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Papers
122 resultsShowing papers from University of Manchester
ClearNanonet trapping for effective removal of nanoplastics by iron coagulation
Scientists developed a new iron-based water treatment method that creates tiny net-like structures capable of trapping and removing nanoplastics that conventional water treatment cannot filter out. This approach works effectively in real-world water samples and could be adopted by existing water treatment plants, offering a practical way to reduce nanoplastic contamination in drinking water.
Upcycling of polyethylene to gasoline through a self-supplied hydrogen strategy in a layered self-pillared zeolite
Researchers developed a special zeolite material (a porous mineral catalyst) that converts polyethylene plastic waste into high-quality gasoline with over 80% yield, without needing expensive metals or added hydrogen. This breakthrough offers a practical pathway for recycling one of the most common plastics into usable fuel, potentially reducing plastic waste and reliance on fossil fuel extraction.
Potential impacts of microplastic pollution on soil–water–plant dynamics
Researchers tested how different shapes and sizes of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) microplastics affect a soil's ability to hold water, finding that fragment-shaped microplastics increased water retention by up to 36% — a significant change that could alter water availability for crops and affect agricultural planning in contaminated soils.
Leaving a plastic legacy: Current and future scenarios for mismanaged plastic waste in rivers
Researchers modeled how mismanaged plastic waste enters and accumulates in river systems worldwide, estimating that about 0.8 million tonnes entered rivers in 2015 alone. They found that most plastic pollution stays within river environments rather than reaching the ocean, creating a long-lasting contamination legacy in sediments. The study projects that without significant waste management improvements, plastic accumulation in rivers will continue growing for decades.
Dispersion, Accumulation, and the Ultimate Fate of Microplastics in Deep-Marine Environments: A Review and Future Directions
This review synthesizes knowledge about how microplastics are transported to and accumulate in deep-marine environments, which may serve as the ultimate sink for ocean plastic pollution. Researchers integrated sedimentological models to explain how ocean currents, density flows, and settling processes deliver microplastics to the seafloor. The study highlights that deep-sea environments, often considered pristine, are increasingly contaminated with microplastic particles.
Occurrence and human health risks of microplastics in the Bay of Bengal using Perna viridis as sentinel species
Researchers found microplastics in water, sediment, and green mussel tissues at every site tested across five locations in the Bay of Bengal. The mussels showed tissue damage including inflammation and cell death linked to microplastic accumulation, with the digestive gland carrying the highest burden. Since these mussels are consumed by local communities, the findings raise direct concerns about human microplastic exposure through seafood.
Continuing benefits of the Montreal Protocol and protection of the stratospheric ozone layer for human health and the environment
This assessment reviews the continuing health and environmental benefits of the Montreal Protocol, which protects the ozone layer. While primarily focused on UV radiation, skin cancer, and air quality, the review notes that UV light accelerates the breakdown of plastics into microplastics in the environment. The interaction between ozone protection, climate change, and plastic degradation highlights the complex relationship between atmospheric changes and microplastic pollution.
Transport and Burial of Microplastics in Deep-Marine Sediments by Turbidity Currents
Researchers used flume experiments to investigate how underwater avalanches called turbidity currents transport and bury microplastics in deep-sea sediments. They discovered that microplastic fibers become preferentially trapped between settling sand grains during deposition, even though fragments are more concentrated at the base of the flow. The study suggests that these powerful ocean currents may be responsible for distributing and burying large quantities of microplastics on the seafloor.
Distribution and translocation of micro- and nanoplastics in fish
This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics distribute and move through fish bodies, from the gut to organs like the liver, brain, and muscle tissue. Researchers found that nanoplastics are especially concerning because they can cross biological barriers, enter the bloodstream, and even pass to the next generation. The findings highlight the potential for plastic particles consumed by fish to move up the food chain to humans.
Riverine microplastics and their interaction with freshwater fish
This paper reviews how microplastics enter river systems, how they move through waterways, and the risks they pose to freshwater fish. Researchers found that fish ingest microplastics that can accumulate in organs and carry toxic chemicals absorbed from the water. The review highlights that river fish, an important food source for many communities, face growing exposure to microplastics from urban runoff, wastewater, and agricultural sources.
Seafloor microplastic hotspots controlled by deep-sea circulation
Researchers discovered that deep-sea ocean currents, not just vertical settling from the surface, play a major role in concentrating microplastics on the seafloor, creating pollution hotspots with the highest concentrations ever recorded in any seafloor setting. These thermohaline-driven bottom currents sort and accumulate microplastics in the same areas where they deliver oxygen and nutrients to deep-sea life. The findings suggest that the most biologically rich areas of the deep ocean floor are likely also the most contaminated with microplastics.
Assessment of microplastic contamination in commercially available fishes
Researchers found microplastics in every one of 32 commercially sold fish from markets in Vellore, India, recovering a total of 875 particles from their gills and digestive tracts. Fibers made up 91% of the microplastics, with polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene being the most common types. Since these are fish commonly eaten by local populations, the findings raise direct concerns about human microplastic exposure through seafood consumption.
Direct Evidence That Microplastics Are Transported to the Deep Sea by Turbidity Currents
Researchers provided the first direct field evidence that underwater sediment avalanches, called turbidity currents, transport microplastics from shallow waters into the deep sea through submarine canyons. By monitoring water flow and sampling the seafloor, they confirmed that these natural events carry significant quantities of microfibers and plastic fragments to deep ocean environments. The discovery helps explain how microplastic pollution reaches even the most remote parts of the ocean floor.
A Review of Atmospheric Micro/Nanoplastics: Insights into Source and Fate for Modelling Studies
This review synthesizes current knowledge about how micro- and nanoplastics move through the atmosphere, covering their sources, transport mechanisms, and eventual deposition. Researchers found that atmospheric transport can carry these particles over long distances quickly, making it a major pathway for global plastic pollution spread. The study identifies key knowledge gaps needed for developing accurate models of airborne microplastic behavior.
The Effectiveness of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Extraction Methods in Gram-Negative Pseudomonas putida U
Researchers evaluated different physical and chemical methods for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of bioplastic, from the bacterium Pseudomonas putida. They compared traditional solvent-based approaches with more sustainable alternatives to find cost-effective extraction techniques. The study contributes to making bioplastic production more commercially viable as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
On the vertical structure of non-buoyant plastics in turbulent transport
Researchers investigated how non-floating plastic debris moves through river-like flows and found that plastics settle in unique, complex patterns due to their irregular shapes. In low-turbulence conditions, interactions between the plastic particles and the riverbed enhanced mixing beyond what standard sediment transport models would predict. The study proposes a new equation for describing how plastics are distributed vertically in flowing water.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Organizational Justice and Project Performance: A Systematic Literature and Science Mapping Review
This review examined how artificial intelligence is being applied to organizational justice and project management, finding that while AI has advanced rapidly in many fields, its use in these specific areas remains relatively limited. The study mapped out current research trends and identified gaps that future work could address.
Spatial variability of microplastic pollution on surface of rivers in a mountain-plain transitional area: A case study in the Chin Ling-Wei River Plain, China
Researchers measured microplastic pollution in surface waters from mountain tributaries to the main stream in the Chin Ling-Wei River Plain in China. They found concentrations ranging from 2.3 to 21 items per liter, with higher levels in the main stream compared to tributaries, and 82% of particles being fragments and films. The study suggests that as rivers flow from mountains to more developed plains, microplastic pollution risk increases sharply due to more diverse land use and human activity.
Moving beyond “the” business case: How to make corporate sustainability work
This article examines the debate over whether the business case alone can drive meaningful corporate sustainability efforts. Researchers argue that neither purely voluntary corporate action nor regulation alone is sufficient, and that firms need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all business case to context-specific approaches. The study suggests that combining private-sector innovation with supportive regulatory frameworks is the most effective path toward achieving sustainability goals.
Environmental fate of microplastics in the world's third-largest river: Basin-wide investigation and microplastic community analysis
Researchers conducted a basin-wide investigation of microplastics throughout the entire Yangtze River system, sampling water, sediment, and soil. The study found microplastics in all samples with abundance increasing from upstream to downstream, driven by both geographical and human factors, with major cities at the middle and lower reaches identified as key pollution nodes.
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Aquatic Environment: How Can Regions at Risk be Identified in the Future?
This review discusses the growing concern over pharmaceuticals and personal care products as environmental contaminants in aquatic systems, particularly in regions with limited monitoring infrastructure. Researchers outline key research priorities for the next decade, including improving predictions of where these chemicals pose the greatest risk. The study emphasizes the need for better global surveillance and risk assessment models to protect both ecosystems and human health.
Learning from natural sediments to tackle microplastics challenges: A multidisciplinary perspective
Researchers drew on decades of sediment science to propose seven research priorities for improving microplastic studies, including better particle description, transport modeling, and toxicity assessment methods adapted from geology. This cross-disciplinary approach could accelerate understanding of how microplastics move through rivers, oceans, and ecosystems and how they harm living organisms.
Recent advances in biochar technology for aquatic pollution control: a critical review of applications, barriers, and future opportunities
Researchers reviewed two decades of research on biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — as a low-cost tool for removing pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, microplastics, and nutrients from water, achieving up to 80% pollutant removal. While promising, challenges in regeneration and scaling up production remain barriers to widespread use.
Hydrological and hydraulic drivers of microplastics in a rural river sourced from the UK's largest opencast coal mine
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in a remote headwater river in Wales draining the UK's largest opencast coal mine over two years. They found that small acrylic and polyester fibers dominated, with concentrations linked to rainfall-runoff patterns and dry weather periods indicating source-limited dilution effects. The study suggests that total suspended solids may serve as a useful proxy for estimating microplastic levels in similar river systems.