Papers

Effects of microplastics pollution on plant and soil phosphorus: A meta-analysis

Across 781 observations from 73 studies, microplastics significantly reduced plant phosphorus uptake and soil available phosphorus while increasing soil phosphorus leaching. Biodegradable microplastics caused stronger negative effects on soil phosphorus than conventional plastics, and impacts worsened with higher concentrations and longer exposure times.

Microcystin-LR and polystyrene microplastics jointly lead to hepatic histopathological damage and antioxidant dysfunction in male zebrafish

This study exposed zebrafish to a common water toxin (microcystin-LR) both alone and combined with polystyrene microplastics, and found that the microplastics made the liver damage significantly worse. The microplastics acted as carriers, increasing how much toxin accumulated in the fish liver and amplifying oxidative stress. This is relevant to human health because it shows microplastics can boost the harmful effects of other pollutants commonly found in drinking water sources.

Polystyrene microplastics enhance the microcystin-LR-induced gonadal damage and reproductive endocrine disruption in zebrafish

Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene microplastics along with microcystin-LR (a common toxin from algae blooms) suffered worse reproductive damage than when exposed to either pollutant alone. The microplastics acted as carriers that increased the amount of toxin accumulating in the fish's reproductive organs. This study demonstrates that microplastics can worsen the effects of other water pollutants by helping toxic chemicals build up in the body.

Utilizing aquatic environmental DNA to address global biodiversity targets

This review explores how environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis from water samples can help monitor aquatic biodiversity and track ecosystem health. While not directly about microplastics, eDNA technology is increasingly being adapted to study how plastic pollution affects aquatic ecosystems and species diversity. Better biodiversity monitoring tools help scientists understand the broader ecological impacts of microplastic contamination on the water systems that support human food and resources.

Microplastic effects on zooplankton: meta-analysis dataset and code (48 studies; 1,468 effect sizes)

This meta-analysis pools data from 48 studies covering nearly 1,500 measurements to assess how microplastics affect zooplankton, the tiny animals at the base of aquatic food chains. The research found that microplastics pose significant risks to zooplankton, especially as water temperatures rise with climate change. Since zooplankton are a critical food source for fish, harm to these organisms can ripple up the food chain to affect the seafood people eat.

Microplastic effects on zooplankton: meta-analysis dataset and code (48 studies; 1,468 effect sizes)

This meta-analysis dataset accompanies research pooling data from 48 studies to examine how microplastics affect zooplankton across different environmental conditions. The analysis covers nearly 1,500 effect measurements and found that microplastics pose elevated risks to these tiny aquatic organisms, particularly under warming conditions. This is concerning because zooplankton form the foundation of aquatic food webs that ultimately supply seafood to human diets.

Micro/nanoplastic pollution heterogeneously increased greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands: A multilevel meta-analysis

Microplastics can affect the trophic cascade strength and stability of plankton ecosystems via behavior-mediated indirect interactions

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect plankton food webs and found that the particles altered the feeding behavior of water fleas, reducing their ability to graze on algae. This behavioral change weakened the trophic cascade effect, where predators normally help control algae populations through their influence on grazers. The study demonstrates that microplastics can destabilize aquatic ecosystems by disrupting the behavioral interactions between species at different levels of the food chain.

The Occurrence of Microplastics Pollution in the Surface Water and Sediment of Lake Chenghai in Southwestern China

This study measured microplastic pollution in the water and sediment of Lake Chenghai, a plateau lake in southwestern China. Researchers found microplastics at all sampling sites, with fibers and fragments being the most common types, mainly from synthetic clothing and plastic packaging. The findings show that even remote freshwater lakes used by local communities are contaminated with microplastics, raising concerns about drinking water safety.

The distribution of microplastics in soil aggregate fractions in southwestern China

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution across different soil types in agricultural and forested areas near a lake in southwestern China and found plastic particles in every sample, with concentrations as high as 42,960 particles per kilogram. Approximately 95% of the particles fell within the microplastic size range, and fibers were the dominant form, likely originating from textiles and agricultural materials. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination in soils is extensive and varies with land use practices.

Protecting and restoring habitats to benefit freshwater biodiversity

This paper reviews how protecting and restoring freshwater habitats can help reverse the steep decline in river, lake, and wetland biodiversity. Human activities like damming, agriculture, and urbanization have fragmented and degraded these ecosystems at alarming rates. While not focused on microplastics specifically, the review is relevant because reducing pollution, including plastic waste, is a key part of freshwater habitat restoration strategies.

PD-like pathogenesis induced by intestinal exposure to microplastics: An in vivo study of animal models to a public health survey

Researchers found that even low-dose microplastic exposure in mice and worm models accelerated the degeneration of dopamine-producing brain cells and caused movement disorders similar to Parkinson's disease. The microplastics triggered damage through the gut barrier and immune system, causing brain inflammation even without directly entering the brain. A companion public health survey also linked frequent use of disposable plastic tableware to intestinal inflammatory symptoms in people.

Bipartite trophic levels cannot resist the interference of microplastics: A case study of submerged macrophytes and snail

Researchers studied how microplastics affect a two-level food chain consisting of a submerged aquatic plant and freshwater snails living together. They found that increasing microplastic concentrations harmed both organisms, reducing plant growth and disrupting snail feeding behavior and reproduction. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution can destabilize interconnected species relationships in freshwater ecosystems.

Metabolomics reveals the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in the gills of Acrossocheilus yunnanensis

Researchers used metabolomics to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the gills of the freshwater fish Acrossocheilus yunnanensis. They found that nanoplastic exposure caused oxidative stress, tissue lesions, and significant disruption of lipid metabolism, particularly glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastics primarily harm fish gills by damaging tissue integrity and disrupting the lipid balance that maintains cell membrane function.

Changes in microplastic-associated bacterial communities along a salinity gradient in Central Anatolian lakes of Türkiye

Researchers examined bacterial communities growing on microplastic surfaces across 11 Turkish lakes spanning a wide range of salinity levels. They found that Pseudomonadaceae bacteria dominated the microplastic biofilms, and several salt-tolerant pathogenic species were detected on plastic surfaces even in highly saline lakes. The study highlights that microplastics can serve as vehicles for potentially harmful bacteria across diverse freshwater environments.

Perfluorooctanoic acid and concomitant microplastics pollution impact nitrogen elimination processes and increase N2O emission in wetlands through regulation of the functional microbiome

This study found that the industrial chemical PFOA, when combined with microplastics, significantly disrupts nitrogen processing in wetlands and increases emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Researchers observed that PFOA alone inhibited important nitrogen-removal processes, and the addition of microplastics, especially biodegradable PLA plastic, made the problem worse. The findings suggest that combined pollution from forever chemicals and microplastics may be undermining the natural water-cleaning ability of wetland ecosystems.

Current status of microplastic pollution in China’s aquatic environment and its interactions with metal pollutants on aquatic organisms

Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic pollution in China's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters and how microplastics interact with metal pollutants to affect aquatic organisms. They found that microplastics can absorb metals from the water and that the combined exposure is often more harmful to aquatic life than either pollutant alone. The study highlights that tire wear microplastics are a particularly concerning source because they release high levels of metals, creating compounding risks for freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Microplastics affect soil bacterial community assembly more by their shapes rather than the concentrations

Researchers conducted a two-year field study examining how different shapes of polyethylene microplastics affect soil bacterial communities and found that shape matters more than concentration. Fiber and fragment-shaped microplastics caused the most significant changes in bacterial diversity and community structure compared to spherical or powder forms. The findings challenge the common assumption that microplastic concentration is the primary factor driving ecological impacts in soil.

A global synthesis of microplastic contamination in wild fish species: Challenges for conservation, implications for sustainability of wild fish stocks and future directions

Researchers conducted a global synthesis analyzing 260 field studies covering over 1,000 fish species and found that microplastics have been recorded in 830 wild fish species, including 606 species important to commercial fisheries. Among the affected species, 34 are classified as globally threatened on the IUCN Red List. The study highlights that microplastic contamination is widespread across wild fish populations, with implications for both conservation and food safety.

The Bioaccumulation, Fractionation and Health Risk of Rare Earth Elements in Wild Fish of Guangzhou City, China

Researchers measured rare earth element concentrations in wild fish from Guangzhou, China, and found levels ranging widely depending on species, feeding habits, and habitat. Bottom-dwelling and omnivorous fish accumulated more of these elements, and smaller fish were more susceptible to bioaccumulation. Despite elevated levels in some species, the estimated daily intake from eating these fish remained within safe limits for human consumption.

Metabolomics reveals the mechanism of polyethylene microplastic toxicity to Daphnia magna

Using metabolomics and traditional toxicology, researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics of different sizes affect the water flea Daphnia magna. The study found that microplastic exposure disrupted amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and energy pathways, with smaller particles generally causing more pronounced metabolic disturbances.

An often-overlooked health issue: The potential adverse effects of microplastics on the human ocular health

Migration of (non-) intentionally added substances and microplastics from microwavable plastic food containers

Researchers investigated the migration of chemicals and microplastics from microwavable plastic food containers into food simulants. They identified 42 intentionally added substances and over 100 non-intentionally added substances that migrated from the containers, with migration rates being higher in fatty food simulants and decreasing with repeated use, raising questions about potential health risks from everyday microwave container usage.

Microplastics affect interspecific interactions between cladoceran species in the absence and presence of predators by triggering asymmetric individual responses

Researchers studied how microplastics affect the competition between two species of tiny freshwater crustaceans, both with and without a predator present. Microplastics reduced feeding rates and reproduction differently in each species, shifting the competitive balance between them. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could alter species interactions in aquatic ecosystems, potentially changing which organisms thrive and which decline.