Papers

Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities

This review examines how rural communities around the world are both contributors to and victims of plastic pollution, with agricultural plastic waste being a major source of microplastics in farmland. Poor waste management in rural areas, especially in low- and middle-income countries, leads to plastic contamination of soil, water, and the food supply. The authors argue that involving rural communities in circular economy solutions is essential for reducing plastic pollution and protecting public health.

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.

Plastics derived from disposable greenhouse plastic films and irrigation pipes in agricultural soils: a case study from Turkey

Researchers investigated plastic contamination in agricultural soils in Turkey where disposable greenhouse films and irrigation pipes are used. They found an average of 16.5 plastic pieces per kilogram of soil, with about 42% being microplastics, and evidence indicates that removing used plastics after the growing season significantly reduces soil contamination.

The transport and fate of microplastic fibres in the Antarctic: The role of multiple global processes

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across air, seawater, and sediment samples in the Antarctic Weddell Sea and identified 47 distinct microplastic categories, predominantly fibers. The overlap of fiber types across different sample media suggests that microplastics reach Antarctica through multiple transportation pathways, including atmospheric and oceanic currents. The study demonstrates that even one of the most remote regions on Earth is affected by diffuse microplastic pollution from global sources.

The effects of polyester microfibres on the development and seed yield of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

Researchers investigated how polyester microfibres, a prevalent type of microplastic in agricultural soils, affect the growth and seed yield of white mustard plants. They found that microfibre contamination altered plant development in ways that could have implications for crop productivity. The study highlights the importance of understanding how microplastic accumulation in farmland may affect the economic yield of food crops.

A new screening framework to support the identification of exogenous particles and suspect microplastics in situ in pathological tissue samples

Researchers developed a screening framework to detect exogenous particles including microplastics within human ileal tissue sections, using human tissue samples as proof of concept to investigate whether and how particles can translocate into the subepithelial mucosa.

Are we contaminating our samples? A preliminary study to investigate procedural contamination during field sampling and processing for microplastic and anthropogenic microparticles

A pilot study investigated procedural contamination during field sampling and laboratory processing of water samples for microplastics, finding that synthetic clothing and air exposure during processing introduced measurable levels of synthetic fibers into samples, arguing for standardized contamination controls.

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.

Microplastics Derived From Disposable Greenhouse Plastic Films and Irrigation Pipes: A Case Study From Turkey

Researchers found an average of 11.13 microplastics/kg in agricultural soils in Turkey's Adana region where disposable greenhouse plastic films and irrigation pipes are used, with one site reaching 32 microplastics/kg, linking agricultural plastic inputs directly to soil microplastic contamination.

The Utility of Polarized Light Microscopy in Finding Microplastics and Other Anthropogenic Particles in Samples of Air and Water

Quantification is more than counting: Actions required to accurately quantify and report isolated marine microplastics

This study developed standardized guidelines for quantifying microplastics collected by neuston nets in the ocean, identifying key sources of error in current practices. Standardized quantification methods are essential for generating data that can be reliably compared across different research groups.

Microplastic and anthropogenic microfiber pollution in the surface waters of the East River and Long Island Sound, USA

The application of tape lifting for microplastic pollution monitoring

Researchers adapted a forensic technique — using adhesive tape to lift particles off filter papers — as a faster, more reliable way to collect and preserve microplastics for analysis, achieving a mean recovery rate of 96.4%. The tape-based approach keeps particles securely in place for multiple types of testing, including chemical identification and size measurement, reducing the risk of sample loss or contamination.

Deep-sea anthropogenic macrodebris harbours rich and diverse communities of bacteria and archaea

Diverse communities of bacteria and archaea were found living on anthropogenic debris (including plastics) in the deep sea, suggesting that human waste is creating new microbial habitats in the ocean's most remote regions. These plastic-associated microbial communities may spread non-native organisms to new deep-sea locations.

Did We Detect All the Microplastics? The Value of Including Polarized Light Microscopy in the Search Process

The Design, Development and Pilot Study of a Marine Ecological Simulation for Education of Environmental Changes on Marine Life

How your car sheds microplastics into the ocean thousands of miles away