Papers

Less toxic combined microplastics exposure towards attached Chlorella sorokiniana in the presence of sulfamethoxazole while massive microalgal nitrous oxide emission under multiple stresses

Researchers studied how microplastics from different plastic types (polyethylene, PVC, and polyamide) interact with an antibiotic in a microalgae-based wastewater treatment system. They found that combining different types of microplastics together was more harmful to the algae than mixing microplastics with the antibiotic. The study also showed that stressed algae released more nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, meaning microplastic pollution in wastewater could worsen climate change.

C─S Bonds Modulated Nanointerface Tension to Create Stable Magnetic Hollow Nanocarbons for Efficient Microplastics Capture

Scientists created magnetic hollow carbon nanoparticles that can capture microplastics from water with 100% efficiency in just 10 seconds. The key innovation was adding sulfur to the carbon structure, which made the particles stable and effective across different water conditions including varying salt levels and acidity. This technology could eventually help clean microplastics from contaminated water sources, potentially reducing human exposure through drinking water.

Toxic effects of tire wear particles and the leachate on the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

Researchers exposed Chinese mitten crabs to tire wear particles (TWPs) and their leachate, finding that while TWPs accumulated in liver, gill, and gut tissues, toxicity was sublethal — disrupting antioxidant defenses and energy metabolism at higher doses — and that TWPs and their leachate act through partially distinct molecular mechanisms.

Biological interactions of polystyrene nanoplastics: Their cytotoxic and immunotoxic effects on the hepatic and enteric systems

Researchers exposed mouse and human liver cells and live mice to polystyrene nanoplastics of five different sizes and found that the smallest particles were most toxic in lab dishes, while medium and large particles caused the most liver damage in living animals. The larger particles triggered immune responses by recruiting inflammatory cells to the liver and intestines, causing tissue damage. This study reveals that nanoplastic size matters in unexpected ways, and that lab tests alone may not predict which particles are most dangerous in the body.

Distinct responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to polyethylene microplastics and plant secondary metabolites

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics and plant-derived chemical compounds individually and together affect the roundworm C. elegans, a common soil organism. They found that while the plant compounds reduced worm reproduction and lifespan, microplastics had milder individual effects but modified the toxicity of the plant chemicals when combined. The study reveals that in real soil environments, the interactions between microplastics and natural plant chemicals create complex toxicity patterns.

Effects of long-term exposure to tire wear particle leachate on life-cycle chronic toxicity and potential toxic mechanisms in the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus

Researchers studied the long-term effects of tire wear particle chemicals on marine copepods across multiple generations and found severe impacts on survival, reproduction, and sex ratios. At the highest exposure level, no animals survived to the second generation, and females nearly disappeared from the population. The findings highlight that tire wear particles, a major source of microplastic pollution in coastal waters, can cause devastating multigenerational harm to marine organisms even through chemical leaching alone.

Predicting Protein Corona Formation on Polylactic Acid Microplastics Pre- and Post-Photoaging: The Importance of Optimal Imputation Methods

Researchers used machine learning to predict which proteins from human blood plasma attach to polylactic acid microplastics, both before and after the plastics are aged by sunlight. They found that a protein's shape and surface area were key factors determining whether it would stick to the plastic, and that UV aging changed how certain amino acids interacted with the particle surface. The study highlights the importance of understanding how the body's proteins coat microplastics, since this protein layer influences how the particles behave inside biological systems.

Effects of environmental microplastic exposure on Chlorella sp. biofilm characteristics and its interaction with nitric oxide signaling

Researchers examined how environmental microplastic exposure affects the formation of algae biofilms and their interaction with nitric oxide signaling. They found that microplastics disrupted biofilm development and altered the way algae cells communicate through chemical signals. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could impair the natural ability of algae to form protective communities used in wastewater treatment applications.

Isolation, characteristics, and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) degradation mechanism of a marine bacteria Roseibium aggregatum ZY-1

Scientists isolated a marine bacterium called Roseibium aggregatum ZY-1 that can break down PBAT, a type of biodegradable plastic. The research revealed the specific enzymes and metabolic pathways the bacterium uses to degrade PBAT into its basic building blocks, suggesting it could be a promising candidate for tackling plastic pollution in ocean environments.

Exposure to nanoplastics induces the elevation of Zn2+ levels in cells as visualized by a Golgi apparatus-targetable ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor

Researchers developed a specialized fluorescent sensor that can detect changes in zinc levels within the Golgi apparatus of cells exposed to nanoplastics. They found that nanoplastic exposure caused a significant increase in cellular zinc concentrations, which is linked to oxidative stress responses. The study provides new tools and insights for understanding the molecular mechanisms behind nanoplastic toxicity in cells.

Calling out for studying microplastics at environmentally relevant conditions: aquatic distribution, differential impacts on microalgae by aged and pristine microplastics, and mechanisms of altered toxicity

Macrophage cytoskeletal and immune responses to photoaged and gastrointestinal-transformed polylactic acid micro/nanoplastics with protein corona

Researchers found that UV photoaging and simulated gastrointestinal digestion shrank polylactic acid micro/nanoplastics to one-third their original size and shifted their surface protein corona from lipoprotein-binding to complement and coagulation proteins, yet both pristine and aged particles consistently disrupted the cytoskeleton of human macrophages and triggered formation of macrophage extracellular traps.

Bisphenol A decreases the developmental toxicity and histopathological alterations caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in developing marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Researchers found that bisphenol A unexpectedly decreased the developmental toxicity and histopathological damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in marine medaka embryos, suggesting complex antagonistic interactions between co-existing pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Membrane fouling mechanisms in the presence of microplastics and organic matter: The unexpected mitigating role of Ca2+

Researchers investigated how microplastics interact with organic matter and calcium ions during ultrafiltration membrane treatment. They found that the order in which calcium ions are added to the system dramatically affects membrane fouling, with pre-mixing calcium and organic matter before adding microplastics reducing fouling by over 90%. The findings reveal an unexpected beneficial role for calcium in mitigating membrane fouling when microplastics and organic matter are present together.

Effect of bioturbation of the mitten crab on distribution of tire wear particles and their combined effect on sediment ecosystem

Researchers found that tire wear particles (TWPs) inhibit burrowing activity in Chinese mitten crabs and that crab bioturbation redistributes TWPs into burrow walls, concentrating heavy metal additives like zinc there while also suppressing sediment microbial diversity and nutrient cycling functions.

C─S Bonds Modulated Nanointerface Tension to Create Stable Magnetic Hollow Nanocarbons for Efficient Microplastics Capture

Researchers synthesized magnetic hollow nanocarbons with C-S bonds to create a stable adsorbent for capturing microplastics from water. The material's interface properties enabled efficient microplastic attachment across a range of particle sizes and polymer types, while the magnetic core allowed easy recovery from treated water.

Novel unlabeled electrochemical sensing platform based on highly electroactive Cu-MOF film for nanoplastic detection in water

Researchers developed an electrochemical sensor using a copper-based metal-organic framework film on carbon nanotubes to detect nanoplastics in water without fluorescent labels, demonstrating that polystyrene nanoplastics adsorbing onto the sensor surface measurably inhibit electrical current in a concentration-dependent manner across particle sizes from 100 nm to 1 µm.

Effects of microplastics on seed germination and seedling physiological characteristics of <i>Spinacia oleracea</i> under alkali stress.

Polystyrene nanoplastics at moderate to high concentrations (400 mg/L and above) inhibited spinach seed germination and suppressed antioxidant enzyme activity and chlorophyll levels, even under normal growing conditions. When combined with alkaline salt stress — simulating saline soils common in some agricultural regions — both stressors generally compounded harm to plant development. These findings raise concerns about microplastic contamination in irrigated croplands, where plants may already face chemical stress, potentially threatening food crop yields.

Interfacial configurational entropy tuning strategy enabling liquid alloys for efficient depolymerization of polyolefin waste

Scientists developed a new metal catalyst that can break down plastic waste into useful chemicals without needing high pressure or extra materials. This breakthrough could help solve our growing plastic pollution problem by turning old plastic containers and bags into raw materials for new products. While this research focuses on recycling plastic waste, reducing plastic pollution could eventually help decrease the tiny plastic particles that end up in our food and water.

One-stop quantification of microplastics and nanoparticles based on meniscus self-assembly technology

Researchers developed a meniscus self-assembly enrichment method that deposits nanoplastics uniformly within a specific area, enabling one-stop quantification of both microplastics and nanoparticles by overcoming agglomeration and dispersion problems inherent in traditional enrichment approaches.