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Papers
108 resultsShowing papers from Huazhong Agricultural University
ClearCancer Metabolism: The Role of ROS in DNA Damage and Induction of Apoptosis in Cancer Cells
This review explores how reactive oxygen species (ROS) -- harmful molecules produced during abnormal cell metabolism -- can damage DNA and trigger cancer cell death, making ROS a potential target for cancer treatment. While not directly about microplastics, this is relevant because microplastic exposure is known to increase ROS production in human cells, which could contribute to DNA damage over time.
In-field degradation of polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) films, microplastic formation, and impacts on soil health
A three-year field study found that biodegradable PBAT mulch films actually produced more microplastic particles in soil than conventional polyethylene films, though the biodegradable versions improved soil health and crop yields overall. The majority of microplastics from biodegradable films were very small (under 0.25 mm), which raises questions about whether these tiny fragments pose different risks than larger pieces.
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.
Adsorption behavior and mechanism of heavy metals onto microplastics: A meta-analysis assisted by machine learning
A machine learning-assisted meta-analysis of 3,340 records found that polyamide microplastics had the highest heavy metal adsorption capacity due to their C=O and N-H surface groups, while PVC showed the strongest adsorption strength from its halogen atoms. Lead was the most readily adsorbed metal, and random forest modeling identified heavy metal concentration, microplastic concentration, specific surface area, and pH as the dominant factors governing adsorption.
Impact of long-term conventional and biodegradable film mulching on microplastic abundance, soil structure and organic carbon in a cotton field
Researchers compared microplastic levels in cotton fields after 23 years of plastic film mulching and found that switching to biodegradable film actually produced more total microplastics than continuing with conventional polyethylene film. The biodegradable film broke down into many small particles that also reduced beneficial soil microbes and dissolved organic carbon. This challenges the idea that biodegradable agricultural films are a simple solution to farmland plastic pollution.
Soil contamination in nearby natural areas mirrors that in urban greenspaces worldwide
A global study found that soil contamination in natural areas is just as bad as in nearby urban green spaces, with similar levels of heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, and antibiotic resistance genes. Human activity was the main driver of contamination regardless of whether the area was urban or natural. The findings show that microplastic pollution and other contaminants have spread far beyond cities, potentially affecting soil health and the food grown in these areas.
The mycorrhizal symbiosis: research frontiers in genomics, ecology, and agricultural application
This review covers the latest advances in understanding mycorrhizal fungi, which form partnerships with plant roots to help them absorb nutrients and resist stress. While not directly about microplastics, mycorrhizal networks play a critical role in soil health, and research shows that microplastic contamination in soil can disrupt these beneficial fungal partnerships. Healthy mycorrhizal networks may also help buffer plants against some negative effects of soil pollutants, including microplastics.
Increasing the number of stressors reduces soil ecosystem services worldwide
A global field study found that when soils face multiple environmental stressors at high levels, biodiversity and ecosystem services decline significantly. The more stressors present above critical thresholds, the worse the damage to soil health and function. While not focused specifically on microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastics are one of many co-occurring soil stressors that together may cause greater harm than any single pollutant alone.
Transcriptome Sequencing and Metabolite Analysis Revealed the Single and Combined Effects of Microplastics and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Mouse Liver
Mice exposed to microplastics, the plasticizer DEHP, or both together showed liver damage including oxidative stress, cell death, and disrupted metabolism. The combined exposure was worse than either pollutant alone, activating cancer-related genes and impairing the liver's ability to process fats and amino acids. Since DEHP is commonly found alongside microplastics in the environment, these findings suggest that real-world exposure to contaminated plastics could pose a greater liver health risk than previously estimated.
Microplastics Trigger Soil Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nutrient Turnover by Strengthening Microbial Network Connectivity and Cross-Trophic Interactions
This study found that polyethylene and PVC microplastics in agricultural soil significantly altered the microbial communities responsible for breaking down organic carbon and recycling nutrients. The microplastics strengthened connections between bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms in ways that accelerated carbon and nutrient turnover. These changes to fundamental soil processes could affect crop nutrition and long-term soil health on farms contaminated with microplastics.
Microplastic-induced NAFLD: Hepatoprotective effects of nanosized selenium
This study found that polystyrene microplastics caused nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by disrupting fat metabolism and triggering oxidative stress, but selenium nanoparticles derived from a yak-sourced bacterium significantly prevented this damage. The microplastics suppressed two key protective pathways in the liver, while the selenium nanoparticles activated those same pathways to counteract the harm. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure may contribute to liver disease in humans and point to selenium-based supplements as a potential protective strategy.
Sustainable Microplastic Remediation with Record Capacity Unleashed via Surface Engineering of Natural Fungal Mycelium Framework
Researchers developed a microplastic removal system using engineered fungal mycelium that achieved record-breaking capture capacity for plastic particles in water. The surface of the fungal framework was modified to attract and trap microplastics of various types and sizes. This nature-based approach offers a sustainable and potentially scalable method for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.
Ecological risk analysis and prediction of microplastics' effects on Microcystis aeruginosa in freshwater system: a meta-analysis approach
This meta-analysis found that micro- and nanoplastics can both inhibit and stimulate the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa — a harmful algal bloom cyanobacterium — depending on particle size and degradability. Smaller, degradable plastics tend to promote algal growth, suggesting microplastic pollution could worsen toxic algal blooms in freshwater systems used for drinking water.
Polystyrene micro- and nano-particle coexposure injures fetal thalamus by inducing ROS-mediated cell apoptosis
Researchers found that when pregnant mice were exposed to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics, the nanoparticles crossed the placenta and accumulated in the fetal brain's thalamus region. The exposure caused oxidative damage, reduced levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, and led to anxiety-like behavior in the offspring. An antioxidant treatment was able to reduce the brain injury and rescue the behavioral effects, suggesting the damage was driven by oxidative stress.
Insights into behavior and mechanism of tetracycline adsorption on virgin and soil-exposed microplastics
Researchers studied how common microplastics absorb the antibiotic tetracycline, finding that soil-exposed plastics absorbed significantly more than fresh ones, with polylactic acid showing the greatest increase at 88%. The study revealed that environmental weathering changes how microplastics interact with antibiotics through different physical and chemical mechanisms. These findings are important for understanding how microplastics may carry and spread antibiotic contamination in soil environments.
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.
Habitual feeding patterns impact polystyrene microplastic abundance and potential toxicity in edible benthic mollusks
This study examined how different feeding strategies in edible mollusks affect how many microplastics they accumulate and how toxic the effects are. Researchers found that deposit-feeding snails and filter-feeding clams accumulated microplastics differently, with distinct impacts on digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity markers. The findings suggest that a shellfish species' feeding behavior directly influences the microplastic contamination risk for both the animal and human consumers.
Adsorption interactions between typical microplastics and enrofloxacin: Relevant contributions to the mechanism
This study investigated how common microplastics (polyethylene, PVC, and polystyrene) absorb the antibiotic enrofloxacin from the environment. The researchers found that microplastics can effectively bind antibiotics through multiple chemical mechanisms, with the strength of binding depending on water conditions like acidity. This is concerning because microplastics carrying antibiotics could transport them into the food chain, potentially contributing to antibiotic resistance and affecting human health.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics Effects on Plant–Pollinator Interaction and Pollination Biology
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics affect the relationship between plants and their pollinators, including bees and other insects. The particles can harm pollinator health, alter plant reproduction, and disrupt the chemical signals that attract pollinators to flowers. Since pollination is essential for food production, microplastic interference with this process could have far-reaching consequences for agriculture and ecosystems.
Polystyrene microplastics exposure reduces meat quality and disturbs skeletal muscle angiogenesis via thrombospondin 1
Piglets fed polystyrene microplastics at higher doses showed slower growth, reduced meat quality, and impaired blood vessel formation in their muscles. The microplastics disrupted a protein called thrombospondin 1 that is critical for healthy muscle development. This study is important for food safety because it shows microplastics can accumulate in livestock and degrade the quality of meat that people consume.
From biodegradation to biohazard: Polylactic acid microplastics induced rice growth inhibition in agroecosystems
Researchers tested the effects of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, a type marketed as biodegradable, on rice growth in soil. They found that PLA microplastics inhibited rice development by reducing nitrogen availability, disrupting root bacteria, and releasing potentially harmful breakdown products. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be as environmentally safe as assumed, particularly in agricultural settings.
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.
Adsorption behavior of azole fungicides on polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics
Researchers studied how polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics adsorb azole fungicides commonly used in agriculture. The study found that smaller microplastic particle sizes led to stronger adsorption capacity, and factors like pH, ionic strength, and the presence of organic acids all influenced how readily pesticides bind to microplastic surfaces.
Effects of biodegradable microplastics and straw addition on soil greenhouse gas emissions
Researchers tested how biodegradable microplastics made from polylactic acid (PLA) affect greenhouse gas emissions from soil, both with and without added crop straw. They found that high concentrations of PLA microplastics significantly increased carbon dioxide emissions while decreasing nitrous oxide emissions, suggesting that even biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic mulch films can meaningfully alter soil chemistry and gas cycles.