Papers

Impact of microplastic contamination derived from human activities on anuran species

Marine Natural Products: A Source of Novel Anticancer Drugs

This review explores marine natural products as potential sources for new anticancer drugs, highlighting compounds derived from marine plants, algae, bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates. Researchers found that marine organisms produce diverse bioactive metabolites with unique chemical structures that show promise against cancer cells. The study underscores the ocean as a largely untapped reservoir of compounds that could lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

Effects of microplastics in freshwater fishes health and the implications for human health

This review examines how microplastics affect the health of freshwater fish, which are a major protein source for billions of people. Fish ingest microplastics that accumulate in their guts, gills, and tissues, leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted growth. Since microplastics in fish tissue can transfer to humans through the food chain, this is relevant to both ecosystem and human health.

First Report on Microplastics Quantification in Poultry Chicken and Potential Human Health Risks in Pakistan

Researchers in Pakistan found microplastics in the crops and gizzards of poultry chickens from eight different farms, identifying over 1,200 particles across 24 samples. Fibers were the most common type, likely coming from plastic feed bags and the farm environment. Since chicken is a major protein source, this study reveals another pathway through which microplastics may enter the human diet.

Hazard assessment of microplastics and heavy metals contamination in Levant frogs (Pelophylax bedriagae): A bioindicator in Western Iran

Scientists examined frogs from 16 locations in western Iran and found microplastics and heavy metals in their digestive tracts, confirming these animals are useful indicators of environmental contamination. Fibers were the most common microplastic type found, mainly from polyethylene and polypropylene. The study shows that microplastic pollution has reached freshwater habitats in Iran and is being ingested by amphibians that are part of broader food webs.

The beneficial effect of Allium Cepa bulb extract on reproduction of rats; A two-generation study on fecundity and sex hormones

This two-generation study in rats examined whether onion (Allium cepa) extract could improve reproductive performance. Researchers found that the extract, which is rich in antioxidant compounds, had beneficial effects on sex hormone levels and fertility outcomes across two successive generations, suggesting potential reproductive health benefits from this commonly consumed vegetable.

Microplastics in water, sediments, and fish at Alpine River, originating from the Hindu Kush Mountain, Pakistan: implications for conservation

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in water, sediments, and fish from the Swat River in Pakistan, originating from the Hindu Kush Mountains. The study found microplastics present across all sample types, even in this relatively remote mountain river system, with concentrations linked to municipal and industrial discharges along the river.

Advanced Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Petroleum-Derived Contaminants in the Environment

This review covers advanced analytical techniques for detecting petroleum-derived contaminants in the environment, including methods like two-dimensional gas chromatography and synchrotron-based spectroscopy. These tools help researchers identify complex mixtures of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds in environmental samples with greater precision than traditional methods.

Microplastic Quantification in Aquatic Birds: Biomonitoring the Environmental Health of the Panjkora River Freshwater Ecosystem in Pakistan

Researchers raised ducks on the banks of the Panjkora River in Pakistan for over four months to assess microplastic contamination in a freshwater ecosystem through biomonitoring. They found microplastics present in the gastrointestinal tracts of all sampled birds, with fibers and fragments being the most common types, primarily composed of polyethylene and polypropylene. The study demonstrates that aquatic birds can serve as effective biological indicators of microplastic pollution levels in river systems.

Biological Magnification of Microplastics: A Look at the Induced Reproductive Toxicity from Simple Invertebrates to Complex Vertebrates

This review looks at how microplastics accumulate and magnify through the food chain, from simple invertebrates to complex vertebrates, with a particular focus on reproductive harm. Researchers found evidence that microplastic exposure can impair fertility, embryo development, and offspring survival across a wide range of species. The study highlights reproduction as a critical vulnerability point for wildlife exposed to microplastic pollution.

Microplastics assessment in Arabian Sea fishes: accumulation, characterization, and method development

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in Arabian Sea fish species, developing optimized digestion protocols and characterizing polymer types to trace contamination sources, finding widespread microplastic ingestion across multiple commercially important fish species.

Microplastic contamination from surface waters and commercially valuable fishes of Karachi Coast, Pakistan

Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination in surface waters and gastrointestinal tracts of 15 commercial fish species from Karachi coast, Pakistan, with fibers being the dominant type and higher concentrations near the harbor.

Turning waste into opportunity: Advancing circular and equitable waste management

This chapter examines global waste management challenges, reviewing circular economy frameworks, equity considerations, and the environmental and social consequences of inadequate waste handling, with emphasis on plastic waste and its downstream microplastic effects.

A Review Notes on Role, Behavior, Risk Assessment Tools, and Adverse Outcomes of Metal and Microplastic Pollution in Benthic Sea Food Ecosystem

Microplastics in Table Salts: Sources, Abundance, Types, and Consumption– A Review

This global review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination in table salts, examining sources, abundance, particle types, and estimated human consumption, finding that sea salts tend to have higher microplastic loads than rock or lake salts.

Exploring microplastic pollution in the pristine Ghar-e-Tangi cave: First evidence from Pakistan’s subterranean ecosystem

This study provided the first evidence of microplastic contamination in the sediments of Ghar-e-Tangi, a remote cave in Balochistan, Pakistan, with microplastics detected at all three sampling sites along an entrance-to-interior gradient, suggesting atmospheric deposition as a key transport pathway into subterranean ecosystems.

Navigating towards a plastic-free future: A holistic review of microplastic accumulation and management for land and environmental sustainability

This holistic review examines microplastic accumulation in freshwater and marine ecosystems and consumption by aquatic life, evaluating bioremediation technologies, circular economy strategies, and plastic waste reduction approaches needed to move toward a plastic-free future.

Microplastic contamination in commercially available table salts of Pakistan

Preliminary assessment of microplastic in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere region of mangrove at four locations along Karachi coast, Pakistan

Researchers assessed microplastic distribution in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere mangrove sediments at four sites along the Karachi coast, finding 14,960 particles with slightly higher counts in non-rhizosphere zones. Beads were the most common particle type, and FTIR confirmed polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant polymers.

Insights into the Role of Natural Products in the Control of the Honey Bee Gut Parasite (Nosema spp.)

This review examined the potential of natural products including plant extracts, essential oils, and organic acids as alternatives to pharmaceutical treatments against the honey bee gut parasite Nosema spp. Several natural compounds showed anti-Nosema activity in laboratory studies, but field efficacy and safe application protocols remain incompletely characterized.

The potential of zeolite nanocomposites in removing microplastics, ammonia, and trace metals from wastewater and their role in phytoremediation

This review examined zeolite nanocomposites -- combining metals, metal oxides, carbon materials, and polymers -- as multifunctional materials for simultaneously removing microplastics, ammonia, and trace metals from wastewater, as well as their potential in phytoremediation. The authors highlight zeolite nanocomposites as a versatile next-generation water treatment material.

Shotgun Metagenomic insights into the Plastisphere microbiome: Unveiling potential for clinical and industrial enzymes production along with plastic degradation

Researchers used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to analyze microbial communities (plastisphere) colonizing plastic debris in soil and aquatic environments, finding that 54% of bacteria had plastic-degrading potential and that the plastisphere also harbored clinically relevant and industrially useful enzymes. The findings suggest the plastisphere is a reservoir of both plastic-degrading and biotechnologically valuable microorganisms.

Assessment of Chlorophyll Content in Leaves of Crops and Orchards Based on SPAD, Multispectral, and Hyperspectral Techniques

This paper is not about microplastic pollution. It uses satellite imagery, spectrophotometry, and SPAD meters to assess chlorophyll content in crops and orchards in Sindh, Pakistan, demonstrating that remote sensing can reliably monitor agricultural crop health.

Preliminary Study on Abundance of Microplastic in Sediments and Water Samples Along the Coast of Pakistan (Sindh and Balochistan)-Northern Arabian Sea

Researchers found high levels of microplastic contamination along 25 locations on Pakistan's Arabian Sea coastline, with mean concentrations of 582 particles/L in seawater and 987 particles/kg in sediment, and fibers comprising up to 99% of all detected microplastics.