Papers

Biodegradable microplastics coupled with biochar enhance Cd chelation and reduce Cd accumulation in Chinese cabbage

Researchers tested how biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics interact with biochar in soil contaminated with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, and found that the combination reduced cadmium uptake in Chinese cabbage by up to 47%. The PLA promoted formation of natural chelating compounds in the root zone that bound the cadmium, suggesting a possible soil remediation benefit from certain biodegradable plastics.

Increasing pesticide diversity impairs soil microbial functions

This study found that increasing the variety of pesticides used on farmland disrupts soil bacteria and accelerates the loss of important nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. While not directly about microplastics, the research shows how chemical pollutants in soil can destabilize microbial communities in ways similar to microplastic contamination. Adding nitrogen fertilizer helped counteract some of these negative effects.

Recent trends and economic significance of modified/functionalized biochars for remediation of environmental pollutants

Researchers reviewed recent advances in modified biochars — charcoal-like materials made from organic waste — as low-cost tools for removing chemical pollutants from contaminated soil and water. By altering biochar's physical and chemical properties through various treatment techniques, scientists have significantly improved its ability to bind and neutralize a wide range of harmful substances.

Biochar as a Green Sorbent for Remediation of Polluted Soils and Associated Toxicity Risks: A Critical Review

This review examines biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, as a tool for cleaning up soil contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants. While biochar can effectively trap contaminants, the production process itself can create toxic byproducts like PAHs that may harm soil life. The research is relevant to microplastic pollution because biochar is being explored as a potential method to bind and reduce microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.

Aggregation behavior of photoaging nanoplastics in artificial sweat solutions

This study examined how nanoplastics behave when they come into contact with human sweat, finding that acidic sweat promotes clumping of the particles while alkaline sweat keeps them stable and dispersed. Sunlight aging of the nanoplastics changed their surface chemistry, further affecting how they aggregate in sweat. These findings are important for understanding skin exposure to nanoplastics, since how the particles clump or disperse in sweat affects whether they can penetrate the skin.

Carbon Cycling in Wetlands Under the Shadow of Microplastics: Challenges and Prospects

This review examines how microplastics disrupt carbon cycling in wetlands, which are critical ecosystems for capturing and storing carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change. Microplastics can damage plant roots, alter soil microbial communities, and accelerate the breakdown of stored organic carbon, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The findings highlight that microplastic pollution may undermine wetlands' ability to help regulate the climate.

Effect of weathering on environmental behavior of microplastics: Properties, sorption and potential risks

This review examines how environmental weathering changes the physical and chemical properties of microplastics, affecting their ability to absorb pollutants and their toxicity to organisms. Researchers found that weathered microplastics develop altered surface chemistry, increased surface area, and changed color, all of which influence how they interact with contaminants and are ingested by aquatic life. The study also evaluates the toxic potential of chemical byproducts released during the weathering process itself.

Phytoplankton response to polystyrene microplastics: Perspective from an entire growth period

Researchers tracked the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa across its entire growth cycle and found dose-dependent harm during early growth phases. The microplastics reduced photosynthetic activity and inhibited growth by up to 38%, though the algae showed some ability to recover in later growth stages. The study suggests that microplastics can meaningfully disrupt the growth of freshwater phytoplankton, which form the foundation of aquatic food webs.

Changes in water characteristics and pore distributions in loam soil under the coexistence of microplastics and salts

This study investigated how microplastics interact with soil salinity to affect water movement and retention in loam soil. Researchers found that microplastics generally reduced the soil's ability to conduct water and hold moisture, but these effects were weaker in saltier soils. The findings matter for agriculture because they suggest microplastic pollution could worsen water availability for crops, particularly in non-saline farmland.

Co-Exposure of airborne microplastics and chromium: Impairment of pulmonary surfactant monolayer

Researchers investigated what happens when airborne polypropylene microplastics carrying chromium reach the lungs and interact with pulmonary surfactant, the protective lining that helps us breathe. They found that the microplastics disrupted the surfactant layer's ability to function properly, and that chromium was partially released and chemically reduced upon contact. The study suggests that inhaling microplastics contaminated with heavy metals may pose compounding risks to lung health.

The ecological security risks of phthalates: A focus on antibiotic resistance gene dissemination in aquatic environments

Researchers investigated whether phthalates, common plastic additives found in waterways, can promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. They found that at low concentrations, dibutyl phthalate significantly increased the transfer of resistance genes by boosting bacterial membrane permeability and energy production. The study reveals a previously overlooked way that plastic-related chemicals could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.

A review on adsorption characteristics and influencing mechanism of heavy metals in farmland soil

Researchers reviewed the characteristics and mechanisms of heavy metal adsorption in farmland soil, examining factors including soil heterogeneity, physical and chemical properties, competitive adsorption, and external influences. The study highlights that soil adsorption reduces crop uptake of pollutants like lead and cadmium, providing a natural self-purification capacity for contaminated agricultural land.

Photo-aging of polyvinyl chloride microplastic in the presence of natural organic acids

Researchers described a new photo-aging pathway for polyvinyl chloride microplastics in aquatic environments involving low-molecular-weight organic acids. The study found that natural organic acids and their iron complexes significantly accelerated the degradation of PVC microplastics under sunlight through hydroxyl radical generation, revealing how environmental conditions influence microplastic weathering.

Interactions between Iron Minerals and Dissolved Organic Matter Derived from Microplastics Inhibited the Ferrihydrite Transformation as Revealed at the Molecular Scale

Researchers studied how dissolved organic matter released from degrading microplastics interacts with iron minerals in the environment. They found that this microplastic-derived organic matter inhibited the natural transformation of ferrihydrite, an important iron mineral in soil and water systems. The study reveals that microplastic breakdown products can alter fundamental geochemical processes, potentially affecting nutrient cycling and pollutant behavior.

Interactions between inhalable aged microplastics and lung surfactant: Potential pulmonary health risks

Researchers examined how aged microplastics that have been weathered in the environment interact with lung surfactant, the thin liquid layer that lines the airways and aids breathing. They found that aged microplastics disrupted surfactant function more severely than pristine particles, potentially impairing the lungs' ability to expand and protect against inhaled pollutants. The study suggests that the weathering process makes airborne microplastics more hazardous to respiratory health over time.

Biochar mitigates allelopathy through regulating allelochemical generation from plants and accumulation in soil

This review examined how biochar, a low-cost soil amendment, can help mitigate the harmful effects of allelochemicals that accumulate in farmland soil from plant roots and decomposing residues. Researchers found that biochar can sorb and degrade allelochemicals while also improving plant growth conditions to reduce their generation. The study suggests that targeted biochar production and modification could help overcome obstacles to agricultural productivity caused by allelopathy.

The disinfectant residues promote the leaching of water contaminants from plastic pipe particles

This study found that trace amounts of disinfectants commonly used in water treatment can accelerate the aging of plastic water pipes, causing them to release more contaminants. When plastic pipe particles were exposed to chlorine-based disinfectants and ozone, they leached higher levels of organic chemicals and microplastics into the water. The findings raise concerns about how the interaction between water treatment chemicals and plastic plumbing may affect drinking water quality.

Potential health risks of the interaction of microplastics and lung surfactant

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics interact with lung surfactant extracted from porcine lungs. The study found that microplastics altered the surface tension and membrane structure of lung surfactant, preferentially adsorbed phospholipid components, and accelerated the production of reactive oxygen species, suggesting potential risks to respiratory health from inhaled microplastics.

Soil water, salt, and microplastics interact during migration: Performance and mechanism

Researchers studied how microplastics and salt interact as they move through farmland soil, finding that salty conditions slow both water flow and microplastic migration, while microplastics in turn hinder the leaching of harmful salts like sodium from the soil. These complex interactions are important for understanding how contaminated agricultural soils behave and how to manage them.

The Microplastic–PFAS Nexus: From Co-Occurrence to Combined Toxicity in Aquatic Environments

This review examines the interconnected environmental behavior of microplastics and PFAS ("forever chemicals"), showing that microplastics can act as carriers, concentrators, and secondary sources of PFAS contamination. Researchers found that co-exposure to both pollutants often produces synergistic toxic effects in aquatic organisms, disrupting processes from photosynthesis to neurological development. The study argues that current regulations assessing these pollutants individually are inadequate and must evolve to address their combined effects.

Effects of Aged Biodegradable Plastics and Antibiotics on the Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Between Bacteria

This study examined how UV-aged microplastics from biodegradable PLA and conventional PET plastics, combined with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, affect the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria. Researchers found that aged microplastics promoted bacterial conjugation more than pristine particles, with PLA microplastics showing stronger effects, suggesting that even biodegradable plastics may increase the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment.

Concentration‐ and Size‐Dependent Influences of Microplastics on Soil Hydraulic Properties and Water Flow

Researchers investigated how microplastic concentration and particle size affect soil hydraulic properties and water flow. They found that microplastic contamination reduced saturated conductivity by up to 50% and inhibited water infiltration, with higher concentrations and larger particle sizes leading to weaker soil water-holding capacity.

Advancing microplastics detection and prediction: Integrating traditional methods with machine learning for environmental and food safety application

A New Method for Detecting Plastic-Mulched Land Using GF-2 Imagery

Researchers developed a new remote sensing method for detecting plastic-mulched agricultural land using GF-2 satellite imagery by introducing a K-T transform component specifically enhanced for plastic identification. The method was combined with texture metrics and spectral bands in an object-oriented classification approach. The study demonstrates improved accuracy in mapping plastic mulch coverage, which is important for monitoring agricultural plastic waste that contributes to soil microplastic pollution.