Papers

Toxicological effects of micro/nano-plastics on mouse/rat models: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pools data from mouse and rat studies to assess the toxic effects of micro and nanoplastics on mammalian health. The findings show that these particles can cause damage across multiple organ systems in lab animals, providing important evidence about the potential health risks that microplastic exposure may pose to humans.

Polystyrene microplastics induce anxiety via HRAS derived PERK-NF-κB pathway

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics accumulated in the brains of mice and caused anxiety-like behavior by activating inflammation in brain immune cells (microglia) through a specific molecular pathway involving the HRAS protein. This study identifies a concrete biological mechanism for how microplastics in the brain could contribute to anxiety and other neurological symptoms.

Aging Significantly Affects Mobility and Contaminant-Mobilizing Ability of Nanoplastics in Saturated Loamy Sand

Researchers studied how aging from UV light and ozone exposure affects the mobility of nanoplastics in soil and found that aged particles traveled much farther through the soil column than pristine ones. The aged nanoplastics also carried more chemical contaminants with them as they moved. The findings suggest that weathered nanoplastics in the environment may pose greater risks for groundwater contamination than previously assumed.

Recognition and detection technology for microplastic, its source and health effects

This review summarizes current knowledge about detecting microplastics and their effects on human health, covering methods like FTIR spectroscopy and Raman imaging. The authors highlight that micro- and nanoplastics can cause a range of health problems including oxidative stress, reduced reproductive ability, inflammation, and damage to the circulatory and respiratory systems. The review emphasizes the urgent need for better detection methods so that researchers and regulators can accurately assess how much microplastic people are actually exposed to.

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces sex-specific cardiotoxicity in offspring mice

When pregnant mice were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, their offspring developed heart damage that differed between males and females. Female offspring lost more body and heart weight, while males showed signs of atherosclerosis and females showed viral heart inflammation markers. This study suggests that prenatal nanoplastic exposure could program sex-specific cardiovascular problems in children, raising concerns about plastic exposure during pregnancy.

Microplastics as an emerging menace to environment: Insights into their uptake, prevalence, fate, and sustainable solutions

This review provides a comprehensive look at how microplastics enter the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and move through food chains. The paper covers sources, transport mechanisms, and the health implications of microplastic exposure for both wildlife and humans. The authors also discuss emerging solutions including biodegradable alternatives and advanced filtration technologies.

Integrated photothermal and photocatalytic degradation of micro-/nanoplastics: a mini-review with mechanistic insights and future perspectives

This mini-review examines how combined photothermal and photocatalytic technologies can be used to break down micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. Researchers describe how these approaches use light energy to generate heat and reactive chemical species that degrade plastic particles. The study outlines the underlying mechanisms and discusses future directions for making these treatment methods practical at larger scales.

Effects of nano- or microplastic exposure combined with arsenic on soil bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities

Researchers studied the combined and individual effects of arsenic and micro- or nanoplastics on soil bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities. The study found that combined pollution distinctly altered the composition of these microbial communities, with protistan communities being particularly sensitive, indicating that the co-occurrence of plastics and heavy metals in soil may have compounding ecological effects.

Microplastic exposure is associated with male reproductive health

Fighting microplastics: The role of dietary fibers in protecting health

This review examines how microplastics entering the body through food may affect gastrointestinal health and explores whether dietary fibers could help reduce those risks. Researchers found that dietary fibers may help mitigate the harmful effects of microplastics through mechanisms related to their size, concentration, and composition, though the evidence is still limited. The study calls for more research into using dietary strategies as a practical approach to reducing the health impact of microplastic ingestion.

Extractable additives in microplastics: A hidden threat to soil fauna

Researchers compared the toxic effects of five types of microplastics and their extractable chemical additives on a common soil worm species. They found that the additives leaching from the plastics were the primary driver of toxicity, reducing worm growth and survival and disrupting gut microbiota. The study indicates that the chemical additives embedded in microplastics may pose a greater threat to soil organisms than the plastic particles themselves.

Phytotoxic Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics on the Growth of Food Crops Soybean (Glycine max) and Mung Bean (Vigna radiata)

Researchers tested the effects of polyethylene microplastics on the germination and early growth of soybean and mung bean crops at various concentrations and particle sizes. They found that soybeans were more sensitive to microplastic exposure than mung beans, with significant inhibition of dry weight and root length at higher concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils could negatively affect food crop development, with impacts varying by plant species and particle characteristics.

Analyzing the impacts of cadmium alone and in co-existence with polypropylene microplastics on wheat growth

Researchers tested how cadmium and polypropylene microplastics individually and together affect wheat seedling growth, and found that their combined presence intensified negative effects on germination and early development. Cadmium alone inhibited root and shoot growth, and microplastics amplified this damage while also altering antioxidant enzyme activity in the plants. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of heavy metals and microplastics in agricultural soil may create compounding stress on crop health.

Enhanced Cadmium Adsorption Dynamics in Water and Soil by Polystyrene Microplastics and Biochar

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics and biochar interact with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in water and soil systems. They found that particle size significantly influenced how much cadmium was adsorbed, with the combination of microplastics and biochar creating complex dynamics that affected metal mobility. The findings matter because microplastics in agricultural soils may alter how toxic metals move through the environment and into food crops.

Proteomic insights into composition-dependent effects of microplastics on freshwater microalgae <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>

Researchers used proteomic analysis to study how different types of microplastics affect freshwater green algae at the molecular level. They found that the chemical composition of microplastics influences which cellular pathways are disrupted. The study provides new insights into the specific molecular mechanisms behind microplastic toxicity in aquatic organisms.

Root carbon inputs outweigh litter in shaping grassland soil microbiomes and ecosystem multifunctionality

Researchers analyzed 13 years of field data from a semi-arid grassland and found that carbon inputs from plant roots matter more than leaf litter in sustaining soil microbial diversity and overall ecosystem health. Removing plants caused greater microbial and functional declines than removing surface litter, underscoring the hidden importance of below-ground carbon in maintaining healthy soils.

A photoluminescence strategy for detection nanoplastics in water and biological imaging in cells and plants

Researchers developed a fluorescent probe that can rapidly detect nanoplastics in water samples down to very low concentrations. The probe works by binding to nanoplastic surfaces through electrical and chemical interactions, which causes it to glow, enabling both detection and visual tracking in cells and plant tissues. This tool could help scientists better monitor nanoplastic contamination in water and understand how these tiny particles move through living organisms.

The Effect of Polyethylene Microplastics on Growth and Antioxydant Response of Oscillatoria Princeps and Chlorella Pyrenoidosa

Researchers exposed two freshwater algae species to polyethylene microplastics of different sizes and found that the particles disrupted photosynthesis and altered antioxidant enzyme activity. Smaller microplastics generally caused more pronounced effects, and the two species responded differently to the stress. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in freshwater environments could impair the growth of organisms at the base of aquatic food webs.

The Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics and Copper Ion Co-Contamination on the Growth of Rice Seedlings

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics and copper ions interact when both are present in the water supply of rice seedlings. They found that microplastics actually reduced copper toxicity by absorbing the metal ions, but both pollutants weakened the plant's antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that microplastics and heavy metals interact in complex ways in agricultural systems, with implications for crop health and food safety.

Repair mechanism of Yishen Tongluo formula on mouse sperm DNA fragmentation caused by polystyrene microplastics

This study investigated a traditional Chinese medicine formula (Yishen Tongluo) for its potential to repair sperm DNA damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. Researchers found that the formula's protective mechanism may be associated with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the protein SPARC. The study suggests a new direction for using traditional medicine approaches to address reproductive system injury linked to microplastic exposure.

Exposure to heavy metal and antibiotic enriches antibiotic resistant genes on the tire particles in soil

Researchers found that tire particles in soil accumulate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, and that the presence of heavy metals or antibiotics in the soil further enriches these resistance genes on tire particle surfaces. The findings suggest that tire-derived microplastics in contaminated soils could serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance, with potential implications for human health.

Interactive Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics and Cadmium on Growth of Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers examined what happens when polyethylene microplastics and the heavy metal cadmium are both present in freshwater, focusing on their effects on a bloom-forming algae species. Evidence indicates that the combination caused greater stress on the algae than either pollutant alone, though microplastics partially reduced cadmium toxicity by adsorbing some of the metal.

Combined Exposure to Polyethylene Microplastics and Copper Affects Growth and Antioxidant Responses in Rice Seedlings

Researchers exposed rice seedlings to polyethylene microplastics and copper both individually and in combination and found that microplastics significantly enhanced copper uptake, increasing accumulation by about 25% compared to copper alone. While microplastics alone had minimal effects on growth, the combined exposure intensified oxidative stress in roots and altered antioxidant defense responses. The study demonstrates that microplastics can increase the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in agricultural crop systems.

Impact of polypropylene microplastics and lead on wheat germination and seedling growth