Papers

Microplastic Toxicity in Aquatic Organisms and Aquatic Ecosystems: a Review

Toxicity assessment of microplastic (MPs); a threat to the ecosystem

This review describes how microplastics enter the food chain through contaminated soil, water, food, and household products, and have been confirmed present in the human body. Microplastics damage soil structure, harm soil microorganisms, reduce plant growth, and once inside humans through various exposure routes, may trigger inflammation and other health effects.

From macro to micro: The key parameters influencing the degradation mechanism and the toxicity of microplastics in the environment

Preparation of a novel reusable 2D-MXene with flower-like LDH composite for ultra-high adsorption of congo red and doxycycline: Stability and environmental application

Scientists created a new recyclable material combining MXene and layered double hydroxides that can remove over 98% of certain pollutants from wastewater. While this study focused on dye and antibiotic removal rather than microplastics directly, the same type of advanced filtration technology could be adapted to help remove micro- and nanoplastic contaminants from water supplies.

Microplastic as an invisible threat to the coral reefs: Sources, toxicity mechanisms, policy intervention, and the way forward

This review examines how microplastics threaten coral reefs by causing physical damage, chemical toxicity, and disruption to coral biology. Microplastics can block coral feeding, carry harmful chemicals, and promote disease-causing bacteria on coral surfaces. While focused on coral ecosystems, the findings matter for human health because healthy reefs support fisheries and coastal communities that millions of people depend on.

Deciphering the Neurotoxic Burden of Micro- and Nanoplastics: From Multi-model Experimental Evidence to Therapeutic Innovation

This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics damage the brain and nervous system, covering evidence from cell studies, animal experiments, and clinical observations. Plastic particles can cross the blood-brain barrier, disrupt the gut-brain connection, cause oxidative stress, and trigger inflammation that leads to memory problems and cognitive decline. The review also discusses potential treatment strategies, making it a useful resource for understanding the brain health risks of plastic exposure.

The role and significance of graphene oxide in the remediation of micro- and nanoplastics from the environment

This review examines how graphene oxide, a carbon-based material with a very large surface area, can be used to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from water. Graphene oxide showed impressive removal capacity for polystyrene microplastics through adsorption. The technology could be an important tool for developing more effective water treatment systems that protect people from microplastic contamination.

Microplastic contamination in water, fish, and shrimp collected from the Nile River in Upper Egypt poses ecological and human health hazards

Researchers found significant microplastic contamination in Nile River water, fish, and shrimp in Upper Egypt, with urban areas showing the highest levels. They estimated that adults living in the area may ingest thousands of microplastic particles per kilogram of body weight annually through water alone. Since millions of people depend on the Nile for drinking water and food, these findings raise serious concerns about long-term health effects from chronic microplastic exposure.

Artificial intelligence-driven detection of microplastics in food: A comprehensive review of sources, health risks, detection techniques, and emerging artificial intelligence solutions

This review compares traditional and advanced methods for detecting microplastics in food, finding that while older techniques provide basic information, newer technologies like infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry can identify much smaller particles with greater accuracy. The study highlights how artificial intelligence can significantly improve the speed and precision of microplastic detection in food products. As global plastic production continues to rise, better detection methods are essential for monitoring food safety and protecting human health.

Microplastic toxicity in fish: A potential review on sources, impacts, and solution

This review summarizes research on how microplastics affect fish health, covering sources of contamination, physical damage, hormonal disruption, and behavioral changes. Microplastics accumulate in fish tissues and can concentrate up the food chain, with potential toxic effects passing on to humans who eat contaminated seafood. The authors discuss possible solutions including better waste management, biodegradable alternatives, and advanced water treatment.

RETRACTED: Managing the invisible threat of microplastics in marine ecosystems: Lessons from coast of the Bay of Bengal

This study surveyed microplastic contamination across multiple marine environments along the Bay of Bengal coast, including beaches, surface water, and sediment. Researchers found microplastics at every sampling site, with fibers being the dominant shape and polyethylene the most common polymer type. The findings highlight the extent of plastic pollution in a coastal region that supports millions of people through fishing and aquaculture.

Removal of Azo Dyes from Aqueous Effluent Using Bio-Based Activated Carbons: Toxicity Aspects and Environmental Impact

This review discusses the toxic effects of azo dyes, widely used in textile manufacturing, and methods for removing them from wastewater using activated carbon. While not directly about microplastics, the research connects to microplastic concerns because synthetic textile fibers that shed as microplastics often contain residual azo dyes. When these microfibers enter waterways, they can release dye chemicals that are known to be carcinogenic and mutagenic, adding a chemical dimension to microplastic pollution.

Sex-based differences in toxicity after exposure to microplastics or nanoplastics in aquatic and terrestrial organisms: A systematic review

This systematic review found consistent sex-based differences in how organisms respond to micro- and nanoplastic exposure, with females often showing greater reproductive and hormonal vulnerability. These findings suggest that microplastic health risk assessments should account for biological sex as a variable, which has important implications for understanding human exposure risks.

The Role of Conventional Methods and Artificial Intelligence in the Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

This review provides a comprehensive overview of both conventional and artificial intelligence-based approaches to wastewater treatment, covering methods for removing contaminants including microplastics, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. Researchers found that AI and machine learning tools can optimize treatment processes, predict outcomes, and reduce costs compared to traditional trial-and-error approaches. The study highlights how digital technologies are transforming water treatment to meet growing demands for clean water.

Planetary health and non-communicable diseases—A converging global crisis

This review examines the convergence of environmental degradation and the global rise in non-communicable diseases, identifying microplastics as one of several environmental pollutants contributing to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions. The authors argue that addressing plastic pollution is integral to a planetary health approach to disease prevention.

Soil microplastics: Impacts on greenhouse gasses emissions, carbon cycling, microbial diversity, and soil characteristics

Exploring the risk of microplastics to pollinators: focusing on honey bees

This review summarizes research on how microplastics affect honey bees, which pollinate about 70% of the food we eat. Microplastics have been found in honey, pollen, beeswax, and bee tissues including the brain and gut, where they can impair behavior, immunity, and gut bacteria. Declining bee populations threaten food production, and microplastic pollution may be one contributing factor.

RETRACTED: Personal protective equipment-derived pollution during Covid-19 era: A critical review of ecotoxicology impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges

This retracted review examined how personal protective equipment used during COVID-19 became a new source of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, particularly the Bay of Bengal. PPE items like masks and gloves release microplastic fibers as they degrade, which can be ingested by marine organisms and enter the food chain. The study called for better waste management strategies to handle pandemic-related plastic pollution.

A mini-review on plasticrusts: occurrence, current trends, potential threats, and recommendations for coastal sustainability

This review describes a newly identified form of plastic pollution called plasticrusts, which are plastic coatings that form on rocks along shorelines from crushed plastic debris. These formations can release microplastics into the marine environment as they break down and may introduce harmful chemicals into coastal food chains. The discovery highlights that plastic pollution takes more forms than previously recognized, potentially increasing the ways microplastics enter the environment and, eventually, human food sources.

Reviewing the role of microplastics as carriers for microorganisms in absorbing toxic trace elements

This review examines how microplastics serve as carriers for both harmful bacteria and toxic metals in the environment. Bacteria colonize microplastic surfaces and form biofilms, which can concentrate dangerous trace elements and help spread pathogens to new areas. This dual role as a transport vehicle for both chemical and biological contaminants increases the potential risk to human health through contaminated water and food.

State-of-the-art strategies for microplastics mitigation in aquatic environments: Identification, technological innovations, and prospects for advancement

Current Progress and Open Challenges for Combined Toxic Effects of Manufactured Nano-Sized Objects (MNO’s) on Soil Biota and Microbial Community

This review examines the combined toxic effects of manufactured nanomaterials, including nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, on soil organisms and microbial communities. Researchers found that these materials can disrupt soil nutrient cycling, harm beneficial microbes, and alter plant-microbe interactions in agricultural systems. The paper identifies significant knowledge gaps in understanding how nanomaterial mixtures behave in complex soil environments.

RETRACTED: Organic composts as A vehicle for the entry of microplastics into the environment: A comprehensive review

This retracted review examined how organic compost can introduce microplastics into agricultural soil, finding that compost contained up to thousands of microplastic particles per kilogram. The microplastics in compost come from plastic packaging fragments, synthetic fibers, and other contaminants in the source waste. While the paper was retracted, the underlying concern remains valid: composting may be an overlooked pathway for microplastic contamination of farmland.

Sources and impacts of microplastic on the world’s longest sea beach of the Bay of Bengal coasts: a review on microplastic management

This review summarizes microplastic pollution along the Bay of Bengal, the world's longest sea beach, covering sources, distribution, and impacts on the coastal ecosystem. Microplastics in this region come from fishing, tourism, shipping, and urban runoff, and they threaten both marine life and the communities that depend on sea products. The authors call for stronger policies and more long-term research to protect this important ecosystem and reduce human exposure through seafood.