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Papers
89 resultsShowing papers from University of Edinburgh
ClearInnovative approaches to greywater micropollutant removal: AI-driven solutions and future outlook
This review examines how artificial intelligence, particularly neural networks, can improve the treatment of greywater (household wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry) that contains microplastics and other pollutants. AI models offer better predictions of treatment outcomes than traditional methods, which could lead to more effective removal of microplastics from wastewater. Since greywater is a significant source of microplastics entering the environment, better treatment could reduce human exposure.
How biochar works, and when it doesn't: A review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar
This comprehensive review synthesizes 20 years of research on biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste that can improve soil health and reduce pollution. Biochar can reduce plant uptake of heavy metals by 17-39% and increase nutrient availability, making it potentially useful for cleaning up microplastic-contaminated soils. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because biochar could help mitigate the effects of soil pollutants that microplastics carry and concentrate.
Antibiotic Adsorption by Microplastics: Effect of Weathering, Polymer Type, Size, and Shape
This study examined how different types, sizes, and shapes of microplastics absorb the antibiotic ceftazidime, finding that weathered plastics absorbed significantly more than fresh ones. Softer, more porous plastics and smaller particles were the most effective at picking up the antibiotic. This is concerning because microplastics carrying antibiotics through water systems could contribute to antibiotic resistance, a major threat to human health.
On the paradox of thriving cold‐water coral reefs in the food‐limited deep sea
This review investigates the paradox of how cold-water coral reefs thrive in the deep sea despite extremely limited food supply. The authors found that these reefs exploit multiple food sources including zooplankton, dissolved organic matter, and internal recycling by their microbial communities. While not directly about microplastics, deep-sea coral ecosystems are increasingly threatened by plastic pollution sinking to ocean depths.
YTHDF2-mediated regulations bifurcate BHPF-induced programmed cell deaths
Researchers found that BHPF, a chemical substitute for BPA commonly used in plastic manufacturing, was detected in 14% of pregnant women's blood samples and caused heart and blood vessel defects in zebrafish embryos. The chemical works by disrupting a key RNA-regulating protein, triggering different types of cell death in different tissues. This study raises concerns that BPA replacement chemicals in plastics may not be safer and could pose risks to developing babies.
Microplastics in aquatic systems, a comprehensive review: origination, accumulation, impact, and removal technologies
This comprehensive review traced the sources of microplastics in aquatic environments, from industrial products and packaging to cosmetics and agricultural materials, and examined their toxic effects on living organisms. Researchers found that microplastics are remarkably stable and widespread, posing growing ecotoxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems. The study also evaluated current removal technologies, noting their advantages and limitations, and warns that without better strategies, microplastic pollution will become significantly worse in coming decades.
Public support for smoke-free policies in outdoor areas and (semi-)private places: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis examining public support for smoke-free policies in outdoor areas and semi-private spaces. The study assessed attitudes across different settings and populations to inform evidence-based tobacco control policies.
Global Connectivity of Southern Ocean Ecosystems
This paper examines the ecological connectivity between Southern Ocean ecosystems and the rest of the global ocean across multiple trophic levels. Researchers found that Southern Ocean ecosystems are linked to the global system through species migration, ocean currents, biogeochemical cycles, and increasingly through pollution pathways including microplastics. The study emphasizes that these connections make Southern Ocean conservation a matter of global importance.
Toward sustainable space exploration: a roadmap for harnessing the power of microorganisms
Researchers outlined how microbial biotechnologies — using microorganisms to process resources and recycle waste — could make long-duration space exploration sustainable without relying on Earth for supplies. Many of the same technologies, such as bioremediation and nutrient cycling, could also address environmental challenges back on Earth.
Analytical methods for microplastics in the environment: a review
Researchers reviewed classical and advanced analytical methods for detecting microplastics in the environment. The methods covered include visual analysis, electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, and flow cytometry, providing a comprehensive overview of available tools for microplastic identification and quantification.
Anthropogenic nitrogen pollution threats and challenges to the health of South Asian coral reefs
Researchers assessed the evidence for nitrogen pollution impacts on coral reefs in the waters around India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. They found that while nitrogen pollution is a widespread and growing problem in the region's coastal waters, there is currently limited direct evidence linking it to coral reef decline. The study calls for more targeted research to understand how nitrogen pollution interacts with other stressors like warming and ocean acidification to threaten South Asian coral ecosystems.
Biochar immobilized hydrolase degrades PET microplastics and alleviates the disturbance of soil microbial function via modulating nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
Researchers developed a new tool using biochar combined with a plastic-eating enzyme to break down PET microplastics in soil. The approach achieved nearly 30% weight loss of PET particles and helped restore healthy nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in the soil by shifting microbial communities, offering a promising strategy for addressing microplastic contamination in agricultural land.
A toolbox for improved recycling of critical metals and materials in low-carbon technologies
This study highlights a collection of recycling processes designed to recover critical metals from clean energy technologies like batteries and renewable energy devices. Researchers present a practical toolkit of techniques for extracting valuable metals from end-of-life equipment. The findings suggest that improved recycling of these materials is essential for sustaining the transition to low-carbon energy systems.
Biodegradability standards for carrier bags and plastic films in aquatic environments: a critical review
Researchers critically reviewed existing biodegradability standards for carrier bags and plastic films in aquatic environments and found that current testing protocols do not adequately reflect real-world marine or freshwater conditions. The study suggests that labeling plastics as "biodegradable" may be misleading, since degradation rates vary dramatically depending on temperature, oxygen levels, and microbial communities present in natural water bodies.
Harnessing green tide Ulva biomass for carbon dioxide sequestration
Researchers reviewed the potential of using Ulva seaweed from harmful green tide blooms as a resource for carbon dioxide sequestration through biochar production. They estimated that Ulva biomass could capture approximately 3.85 million tons of CO2 equivalent, with nearly half stabilized through conversion to biochar. While not directly about microplastics, the study explores how repurposing marine biomass could address both coastal pollution and climate change.
Engineered plastic-associated bacteria for biodegradation and bioremediation
This review examines how bacteria naturally found on plastic surfaces can be engineered to more efficiently break down and recycle plastic waste. Researchers summarized advances in using genetic engineering to enhance microbial plastic degradation and connect it to pathways that convert plastic into useful products. The study highlights the potential for biotechnology to address the plastic waste crisis while supporting a circular economy.
From prey to predator: an in-situ observation of microplastic trophic transfer from Mytilus edulis to Asterias rubens
Researchers conducted an in-situ experiment at the White Sea to track how polyethylene microplastics transfer through the food chain from filter-feeding mussels to predatory starfish. They confirmed that starfish ingested microplastics not only from the water but also through consuming contaminated mussels, establishing a trophic transfer coefficient of 0.36. The findings provide direct evidence of microplastic movement between trophic levels in marine invertebrates.
Image-based finite element modelling of fibre dynamics in polyester staple spun yarns
Researchers built a detailed computer model of how individual fibers move and stress inside a polyester yarn, using X-ray imaging to capture the yarn's actual 3D structure. Beyond improving textile engineering, this model offers a new tool for understanding how microplastic fibers break off from fabrics during everyday use.
Transformation of polyester fibre microplastics by sulfate based advanced oxidation processes
Researchers investigated how sulfate-based advanced oxidation processes break down polyester microplastic fibers using light, heat, and ultrasound activation of persulfate. They found that while these treatments caused varying degrees of mass loss and surface degradation, incomplete degradation produced smaller fragments with altered surface chemistry. The study highlights the importance of understanding how wastewater treatment processes may transform rather than fully eliminate microplastics.
Species-specific impact of microplastics on coral physiology
Short-term experiments with two coral species (Acropora sp. and Seriatopora hystrix) exposed to microspheres and microfibres at in-situ concentrations and elevated temperature found species-specific physiological responses, with some coral species more sensitive to microplastic exposure than others.
Abundance, spatial distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils and their relationship with contributing factors
Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 2,800 to 82,500 particles per kilogram in agricultural soils of Hainan Island, China, with plastic mulching, farming practices, and environmental factors all contributing to spatial variation in contamination levels.
AI-guided investigation of biochar’s efficacy in Pb immobilization for remediation of Pb contaminated agricultural land
Researchers evaluated ten types of biochar made from different biomass feedstocks for their ability to immobilize lead in contaminated agricultural soil. They used a machine learning approach to predict long-term immobilization effects and found that oilseed rape straw biochar pyrolyzed at 700 degrees was most effective. The study also accounted for simulated microplastic contamination during long-term incubation, providing a novel framework for predicting biochar performance in real-world remediation scenarios.
Foundational guiding principles for a flourishing Earth system
This perspectives article argues that global sustainability challenges stem from humanity's systemic impact on the Earth System, compounded by fragmented development policies. The authors propose four foundational guiding principles to help align human activities with the conditions needed for a flourishing planet. The study suggests that a more coherent, systems-based approach to sustainable development policy is urgently needed.
A New PETase from the Human Saliva Metagenome and Its Functional Modification via Genetic Code Expansion in Bacteria
Researchers discovered a novel PET-degrading enzyme from the human saliva metagenome that outperforms previously characterized PETases, and demonstrated its functional modification through genetic code expansion to incorporate non-canonical amino acids.