing it can damage the gut at sizes small enough to be absorbed by the body.

Combined effects of polyamide microplastics and the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus on the immune parameters of Mytilus coruscus

When mussels were exposed to nylon microplastics along with harmful Vibrio bacteria, they suffered gill damage, increased oxidative stress, and weakened immune defenses compared to either stressor alone. The combined exposure suppressed key immune enzymes that mussels need to fight infection. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, this study raises concerns that microplastic-contaminated shellfish could carry more pathogens and be less safe to eat.

Microplastic accumulation in four commercial fish from fish market: Implications for human dietary risk assessment

The bio–accumulation and –magnification of microplastics under predator–prey isotopic relationships

Using stable isotope analysis to trace feeding relationships, researchers found that microplastics biomagnify (increase in concentration) as they move up the food chain in two commercially important fish species from coastal China. Microplastics smaller than 3 millimeters showed the strongest biomagnification effect. The study suggests that people who eat fish from contaminated waters may be consuming higher concentrations of microplastics than what exists in the surrounding environment.

Single and combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on the cadmium accumulation, antioxidant defence and innate immunity of the discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus)

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics interact with cadmium toxicity in discus fish and found that the presence of microplastics actually reduced cadmium accumulation in the fish's body. However, the microplastics independently caused oxidative stress and altered immune responses. The study reveals that the combined effects of microplastics and heavy metals on aquatic organisms are complex and do not simply add together.

Toxic mechanisms of nanoplastics exposure at environmental concentrations on juvenile red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): From multiple perspectives

Researchers exposed juvenile red swamp crayfish to nanoplastics at concentrations found in the environment and observed stunted growth, oxidative stress, liver and gill damage, and changes in gene activity. Different concentrations triggered different toxic pathways, including immune disruption and metabolic problems. Since crayfish are a widely consumed freshwater species, these findings raise concerns about nanoplastic contamination in the food supply.