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Papers
45 resultsShowing papers from Soochow University
ClearIn-field degradation of polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) films, microplastic formation, and impacts on soil health
A three-year field study found that biodegradable PBAT mulch films actually produced more microplastic particles in soil than conventional polyethylene films, though the biodegradable versions improved soil health and crop yields overall. The majority of microplastics from biodegradable films were very small (under 0.25 mm), which raises questions about whether these tiny fragments pose different risks than larger pieces.
Aluminum and microplastic release from reflective agricultural films disrupt microbial communities and functions in soil
Scientists found that reflective aluminum-coated agricultural films degrade in soil over time, releasing both aluminum and microplastics that disrupt soil chemistry and microbial communities important for nutrient cycling. This matters for food safety because these changes to soil health could affect crop quality and potentially introduce microplastics into the food supply.
A global review on the abundance and threats of microplastics in soils to terrestrial ecosystem and human health
This review examines microplastic pollution levels across agricultural, roadside, urban, and landfill soils worldwide, finding wide variation but consistent contamination. Microplastics alter soil pH, density, and water movement, disrupt microbial communities, inhibit plant growth, and affect soil animals. For humans, the concern is that microplastics in soil can enter the food chain through crops and contaminated water.
Impact of long-term conventional and biodegradable film mulching on microplastic abundance, soil structure and organic carbon in a cotton field
Researchers compared microplastic levels in cotton fields after 23 years of plastic film mulching and found that switching to biodegradable film actually produced more total microplastics than continuing with conventional polyethylene film. The biodegradable film broke down into many small particles that also reduced beneficial soil microbes and dissolved organic carbon. This challenges the idea that biodegradable agricultural films are a simple solution to farmland plastic pollution.
Polystyrene nanoplastics of different particle sizes regulate the polarization of pro-inflammatory macrophages
Researchers exposed immune cells called macrophages to polystyrene nanoplastics of two different sizes (50 nm and 500 nm) and found that both sizes pushed the cells toward a pro-inflammatory state at higher concentrations. This means the immune cells shifted toward producing inflammation signals rather than healing signals after nanoplastic exposure. Since macrophages are a key defense in the gut, this inflammatory response could help explain how microplastics contribute to intestinal inflammation.
Oral feeding of nanoplastics affects brain function of mice by inducing macrophage IL-1 signal in the intestine
Researchers found that when mice consumed nanoplastics, the tiny particles triggered immune cells in the gut to produce an inflammatory signal (IL-1) that traveled to the brain and impaired cognitive function. Nanoplastics were more potent at activating this gut-brain immune pathway than larger microplastics. This study reveals a concerning mechanism by which swallowing nanoplastics in food or water could affect brain health through the gut immune system.
Enhancing soil gross nitrogen transformation through regulation of microbial nitrogen-cycling genes by biodegradable microplastics
This study found that biodegradable microplastics from agricultural plastic film boosted nitrogen cycling in soil by increasing the activity of microbes involved in nitrogen processing. While this might seem beneficial for crop growth, the accelerated nitrogen transformation could also increase nitrous oxide emissions (a potent greenhouse gas) and lead to nitrogen runoff that pollutes waterways.
Recent Progress on Solar‐Driven Interfacial Evaporation for Resource Recovery and Pollutant Removal
This review covers recent advances in solar-powered water purification systems that can recover resources and remove pollutants from water. While the technology is primarily designed for desalination and heavy metal removal, it has potential applications for filtering microplastics from water. These sustainable, energy-efficient systems could become an important tool for reducing microplastic contamination in drinking water supplies worldwide.
Nanoplastics Shape Adaptive Anticancer Immunity in the Colon in Mice
In a mouse study, researchers found that orally administered polyethylene nanoplastics disrupted the intestinal immune environment in ways that could favor tumor growth in the colon. The nanoplastics altered immune cell populations and promoted an immunosuppressive environment around colorectal tumors. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may influence how the immune system responds to abnormal cell growth in the gut.
Coronas of micro/nano plastics: a key determinant in their risk assessments
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics develop surface coatings called coronas when they interact with biological and environmental substances. These corona layers, formed from proteins, organic matter, and other materials, can significantly change how plastic particles behave in the body and environment, affecting their uptake, distribution, and toxicity. The study suggests that understanding these surface coatings is essential for accurately assessing the real-world risks of plastic particle exposure.
Mechanism insights into the histopathological changes of polypropylene microplastics induced gut and liver in zebrafish
Researchers exposed zebrafish to polypropylene microplastics, one of the most common plastics found in rivers, and found damage to both the intestines and liver. The microplastics thinned the intestinal walls, disrupted gut bacteria communities, and altered liver gene activity related to fat processing and immune response. Since polypropylene is widely found in food packaging and the environment, these findings raise questions about similar effects in humans who ingest this type of microplastic.
Environmental concentrations of microplastic-induced gut microbiota and metabolite disruption in silkworm, Bombyx mori
Exposing silkworms to environmentally realistic concentrations of microplastics disrupted their gut bacteria and altered metabolites involved in energy, fat metabolism, and immune function. Even low-level exposure caused significant shifts in microbial communities and metabolic pathways without killing the organisms. This research highlights how microplastics can cause hidden health effects by disrupting the gut microbiome, a concern that extends to humans who are also exposed through food and water.
Neurodevelopmental Toxicity of Emamectin Benzoate to the Early Life Stage of Zebrafish Larvae (Danio rerio)
Researchers studied the neurodevelopmental effects of emamectin benzoate, a widely used pesticide, on zebrafish larvae at various concentrations. They found that the pesticide significantly inhibited hatching, impaired locomotor behavior, and caused neurotoxic effects including disrupted neurotransmitter levels and brain development. The study raises concerns about the ecological risks of this pesticide to aquatic organisms during their most vulnerable early life stages.
The agricultural plastic paradox: Feeding more, harming more?
This review examines the trade-off between the agricultural benefits of plastic film mulch, which helps feed an estimated 85 million additional people in China alone, and the growing microplastic contamination it causes in farmland soils. Researchers found that current studies on the effects of mulch-derived microplastics use inconsistent methods and often unrealistically high concentrations, making it difficult to assess the true risks. The study calls for standardized research approaches to better understand whether the agricultural benefits of plastic mulch outweigh its environmental costs.
Unraveling the impact of polystyrene microplastics with varying particle sizes and concentrations on lipid in vitro digestion and ex vivo absorption
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect fat digestion and absorption using laboratory and tissue-based models. They found that microplastics interfered with the digestive process by interacting with digestive enzymes and bile salts, and that smaller particles at higher concentrations had the greatest inhibitory effect on fat absorption. The findings suggest that microplastics consumed with food could alter how the body processes dietary fats.
Exploring the toxicology, socio-ecological impacts and biodegradation of microplastics in Africa: Potentials for resource conservation
This review examines the production, toxicology, and socio-ecological impacts of microplastic pollution across Africa, where limited waste management infrastructure and weak policy enforcement intensify the problem. Researchers found that microplastics threaten aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, reduce fertility in organisms, and disrupt economic activities. The study calls for expanded recycling, upcycling, and biodegradation strategies tailored to the African context to mitigate plastic pollution.
The toxic effect of bisphenol AF and nanoplastic coexposure in parental and offspring generation zebrafish
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to bisphenol AF and nanoplastics for 45 days and examined effects across multiple generations of offspring. The study found that both single BPAF exposure and combined BPAF-nanoplastic exposure decreased egg production and locomotor behavior in parents, and negatively affected hatching rates, mortality, body length, and behavior in offspring, indicating transgenerational toxic effects.
Polystyrene nanoparticles induced adverse pregnancy outcomes via the activation of placental ferroptosis and gut microbiota dysfunction
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to 50-nanometer polystyrene nanoparticles and found that the particles caused adverse pregnancy outcomes through two interconnected mechanisms: disruption of gut microbiota and activation of ferroptosis in placental tissue. The nanoparticle exposure altered the composition of beneficial gut bacteria and triggered iron-dependent cell death in the placenta. The study suggests that maternal exposure to nanoplastics during pregnancy may threaten reproductive health through gut-placenta axis disruption.
Ingestion of polystyrene microplastics by Bombyx mori larvae disrupts midgut epithelial barrier integrity and potentially promotes susceptibility to BmNPV infection
Researchers fed polystyrene microplastics to silkworm larvae and found that exposure disrupted the midgut epithelial barrier and altered the gut microbiome, reducing beneficial bacteria while increasing opportunistic pathogens. This disruption was associated with significantly increased viral gene expression and replication of the baculovirus BmNPV. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion may increase susceptibility to viral infections by compromising gut barrier integrity.
Phytoplankton Communities’ Response to Thermal Stratification and Changing Environmental Conditions in a Deep-Water Reservoir: Stochastic and Deterministic Processes
Researchers studied how thermal stratification in a deep-water reservoir affects phytoplankton community structure and the processes governing species assembly. The study found that both deterministic factors like environmental filtering and stochastic processes influence phytoplankton distribution across water layers. Evidence indicates that prolonged thermal stratification driven by global warming is reshaping aquatic microbial communities in ways that could affect water quality.
Upvaluing chlorinated plastic wastes
This review explores strategies for upcycling chlorinated plastic waste such as polyvinyl chloride, which poses particular recycling challenges due to its chlorine content. Researchers highlight emerging green methods for converting these materials into valuable chemical products, addressing a critical bottleneck in plastic waste management.
A Review of Analytical Methods for Microplastics in Soils
This review systematically examines analytical methods for detecting and quantifying microplastics in soil, including visual analysis, chemical analysis, spectroscopic techniques, microscopy, and mass spectrometry. The authors evaluate the advantages, limitations, and scope of each method, noting that no single technique covers all particle sizes and polymer types. The review calls for continued innovation in analytical methods to provide more effective tools for addressing soil microplastic pollution.
Prevalence of lateral violence in nurse workplace: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This meta-analysis found that the prevalence of lateral violence (bullying and aggression between nurses) is high in healthcare workplaces, with significant regional and cultural variation in reported rates. The study identified a lack of standardized assessment tools as a major limitation in comparing prevalence across countries. While unrelated to microplastics, the study was included in environmental health databases due to its systematic review methodology.
Transmission and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Animals, Food, Humans and the Environment
This research review shows that antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes are now found everywhere—in people, animals, food, and the environment—not just in hospitals like we used to think. The bacteria can easily share their resistance genes with each other, allowing "superbugs" to spread rapidly between different environments. This matters because it means antibiotic-resistant infections are becoming harder to treat and can reach us through multiple pathways, making it crucial to tackle this problem across all areas of health and the environment at once.