Papers

Differences in toxicity induced by the various polymer types of nanoplastics on HepG2 cells

Researchers compared the toxicity of three common nanoplastic types on human liver cells and found that PET (used in bottles) and PVC were significantly more toxic than polystyrene, causing cell death through oxidative stress and a mitochondrial damage pathway. This is important because most toxicity studies have only tested polystyrene, potentially underestimating the health risks of the plastic types people actually encounter most in food and beverage packaging.

Ocean current modulation of the spatial distribution of microplastics in the surface sediments of the Beibu Gulf, China

Researchers conducted a large-scale survey of microplastics in seafloor sediments of the Beibu Gulf in China and found that ocean currents play a major role in where microplastics accumulate. The study provides important data on how water circulation patterns transport and concentrate microplastic pollution in coastal marine environments.

Combined toxicity of microplastics and heavy metals to terrestrial plants: A global meta-analysis integrating machine learning predictions

Microplastics in animal-derived products and their potential risks to human health

Mechanism of microplastics in the reduction of cadmium toxicity in tomato

In a surprising finding, researchers discovered that microplastics in soil actually reduced the toxicity of cadmium (a dangerous heavy metal) to tomato plants. The microplastics lowered the plants' uptake of harmful heavy metals while helping restore absorption of essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium. While this does not make microplastics beneficial, it reveals complex interactions between different soil pollutants that affect food crops.

The impact of microplastics polystyrene on the microscopic structure of mouse intestine, tight junction genes and gut microbiota

In a mouse study, polystyrene microplastics damaged the intestinal lining by reducing the height and surface area of gut structures and turning down genes responsible for keeping the gut barrier sealed. The microplastics also reduced the diversity of gut bacteria, with female mice showing more pronounced changes than males, suggesting that microplastic exposure may weaken the gut wall and shift the microbiome in ways that could affect overall health.

A review of the influence of environmental pollutants (microplastics, pesticides, antibiotics, air pollutants, viruses, bacteria) on animal viruses

This review summarizes existing research on how environmental pollutants -- including microplastics, pesticides, and antibiotics -- affect animal viruses by influencing their survival, mutation rates, and ability to spread. The findings suggest that microplastics can serve as surfaces where viruses persist longer in the environment, potentially increasing transmission risks. This has implications for both animal and human health, as pollutant-virus interactions could contribute to the emergence of new disease threats.

Microplastic pollution in commercially important edible marine bivalves: A comprehensive review

This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in edible shellfish like mussels, clams, and oysters, which accumulate high levels of plastic particles in their tissues. Because bivalves are eaten whole including their digestive systems, they are a direct pathway for microplastics to enter the human body. While microplastics do not appear to kill shellfish outright, they can harm their immune systems and reproduction, potentially affecting both shellfish populations and human consumers.

Adsorption of heavy metals on biodegradable and conventional microplastics in the Pearl River Estuary, China

Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics absorb heavy metals in an estuary environment over 12 months. Biodegradable microplastics absorbed more copper, lead, and arsenic than conventional plastics, suggesting they may actually pose greater risks as carriers of toxic metals. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment, since they can concentrate dangerous heavy metals and potentially transfer them into the food chain.

Exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics induces reprogramming of flavonoids metabolism and gene regulatory networks in Capsicum annuum

Researchers exposed pepper seedlings to PET microplastics and found that the particles significantly disrupted the plants' production of flavonoids, which are beneficial compounds that protect both the plant and human consumers. The microplastics altered gene activity in pathways responsible for flavonoid production, reducing the nutritional quality of the peppers. This suggests that microplastic-contaminated soil could lower the health benefits of vegetables people eat, even when the plants appear to grow normally.

The varied effects of different microplastics on stem development and carbon-nitrogen metabolism in tomato

Researchers tested how six different types of microplastics, including both conventional and biodegradable varieties, affect tomato plant growth. All types disrupted the plants' internal structure and altered how they processed carbon and nitrogen, with PVC causing the most severe damage. Notably, biodegradable plastics like PLA and PBS were not harmless either, suggesting that switching to so-called eco-friendly plastics may not fully protect agricultural soil and food crops from microplastic contamination.

Unraveling individual and combined toxicity of microplastics and tetracycline at environment-related concentrations to coral holobionts

Researchers tested how microplastics alone and combined with the antibiotic tetracycline affect coral organisms at levels actually found in the ocean. The combination was more toxic than either pollutant alone, disrupting the coral's symbiotic algae, microbiome, and immune responses. Since coral reefs support fisheries and coastal communities worldwide, this damage from microplastic pollution could have cascading effects on both marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.

Effects of microplastics and heavy metal stress on the growth and physiological characteristics of pioneer plant Avicennia marina

Researchers studied how mangrove plants respond to combined pollution from microplastics and heavy metals at levels found in the environment. The combination caused more oxidative stress and growth problems than either pollutant alone, disrupting the plants' defense systems. Since mangroves protect coastlines and filter water for coastal communities, damage to these ecosystems from microplastic-heavy metal pollution could have indirect effects on human well-being.

Toxicity Mechanisms of Microplastic and Its Effects on Ruminant Production: A Review

This review summarizes how microplastics enter ruminant animals like cattle and sheep through contaminated feed, water, and grazing on plastic-polluted land, and the health problems they cause. Microplastics can damage the gut lining, disrupt the rumen microbiome, cause inflammation, and impair nutrient absorption in livestock. Since ruminants are a major source of meat and dairy products, microplastic contamination in livestock raises questions about potential transfer to humans through the food chain.

Toxicity of microplastics and nano-plastics to coral-symbiotic alga (Dinophyceae Symbiodinium): Evidence from alga physiology, ultrastructure, OJIP kinetics and multi-omics

Researchers studied how microplastics and nanoplastics damage Symbiodinium, the algae that live inside coral and keep reefs alive. Even at concentrations found in the real environment, the plastic particles disrupted photosynthesis, caused oxidative stress, and triggered metabolic problems in the algae. Since the breakdown of this coral-algae partnership leads to coral bleaching, microplastic pollution could threaten the reef ecosystems that support fisheries and coastal communities worldwide.

High sensitivity in quantitative analysis of mixed-size polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in one step

Scientists developed a new method using filtration combined with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to separate and identify mixed-size micro- and nanoplastics in a single step. The technique achieved detection limits as low as parts-per-billion concentration levels and was successfully tested in real-world tap water samples. Reliable methods for detecting nanoplastics in drinking water are crucial for understanding the extent of human exposure through water consumption.

The impact of co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and norethindrone on gill histology, antioxidant capacity, reproductive system, and gut microbiota in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene microplastics and norethindrone (a synthetic hormone found in birth control pills and waterways) for 30 days showed gill damage, reduced antioxidant defenses, disrupted sex hormones, and altered gut bacteria. The combination of the two pollutants was often more harmful than either alone, particularly for reproductive function. This is relevant to human health because both microplastics and pharmaceutical residues are common in water sources.

Distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in typical ecosystems in the South China Sea

This review summarizes microplastic pollution studies across the South China Sea, covering water, sediment, and marine organisms. The region is considered a hotspot due to surrounding industrial development and high population density. The paper assesses ecological risks and highlights that microplastics are accumulating throughout the food web in this heavily used marine ecosystem.

Physiological Mechanism through Which Al Toxicity Inhibits Peanut Root Growth

This study investigated how aluminum toxicity damages peanut roots, finding that it reduces root growth, triggers oxidative stress, disrupts nutrient absorption, and alters hormone levels. High aluminum concentrations activated plant defense mechanisms including antioxidant enzymes to combat the damage. While focused on aluminum rather than microplastics, the study is relevant because microplastics in agricultural soil can increase the availability and uptake of toxic metals like aluminum, compounding harm to crops.

Human activities altered the enrichment patterns of microplastics in mangrove blue carbon ecosystem in the semi-enclosed Zhanjiang Bay, China

This study found that mangrove forests in Zhanjiang Bay, China, contained about 1.6 times more microplastics in their sediments than nearby non-mangrove areas, showing that these ecosystems trap and accumulate plastic pollution. Human activities were identified as the key factor driving different contamination patterns between mangrove and non-mangrove areas. Since mangroves are important coastal ecosystems that support fisheries and protect shorelines, their contamination with microplastics could affect the marine food web and the communities that depend on these resources.

Toxic Effects on Bioaccumulation, Hematological Parameters, Oxidative Stress, Immune Responses and Tissue Structure in Fish Exposed to Ammonia Nitrogen: A Review

This review summarizes how ammonia nitrogen pollution in aquatic environments affects fish health, including damage to blood, organs, immune function, and tissue structure. Researchers found that ammonia exposure triggers oxidative stress and bioaccumulation in fish, with toxic effects varying by species and developmental stage. The study highlights the importance of monitoring ammonia levels in waterways to protect aquatic ecosystems and the food chain.

Overview of microplastic pollution and its influence on the health of organisms

This review summarizes microplastic pollution across marine, freshwater, and soil environments and its effects on organisms ranging from plankton to mammals. Microplastics disrupt feeding behavior, trigger oxidative stress, alter gut bacteria, and impair reproduction in exposed species. The authors note that microplastics also enter the human body through food, water, and air, posing potential health risks that require further research.

Isolated and combined toxicity of PVC microplastics and copper on Pinctada fucata martensii: Immune, oxidative, and metabolomics insights

Researchers studied the individual and combined toxic effects of PVC microplastics and copper on pearl oysters over 13 days. They found that combined exposure caused more severe immune suppression, oxidative damage, and metabolic disruption than either pollutant alone. The study demonstrates that microplastics and heavy metals can interact to amplify their harmful effects on marine organisms.

Effect of combined salt and microplastic stress on the microbiota structure of the rice–oriental armyworm system

Researchers studied how salt stress and polyethylene microplastic contamination together affect rice plants and the insects that feed on them. They found that while individual stressors reduced insect weight, the combined stress surprisingly allowed partial recovery, suggesting complex interactions between the two environmental factors. The study reveals that co-occurring stresses from salt and microplastics reshape microbial communities in both plants and insects in unexpected ways.