Papers

Do Added Microplastics, Native Soil Properties, and Prevailing Climatic Conditions Have Consequences for Carbon and Nitrogen Contents in Soil? A Global Data Synthesis of Pot and Greenhouse Studies

This meta-analysis examined how microplastics affect carbon and nitrogen levels in soil, which are key to soil fertility. The results show that certain types of plastics — especially smaller, fiber-shaped particles — can significantly alter soil chemistry, potentially affecting crop growth and soil health.

Current trends, limitations and future research in the fungi?

This broad review of modern mycology (the study of fungi) covers emerging fungal diseases, drug discovery from fungi, genomics advances, and how fungi can be used in construction and circular economies. While not directly about microplastics, some fungi show promise for biodegrading plastic waste, making mycology research relevant to addressing microplastic pollution.

Microplastics: Detection in human samples, cell line studies, and health impacts

This review compiles evidence that microplastics have been detected in human stool, placenta, lungs, liver, sputum, breast milk, and blood, confirming widespread presence in the human body. Studies on human cell lines show microplastics can cause toxic effects, but the full health impact is still not well understood and needs further research.

Toxicity assessment of microplastic (MPs); a threat to the ecosystem

This review describes how microplastics enter the food chain through contaminated soil, water, food, and household products, and have been confirmed present in the human body. Microplastics damage soil structure, harm soil microorganisms, reduce plant growth, and once inside humans through various exposure routes, may trigger inflammation and other health effects.

Ecological risk assessment of microplastics and mesoplastics in six common fishes from the Bay of Bengal Coast

Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts and muscle tissue of six commonly eaten fish species from the Bay of Bengal, with fiber-shaped particles making up over 95% of what was found. This contamination in edible fish muscle tissue means that people who eat these species are likely ingesting microplastics directly.

Modification of walnut shell lignin nanoparticles through deep eutectic solvent for application in active food packaging films

Researchers developed a biodegradable food packaging film from walnut shell waste that blocks UV light, inhibits bacteria, and extends the shelf life of fresh food. This type of renewable packaging could help reduce the microplastic pollution generated by conventional plastic food wrap, which is a significant source of tiny plastic particles that end up in our food.

Microplastic contamination in commercial food and drink products and associated risk of potential human intake in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Researchers tested 112 food and drink products from markets in Saudi Arabia and found microplastics in all of them, with tea bags containing the highest levels at over 600 particles per bag. Based on typical consumption patterns, tea bag users face the greatest daily microplastic intake, followed by bottled water drinkers, underscoring how common foods and beverages are a significant source of human microplastic exposure.

Identification and occurrence of microplastics in drinking water bottles and milk packaging consumed by humans daily

Researchers found microplastics in both drinking water bottles and milk packets sold for daily human consumption, identifying polymers like polypropylene and polyamide in various shapes and colors. The contamination likely occurs during manufacturing or packaging, meaning that routine food and beverage consumption is a direct route of microplastic exposure for people.

Taurine decreases arsenic and microplastic toxicity in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) through functional and microstructural alterations

Foliar application of taurine significantly reduced arsenic and microplastic toxicity in broccoli by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity, improving membrane integrity, and restoring anatomical structures. Plants treated with taurine showed less oxidative damage and lower arsenic uptake, suggesting taurine as a practical intervention for protecting crops grown in contaminated soil.

Influence of soil microplastic contamination and cadmium toxicity on the growth, physiology, and root growth traits of Triticum aestivum L.

Researchers grew wheat plants in soil contaminated with polyethylene microplastics, the toxic heavy metal cadmium, or both, finding that combined exposure caused the worst damage — shrinking root area, reducing gas exchange in leaves, and lowering key growth indicators. These findings raise concerns about crop yields in farmland where plastic pollution and heavy metal contamination overlap, which is increasingly common.

Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation

Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.

Microplastics as heavy metal vectors in the freshwater environment: Distribution, variations, sources and health risk

Advanced adsorbents for ibuprofen removal from aquatic environments: a review

This review examines advanced methods for removing ibuprofen, a common painkiller, from water systems using materials like activated carbon, biochar, and metal-organic frameworks. Ibuprofen is widespread in waterways and poses risks to aquatic life and potentially human health. Carbon-based materials showed the highest removal capacity, offering promising solutions for cleaning pharmaceutical pollution from drinking water sources.

Impact of polyethylene microplastics exposure on kallikrein-3 levels, steroidal-thyroidal hormones, and antioxidant status in murine model: protective potentials of naringin

When male rats were exposed to polyethylene microplastics (the most common type found in packaging), they showed disrupted testosterone, thyroid hormones, and antioxidant defenses. A citrus compound called naringin partially reversed these harmful effects, suggesting both that microplastics can interfere with the hormonal system and that certain natural compounds might offer some protection.

Interaction of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with PVC-microplastics and chromium counteracts oxidative injuries in Trachyspermum ammi L. by modulating antioxidants and gene expression

Scientists studied how PVC microplastics and chromium (a toxic heavy metal) together affect the growth of ajwain, an important medicinal and food plant. The combination of these pollutants reduced plant growth, damaged photosynthesis, and increased toxic stress more than either pollutant alone. This is relevant to food safety because agricultural soils are increasingly contaminated with both microplastics and heavy metals, which together could reduce crop quality and nutritional value.

Toxicological impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on humans: understanding the mechanistic aspect of the interaction

This review explains the different ways microplastics and nanoplastics cause harm in the human body, including triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and disruption of gut bacteria. The smaller the plastic particle, the more easily it crosses biological barriers like the gut wall and blood-brain barrier, potentially reaching organs throughout the body. The authors highlight that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased plastic waste, adding to the growing burden of human microplastic exposure.

Effect of Sustainable Pretreatments on the Nutritional and Functionality of Chickpea Protein: Implication for Innovative Food Product Development

This review examines different ways to process chickpeas to improve their nutritional value and reduce compounds that block nutrient absorption. While not directly about microplastics, it discusses how food processing and packaging innovations can affect food safety and quality. The findings are relevant to understanding how food production choices intersect with concerns about contaminants in our food supply.

Automated micro-plastic detection and classification using deep convolution neural network pre-trained models and transfer learning

Researchers compared several artificial intelligence models for automatically detecting and classifying microplastics into categories like beads, fibers, and fragments from images. While the models performed well at identifying fiber-type microplastics, they struggled with beads and fragments, highlighting the need for better training data and techniques. Improving automated detection is important because it could enable faster, cheaper environmental monitoring of microplastic contamination in water and food sources.

Molecular Mechanisms of Phthalate-Induced Hepatic Injury and Amelioration by Plant-Based Principles

This review examines how phthalates, chemicals commonly added to plastics to make them flexible, damage the liver through oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of normal cell signaling. People are exposed to phthalates through air, water, food, and skin contact, and the liver bears the greatest burden as the primary organ for processing these chemicals. The findings are directly relevant to microplastics because phthalates can leach from plastic particles inside the body, making microplastic exposure a potential delivery route for these liver-damaging chemicals.

Polystyrene microplastics exposure in freshwater fish, Labeo rohita: evaluation of physiology and histopathology

Researchers fed freshwater fish varying levels of polystyrene microplastics for 90 days and found dose-dependent damage to blood health, growth, and organ tissues. Higher microplastic concentrations caused more severe harm to the liver, kidneys, gills, and intestines. The study highlights that microplastics in freshwater systems can accumulate in fish and cause significant health problems, raising concerns about food safety for communities that rely on freshwater fish.

Biophysics-guided uncertainty-aware deep learning uncovers high-affinity plastic-binding peptides

Researchers used artificial intelligence combined with biophysical modeling to discover new peptides (short protein fragments) that bind tightly to common plastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. These plastic-binding peptides could be used to detect or capture microplastics in the environment using biodegradable materials. The technology represents a promising new approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution.

Contamination, potential sources, and risk assessment of microplastics in surface waters of two public bathing beaches along the Northern Bay of Bengal

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in surface waters at two popular bathing beaches along the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. They found concentrations ranging from 83 to over 305 particles per cubic meter, with the busier commercial beach showing higher pollution levels. The study raises concerns about direct human exposure to microplastics during recreational water activities in coastal areas.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: An assessment of physiological and health responses in Catla catla fingerlings after polystyrene microplastic exposure

Note: This article has been retracted. The study reported that feeding polystyrene microplastics to Catla catla fish reduced growth, impaired blood health, decreased nutritional quality, and caused intestinal damage. Higher concentrations of microplastics led to worse outcomes across all measures. While the retraction means these specific results should be viewed with caution, the general concern about microplastic effects on farmed fish remains supported by other research.

Polystyrene nanoplastics synergistically exacerbate diclofenac toxicity in embryonic development and the health of adult zebrafish

When zebrafish embryos and adults were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with the common pain medication diclofenac, the mixture was significantly more harmful than either substance alone. The combination reduced hatching rates, increased mortality, caused developmental abnormalities, and triggered intestinal inflammation in adult fish. This finding is concerning because nanoplastics and pharmaceutical residues frequently coexist in waterways, and their combined effects on aquatic life could be worse than what studies of individual pollutants suggest.