Papers

Size-dependent internalization of polystyrene microplastics as a key factor in macrophages and systemic toxicity

Researchers systematically tested how the size of polystyrene microplastics affects their uptake and toxicity in immune cells and mice. Smaller particles (0.5 micrometers) were taken up much more readily by immune cells and caused more damage, including mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death, compared to larger 5-micrometer particles. In living mice, smaller microplastics accumulated more in organs and caused broader changes in blood and metabolic markers, confirming that particle size is a key factor in microplastic toxicity.

Advancements and challenges in microplastic detection and risk assessment: Integrating AI and standardized methods

This review examines current methods for detecting and measuring microplastics in water, soil, and biological samples, including microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The authors highlight how artificial intelligence could make detection faster and more accurate. Standardized testing methods and better health risk assessments are needed to understand and manage the dangers microplastics pose to human health.

Nationwide meta-analysis of microplastic distribution and risk assessment in China's aquatic ecosystems, soils, and sediments

A nationwide meta-analysis of 7,766 sampling sites across China found that microplastic distribution is influenced by economic development, population density, and geography, with generally higher concentrations in prosperous areas. The pollution varies significantly across water, soil, and sediment compartments, highlighting the need for AI-based regulatory frameworks to manage standardized risk assessment.

The role of pyroptosis in inflammatory diseases

This review explains pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death that triggers strong inflammation, and its role in diseases like infections, autoimmune conditions, and organ damage. While not focused on microplastics specifically, pyroptosis is one of the key mechanisms through which microplastic exposure may cause inflammation in tissues. Understanding this process helps explain how tiny plastic particles could trigger harmful immune responses in the body.

Not so biodegradable: Polylactic acid and cellulose/plastic blend textiles lack fast biodegradation in marine waters

Researchers tested whether textiles made from polylactic acid (PLA), often marketed as biodegradable, actually break down in ocean conditions. They found that PLA fabrics showed no meaningful biodegradation in marine water over the study period, behaving much like conventional plastics. This is important because consumers and manufacturers may falsely believe these materials will not contribute to ocean microplastic pollution.

With spatial distribution, risk evaluation of heavy metals and microplastics to emphasize the composite mechanism in hyporheic sediments of Beiluo River

Researchers mapped heavy metal and microplastic contamination in river sediments in China, finding that cadmium, lead, and arsenic posed the highest contamination risk, while fiber-shaped microplastics under 500 micrometers were most common. Heavy metals were found concentrated on microplastic surfaces through electrostatic attraction and bacterial biofilms, meaning the plastics serve as carriers for toxic metals in the water. This combined pollution is concerning because river sediments can release contaminants into water used for drinking and agriculture.

Critical effect of biodegradation on long-term microplastic weathering in sediment environments: A systematic review

Plastic-degrading bacteria in sediments (including Flavobacteriaceae, Bacillus, and Rhodobacteraceae) can break down microplastic polymers into lower molecular weight monomers and oligomers through hydrolase and oxidoreductase enzymes, while also releasing toxic additives. Biodegradation rates remain poorly understood, with polymer type, crystallinity, hydrophobicity, and sediment conditions all influencing degradation efficiency.

Factors influencing the distribution, risk, and transport of microplastics and heavy metals for wildlife and habitats in “island” landscapes: From source to sink

Researchers studied microplastic and heavy metal pollution in the Helan Mountain ecosystem, finding contamination in both soil and wild blue sheep feces that was linked to tourism and transportation activity. A new risk model revealed that some areas face high ecological and health risks from the combined presence of these pollutants. The study shows how microplastics and heavy metals travel together through remote landscapes, creating pollution cycles that threaten wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabit.

The transport of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media: Impacts of functional groups and solution chemistry

Researchers studied how surface chemistry and water conditions affect the movement of polystyrene microplastics through sand, comparing unmodified particles with those carrying carboxyl or amino groups that mimic natural aging. They found that factors like water acidity, salt concentration, and the type of chemical groups on the plastic surface all significantly influenced how far the particles traveled. The study provides important insights into how weathered microplastics may spread through soil and groundwater differently than fresh particles.

Comprehensive review of ecological risks and toxicity mechanisms of microplastics in freshwater: Focus on zebrafish as a model organism

This comprehensive review examines how microplastics affect zebrafish, a widely used laboratory model, covering impacts on the gut, liver, reproductive system, nervous system, and immune function. Researchers found that microplastics can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of gut bacteria across multiple organ systems. The review highlights that zebrafish studies provide valuable insights into the biological mechanisms by which microplastics may affect freshwater organisms and, potentially, human health.

Polystyrene Microplastics Induce Photosynthetic Impairment in Navicula sp. at Physiological and Transcriptomic Levels

Researchers exposed freshwater diatom algae to polystyrene microplastics and found significant damage to their photosynthetic capacity within 24 to 48 hours. The microplastics reduced chlorophyll content, damaged cell membranes, and triggered oxidative stress responses, with gene analysis revealing disruption of key pathways related to photosynthesis and carbon fixation. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in freshwater environments could impair the ability of algae to produce oxygen and support aquatic food webs.

The future of sub-Saharan Africa’s biodiversity in the face of climate and societal change

This review assesses the conservation threats facing sub-Saharan Africa's biodiversity in the context of projected population growth, economic expansion, and climate change. Researchers highlight how environmental pollution, including emerging contaminants like microplastics, compounds existing threats to the continent's ecosystems.

Interaction and bacterial effects of microplastics pollution on heavy metals in hyporheic sediments of different land-use types in the Beiluo River Basin

Researchers studied how microplastics and heavy metals interact in river sediments across different land-use types in a Chinese river basin. They found that microplastics concentrated more heavily in shallow sediments and that the metals detected on microplastic surfaces were present at much higher levels than in surrounding sediment. The study suggests that microplastics may serve as concentrators and carriers of heavy metal contamination, potentially amplifying pollution risks.

Multiple effects of submerged plants on microplastics-heavy metals redistribution and combination in the hyporheic sediment

This study examined how submerged aquatic plants redistribute microplastics and heavy metals in river sediments. Researchers found that plants trap microplastics nearby, which in turn attracts and concentrates heavy metals, creating pollution hotspots around the vegetation that could affect organisms feeding in those areas.

Scientometrics of Scientometrics Based on Web of Science Core Collection Data between 1992 and 2020

This study analyzed over 16,000 publications to map the global research landscape of scientometrics, the quantitative study of scientific output, from 1992 to 2020. Researchers identified key trends, influential journals, and the most productive countries and institutions in the field. While not directly related to microplastics, the study provides insights into how research analysis methods have evolved and are now widely applied across disciplines including environmental science.

Occurrence, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the inland river basins in Northern China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in a typical urban river system in Northern China, examining both surface water and sediment samples. They found that river sediments contained dramatically more microplastics than surface water, acting as a sink for this pollution, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types. The study suggests that small fiber and fragment-shaped particles under 0.5 mm dominate these environments, likely originating from everyday plastic products and wastewater discharge.

The effects of land use types on microplastics in river water: A case study on the mainstream of the Wei River, China

Researchers studied how different land use types along China's Wei River, a major tributary of the Yellow River, influence microplastic concentrations in the water. The study found that urban and agricultural areas contributed more microplastics than other land use types, with seasonal variations also playing a role, highlighting how human activities directly shape plastic pollution patterns in river systems.

Bioaccessibility of polypropylene microfiber-associated tetracycline and ciprofloxacin in simulated human gastrointestinal fluids

Researchers tested how antibiotics attached to polypropylene microplastic fibers behave when exposed to simulated human digestive fluids. They found that the antibiotics were released from the microplastics during digestion, with higher release rates in intestinal fluid than in stomach fluid. The study suggests that when people ingest microplastics contaminated with antibiotics, the chemicals can become available for absorption in the gut.

Adsorption of Macrolide Antibiotics by Aged Microplastics of Different Sizes: Mechanisms and Effects

Researchers investigated how aging affects the ability of polystyrene microplastics to adsorb macrolide antibiotics in water, testing two particle sizes under simulated natural aging conditions. They found that aging increased surface roughness and oxygen-containing functional groups on the microplastics, significantly enhancing their ability to adsorb azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin. The findings suggest that weathered microplastics in the environment may carry higher loads of antibiotic contaminants than pristine particles.

Quantification of PP, PE, and PET microplastics in Lake water by Raman spectroscopy combined with PLS regression

Researchers developed an integrated analytical approach using Raman spectroscopy combined with partial least squares regression for simultaneously detecting and quantifying polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET microplastics in lake water. The method achieved reliable quantification at trace-level concentrations in complex water matrices. The study provides a practical tool for environmental monitoring that could improve the accuracy and efficiency of microplastic measurements in freshwater systems.

Photoaging microplastics as ecological architects of antibiotic resistance dissemination in aquatic sediments: Shifting bacterial adaptation from metabolic regulation to invasive phenotypes

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in water and sediment environments help spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria - the "superbugs" that are harder to treat with medicines. When these microplastics age from sunlight exposure, they become even better at helping dangerous bacteria multiply and share their resistance to antibiotics with other bacteria. This means that plastic pollution in our waterways could be making it harder for doctors to treat infections in people, creating a serious public health risk.

Effect of ultraviolet aging and neonicotinoids on the transport of degradable microplastics in saturated porous media

Size-dependent long-term weathering converting floating polypropylene macro- and microplastics into nanoplastics in coastal seawater environments

Researchers found that floating polypropylene plastics of different sizes undergo long-term weathering in coastal seawater, with particle size decreasing by over 99% after accelerated UV exposure, demonstrating a size-dependent pathway for converting macroplastics into nanoplastics.

Analysis of the Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Emerging Pollutants in China

Researchers mapped the spatial distribution of four types of emerging pollutants in China's water environment, including microplastics, endocrine disruptors, brominated flame retardants, and perfluorinated compounds. They found that pollution levels correlate with regional economic development, with the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region showing significantly higher contamination. The study provides a reference framework for emerging pollutant prevention and control across China.