Papers

Long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics triggers premature testicular aging

Long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics was found to trigger premature aging in mouse testes through a chain reaction involving calcium buildup, oxidative stress, and inflammatory signaling. This suggests that ongoing microplastic exposure could harm male reproductive health by accelerating the aging of reproductive organs. The findings raise concerns about fertility impacts as humans continue to accumulate microplastics over a lifetime.

Thyroid and parathyroid function disorders induced by short-term exposure of microplastics and nanoplastics: Exploration of toxic mechanisms and early warning biomarkers

Mice exposed to micro- and nanoplastics through both breathing and eating showed disrupted thyroid and parathyroid gland function in just a short exposure period. Microplastics ingested through food were more harmful to the thyroid, while inhaled nanoplastics caused the most damage to the parathyroid, which helps regulate calcium levels in the body. These findings suggest that everyday microplastic exposure could interfere with important hormone systems that affect metabolism and bone health.

Polystyrene exposure induces lamb gastrointestinal injury, digestive disorders and inflammation, decreasing daily gain, and meat quality

Lambs fed polystyrene microplastics daily for 60 days showed reduced growth, severe intestinal damage, liver and kidney swelling, and lower meat quality compared to unexposed animals. The microplastics disrupted digestion, triggered oxidative stress, and altered gut bacteria composition, with mid-sized particles (50-100 micrometers) causing the worst damage -- demonstrating direct health consequences of microplastic ingestion in livestock that could affect the food supply.

Toxic effects of microplastics on freshwater fish (Channa argus): mechanisms of inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy

Freshwater snakehead fish exposed to polystyrene microplastics for four weeks developed inflammation, cell death, and tissue damage in their liver, intestines, kidneys, and gills. The damage worsened with higher microplastic concentrations and involved disruption of the fish's antioxidant defenses and immune system. Since snakehead is a commonly consumed fish in Asia, these findings raise questions about whether microplastics in aquaculture environments could affect the safety of fish as human food.

Microplastics sequestered in the soil affect the turnover and stability of soil aggregates: A review

This review examines how microplastics trapped in soil affect the structure and stability of soil clumps (aggregates) that are essential for healthy farming. Microplastics create weak points in soil structure and alter its physical and chemical properties, which can reduce soil's ability to hold water and support plant growth. Since healthy soil aggregates are the foundation of productive farmland, microplastic contamination could threaten food production over the long term.

Maize/Soybean Intercropping with Straw Return Increases Crop Yield by Influencing the Biological Characteristics of Soil

This study tested how combining straw return with maize-soybean intercropping affects soil health and crop yields in northeast China. The combined technique boosted soil microbial diversity, enzyme activity, and crop productivity compared to single-crop farming. While not directly about microplastics, the research highlights sustainable farming practices that improve soil biology, which is relevant because healthier soil ecosystems may be more resilient to microplastic contamination.

Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbated lipopolysaccharide‐induced necroptosis and inflammation via the ROS/MAPK pathway in mice spleen

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics worsened the inflammatory damage caused by bacterial toxins in the spleens of mice. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress that activated inflammatory signaling pathways, leading to cell death, and these effects were significantly amplified when nanoplastics were combined with bacterial endotoxin. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may compromise the immune system's ability to handle infections and inflammation.

Maltol attenuates polystyrene nanoplastic-induced enterotoxicity by promoting AMPK/mTOR/TFEB-mediated autophagy and modulating gut microbiota

Researchers found that maltol, a natural food flavoring compound, can protect against intestinal damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in mice. Maltol worked by activating cellular cleanup processes (autophagy) and restoring the balance of gut bacteria disrupted by nanoplastic exposure. The study suggests that dietary compounds like maltol could potentially help mitigate some of the gut health effects associated with nanoplastic ingestion.

Enzymatic-Driven Responses of Soil Fertility and Crop Yields to Different Long-Term Organic Substitution Regimes Under Wheat–Maize Rotation

Scientists found that replacing some chemical fertilizers with organic materials like chicken manure and crop waste can maintain crop yields while making soil much healthier. The organic materials boost helpful soil enzymes that break down nutrients, creating richer soil with more carbon and nitrogen that plants can use. This approach could help farmers grow food more sustainably while reducing their dependence on chemical fertilizers, which is important for long-term food security and environmental health.

The FOXO pathway mediates a conserved mechanism of antioxidant defense against microplastic-induced toxicity in Aurelia coerulea polyps and mouse liver

Researchers exposed both jellyfish polyps and mice to polystyrene microplastics and found that both species suffered tissue damage, oxidative stress, and activated similar antioxidant defense pathways through what is known as the FOXO signaling pathway. The gene sequences involved in this response were nearly 50% similar between the two very different species, suggesting a conserved biological defense mechanism. The study provides evidence that the cellular response to microplastic damage may be shared across a wide range of animal life.

Recent Applications in Analytical Techniques of Microplastics

This review surveys analytical methods developed over the past five years for detecting and identifying microplastics, covering fluorescent labeling, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, and chromatography. Researchers found that while each technique has strengths, no single method can fully characterize the diverse types, sizes, and compositions of microplastics found in the environment. The work highlights the need for standardized, comprehensive detection approaches to better monitor and understand microplastic pollution.

Microplastics Exposure Causes the Growth Hormone Resistance on the Stem Cell

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect the ability of human stem cells to respond to growth hormone. They found that microplastics entered the cells and increased harmful reactive oxygen species, which led to cellular aging and significantly reduced growth hormone signaling pathways. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may interfere with important cellular growth and repair processes by making cells less responsive to growth hormone.

Immobilization of bacterial mixture of Klebsiella variicola FH-1 and Arthrobacter sp. NJ-1 enhances the bioremediation of atrazine-polluted soil environments

Researchers developed an immobilized bacterial mixture using sodium alginate carriers to degrade the herbicide atrazine in polluted soil. The immobilized bacteria achieved 98.23% degradation efficiency of atrazine within 9 days under optimized conditions and could be reused multiple times, suggesting a promising bioremediation approach for contaminated agricultural environments.

Soil metagenomics reveals the effect of nitrogen on soil microbial communities and nitrogen-cycle functional genes in the rhizosphere of Panax ginseng

Researchers studied how different levels of nitrogen fertilizer affect the soil microbial communities around ginseng roots. They found that moderate nitrogen boosted beneficial microbes and improved ginseng yields, while excessive nitrogen decreased soil pH, reduced microbial diversity, and increased disease-causing organisms. The study highlights the importance of balanced fertilizer use for maintaining healthy soil ecosystems in agricultural settings.

Nanoplastic-Induced Liver Damage Was Alleviated by Maltol via Enhancing Autophagic Flow: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study

Researchers found that nanoplastic exposure caused liver damage in mice through oxidative stress, cell death, and impaired cellular recycling processes. They then tested maltol, a compound derived from red ginseng, and found it significantly reduced the liver damage by restoring healthy autophagy and reducing oxidative stress. The study suggests that natural compounds like maltol could potentially help protect the liver from the harmful effects of nanoplastic accumulation.

Polystyrene microplastics exposure aggravates acute liver injury by promoting Kupffer cell pyroptosis

Researchers found that long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics worsened acute liver injury in mice by triggering a specific type of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis in liver immune cells. When they blocked this cell death pathway either genetically or with a drug, the damaging effects of the microplastics were significantly reduced. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may make the liver more vulnerable to injury by amplifying inflammatory responses.

Effects of individual and combined polystyrene nanoplastics and phenanthrene on the enzymology, physiology, and transcriptome parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Researchers conducted a hydroponic experiment to evaluate how polystyrene nanoplastics and phenanthrene, individually and in combination, affect rice plants. The study examined effects on enzyme activity, plant physiology, and gene expression over seven days. Evidence indicates that the combination of nanoplastics with organic pollutants can produce different impacts on crop growth compared to either contaminant alone.

Toxicity effects of nanoplastics on soybean (Glycine max L.): Mechanisms and transcriptomic analysis

Researchers exposed soybean plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and observed inhibited stem and root growth, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthesis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that nanoplastics altered the expression of genes involved in plant stress responses, hormone signaling, and metabolic pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could negatively affect crop growth and yield at the molecular level.

Mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction and intestinal damage induced by ingestion of microplastics in Leuciscus waleckii: The role of the NF-κB/Nrf2 signaling pathway

This study found that polystyrene microplastics harmed juvenile fish by triggering immune dysfunction, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage in their intestines. The microplastics activated inflammatory pathways, damaged the intestinal barrier, and shifted the gut microbiome toward harmful bacteria. These findings suggest that microplastic ingestion could have cascading effects on fish health through multiple biological pathways.

Exploring the adsorption potential of different Ganoderma lucidum mycelium morphologies for microplastic removal

Widely Targeted Metabolomic Profiling Combined with Transcriptome Analysis Provides New Insights into Lipid Biosynthesis in Seed Kernels of Pinus koraiensis

Researchers used metabolomic profiling and transcriptome analysis to investigate lipid biosynthesis in Korean pine seed kernels at various developmental stages. The study identified key lipid metabolites including linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid that steadily increased during development, along with 10 hub genes involved in lipid synthesis, providing a foundation for understanding fatty acid metabolism in this nutritionally valued nut crop.

Long-term plastic mulching exacerbates the co-limitation of carbon and phosphorus in farmland by altering physicochemical properties and microbial interactions

Researchers examined how prolonged plastic film mulching over 5 to 15 years affects soil microplastic accumulation, nutrient cycling, and microbial communities in Chinese farmland. The study found that long-term mulching significantly increased microplastic abundance while depleting soil carbon and phosphorus, ultimately worsening nutrient co-limitation and disrupting microbial interactions critical for soil health.

Positive effects of gamma aminobutyric acid on growth and lipopolysaccharide induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in snakehead (Channa argus)

Supplementing snakehead fish (Channa argus) with gamma-aminobutyric acid improved growth performance and mitigated lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal barrier damage, with GABA supplementation restoring tight junction protein expression and reducing intestinal permeability.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics Cause Thyroid Dysfunction in Adolescent Mice through the Intestinal Microbiota-Mediated Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis

Adolescent mice exposed to PP and PET micro/nanoplastics in diet showed reduced thyroid hormone levels, and fecal microbiota transplantation experiments confirmed that gut microbiota mediated thyroid dysfunction via the intestinal-hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.