Papers

Microplastics enhance the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in mariculture sediments by enriching host bacteria and promoting horizontal gene transfer

Researchers found that polystyrene and PVC microplastics in marine sediments increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes by 1.4 to 2.8 times compared to sediment without plastics. PVC was particularly harmful because its chemical additives, including heavy metals and bisphenol A, promoted bacteria to share resistance genes more readily. These findings show that microplastic pollution in oceans is directly contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a major public health concern.

Meta-analysis of the hazards of microplastics in freshwaters using species sensitivity distributions

This meta-analysis built species sensitivity distributions for microplastics in freshwater and found that predicted no-effect concentrations for pristine microplastics were lower than for weathered ones, suggesting lab studies with new plastics may overestimate real-world hazards. The research highlights that most ecotoxicological studies use pristine microplastics at concentrations far exceeding environmental levels, complicating ecological risk assessment.

Mechanisms Underlying the Size-Dependent Neurotoxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Zebrafish

Scientists discovered that smaller nanoplastics cause more severe brain and nerve damage in zebrafish than larger ones, and identified the molecular pathways behind this size-dependent toxicity. The smaller particles more easily crossed biological barriers and triggered greater oxidative stress and inflammation in the nervous system, which is important for understanding potential neurological risks of nanoplastic exposure.

Microplastics in marine systems: A review of sources and sinks, typical environmental behaviors, and biological effects

This review summarizes how microplastics enter marine systems, carry heavy metals and organic pollutants, and release harmful additives as they degrade in the ocean. These contaminated particles are eaten by marine organisms and move up the food chain, ultimately posing potential health risks to humans who consume seafood.

Interaction of Microplastics with Antibiotics in Aquatic Environment: Distribution, Adsorption, and Toxicity

This review examines how microplastics and antibiotics interact in waterways, finding that microplastics can absorb antibiotics from the water and change their availability and toxicity to aquatic organisms. Critically, microplastics also provide surfaces where antibiotic resistance genes can accumulate and spread among bacteria. This is concerning for human health because it means microplastics in water could be accelerating the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Effect of microplastics on soil greenhouse gas emissions: A global meta-analysis study

This global meta-analysis found that microplastic exposure in soil decreased nitrous oxide emissions by 28.5% and increased methane emissions by 28.6%, though neither change was statistically significant overall. Effects varied dramatically depending on microplastic shape, concentration, soil type, and pH, with fiber-shaped microplastics reducing CO2 emissions by 40% while microplastics in sandy soils increased CO2 by 21%.

Microplastics in four bivalve species and basis for using bivalves as bioindicators of microplastic pollution

Researchers found microplastics in 80% of shellfish samples (scallops, mussels, oysters, and clams) collected across four seasons in Qingdao, China. PVC and rayon fibers were the most common plastic types, with different shellfish species accumulating different sizes and types of particles. Since these shellfish are commonly eaten by people, the findings highlight a direct route for microplastics to enter the human diet through seafood.

Distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in water, sediment and brine shrimps in a remote salt lake on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Microplastics were found in the water, sediment, and brine shrimp of a remote salt lake on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most isolated ecosystems on Earth. Over 93% of the particles were tiny fragments under 0.5 mm, mostly polypropylene, carried to the lake by runoff. The finding demonstrates that microplastic pollution reaches even the most pristine environments, where salt layers in the water may actually increase how much plastic tiny organisms consume.

Occurrence, distribution and sources of microplastics in typical marine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in China: The critical role of RAS operating time and microfilter

This study found microplastics in all parts of fish farming systems in China, including the feed, water, and the fish themselves. Systems that had been running longer accumulated more microplastics, and the plastic types found in fish closely matched those in their feed and water. The findings suggest that farmed fish -- a major protein source -- can be a route of microplastic exposure for people who eat seafood.

Responses of different species of marine microalgae and their community to gear-derived microplastics

Researchers tested how microplastics from fishing gear affected four species of marine microalgae and found that smaller particles were more toxic, significantly slowing algae growth and damaging their cells. When introduced to a mixed algae community, the microplastics shifted which species dominated and actually increased overall community diversity. Since microalgae are the foundation of the ocean food web, these changes could ripple through marine ecosystems and affect the seafood humans consume.

Detection and characterization of microplastics and nanoplastics in biological samples

Interactions between Nanoplastics and Antibiotics: Implications for Nanoplastics Aggregation in Aquatic Environments

This study examined how common antibiotics interact with nanoplastics in water, finding that antibiotics can cause nanoplastics to clump together into larger particles. The effect depends on water acidity, plastic type, and how much organic matter is present. These interactions could change how nanoplastics behave in the environment, potentially affecting where they accumulate and how toxic they become in waterways that supply drinking water.

Capturing, enriching and detecting nanoplastics in water based on optical manipulation, surface-enhanced Raman scattering and microfluidics

Toxic effects of microplastic on marine microalgae Skeletonema costatum: Interactions between microplastic and algae

Researchers found that micrometer-sized PVC microplastics significantly inhibit the growth and photosynthesis of the marine microalga Skeletonema costatum — reaching up to 39.7% growth inhibition — primarily through direct physical adsorption and aggregation between particles and algal cells rather than by shading effects alone.

Herbicide leakage into seawater impacts primary productivity and zooplankton globally

Researchers analyzed herbicide contamination at 661 coastal stations worldwide and found that at 25% of sites, weed-killing chemicals are already suppressing ocean plant (phytoplankton) productivity by more than 5%, while also shifting the types of tiny animals that feed on those plants. As agricultural herbicide use continues to grow, this chemical runoff poses an increasing threat to the stability of coastal marine food chains.

The outbreak of Drupella snails and its catastrophic effects on coral reefs: a comprehensive review

This review examines outbreaks of Drupella snails that feed on coral polyps and can cause severe damage to coral reef ecosystems. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because coral reef degradation, which can be worsened by microplastic pollution and other environmental stressors, may actually trigger Drupella outbreaks. Healthy coral reefs support fisheries and protect coastlines, so any factor that contributes to their decline, including microplastic pollution, has downstream effects on the communities that depend on them.

Effects of nanoplastics exposure on ingestion, life history traits, and dimethyl sulfide production in rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Researchers exposed tiny marine organisms called rotifers to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles accumulated in their digestive tracts, shortened their lifespans, and reduced their ability to reproduce. Higher concentrations also decreased the production of dimethyl sulfide, a compound important for cloud formation and climate regulation. This study shows that nanoplastic pollution can affect marine organisms at the base of the food chain, with potential ripple effects on both ecosystems and the climate.

Potential risk of microplastics in processed foods: Preliminary risk assessment concerning polymer types, abundance, and human exposure of microplastics

This review compiles data on microplastic contamination across 11 types of processed foods, including beverages, canned goods, and packaged items, and conducts a preliminary risk assessment of human exposure. Researchers found that processing and packaging steps introduce additional microplastics beyond what is present in raw ingredients. The study estimates daily intake levels and identifies sugar, salt, and honey as food categories with particularly high microplastic counts.

Genome-Wide Molecular Adaptation in Algal Primary Productivity Induced by Prolonged Exposure to Environmentally Realistic Concentration of Nanoplastics

Researchers exposed algae to three types of nanoplastics at realistic environmental levels for 100 days and found the algae adapted by increasing their numbers and photosynthetic activity. However, this adaptation came with significant changes in gene expression and DNA modification patterns, meaning the nanoplastics fundamentally altered the algae's biology. Since algae are the foundation of aquatic food chains, these hidden molecular changes could have ripple effects through ecosystems that eventually affect human food sources.

Metabolic profiles and protein expression responses of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) to polystyrene microplastic stress

Researchers exposed Pacific oysters to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and found the particles caused oxidative stress and disrupted the oysters' metabolism, particularly amino acid processing. Different microplastic concentrations triggered different metabolic changes in the oysters. Since oysters are a popular seafood, these findings raise questions about food safety and whether microplastic-stressed shellfish could affect consumer health.

Long-term aged fibrous polypropylene microplastics promotes nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane emissions from a coastal wetland soil

Researchers found that aged polypropylene microplastic fibers significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions from coastal wetland soil, including nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane. The older and more weathered the microplastics were, the greater their impact on gas emissions, likely because aging changes the soil's physical and chemical properties. This matters because it shows microplastic pollution could be worsening climate change, which in turn affects food production and human health.

Polystyrene nanoplastics affected the nutritional quality of Chlamys farreri through disturbing the function of gills and physiological metabolism: Comparison with microplastics

Researchers exposed scallops to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics at environmentally realistic levels and found that both sizes reduced the protein content and overall quality of the edible muscle. Nanoplastics caused more damage than microplastics, disrupting gill function, metabolism, and triggering oxidative stress through mitochondrial damage pathways. This study shows that plastic pollution could reduce the nutritional value of commercially harvested shellfish that people eat.

Nanoplastics induce more severe multigenerational life-history trait changes and metabolic responses in marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis: Comparison with microplastics

Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics versus microplastics on marine rotifers across multiple generations. They found that smaller nanoplastics (70 nm) caused significantly more severe harm to population growth, lifespan, and reproduction than larger particles, with negative effects persisting across generations. The study suggests that nanoplastics may pose a greater long-term threat to marine organisms than microplastics due to their ability to disrupt metabolism and nutrient accumulation.

Dietary intake of microplastics impairs digestive performance, induces hepatic dysfunction, and shortens lifespan in the annual fish Nothobranchius guentheri

Researchers fed microplastics to the annual fish Nothobranchius guentheri and tracked the effects over their lifespan. The study found that dietary microplastic intake impaired digestion, caused liver dysfunction, and notably shortened the fish's lifespan while accelerating age-related changes. This represents some of the first evidence in vertebrates that chronic microplastic exposure may affect aging and longevity.