Papers

A review of the influence of environmental pollutants (microplastics, pesticides, antibiotics, air pollutants, viruses, bacteria) on animal viruses

This review summarizes existing research on how environmental pollutants -- including microplastics, pesticides, and antibiotics -- affect animal viruses by influencing their survival, mutation rates, and ability to spread. The findings suggest that microplastics can serve as surfaces where viruses persist longer in the environment, potentially increasing transmission risks. This has implications for both animal and human health, as pollutant-virus interactions could contribute to the emergence of new disease threats.

Plastic contamination of forest, urban, and agricultural soils: a case study of Yeoju City in the Republic of Korea

It Keeps the Good Boy Healthy from Nose to Tail: Understanding Pet Food Attribute Preferences of US Consumers

Researchers investigated US pet owner preferences for pet food attributes, finding that health and natural ingredient claims were more influential than convenience in purchase decisions, with implications for marketing strategies in the specialty pet food sector.

The Uptake of Rare Trace Elements by Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

This paper is not about microplastics — it studies how a common pasture grass (ryegrass) takes up rare trace elements like lanthanum, beryllium, and indium from spiked soils, assessing the risk of these technology-critical metals entering the food chain through grazing animals.

Why is single‐use plastic still in the conservation sector toolbox?

Researchers estimated that plastic chewcards used in New Zealand pest mammal monitoring leave an average of 15% of their starting weight as microplastic residue in the environment, and evaluated wood-pulp cards as a biodegradable alternative. Wood-pulp cards maintained comparable interaction rates with target pest species, suggesting they are a viable sustainable replacement for conservation monitoring operations.

Soil priorities for Antarctica

EFFECTS OF ORGANOHALOGENATED XENOBIOTICS ON GUT MICROBIOTA, OXIDATIVE REDOX, AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS IN PIGS – A REVIEW

This review examines how organohalogenated compounds (such as PCBs and flame retardants) in animal feed affect gut microbiota, oxidative stress, and reproductive function in pigs. While focused on livestock health, the findings are relevant to understanding how persistent organic pollutants — which can adsorb onto microplastics — affect digestive and reproductive systems.

Copper Contamination Affects the Biogeochemical Cycling of Nitrogen in Freshwater Sediment Mesocosms

A mesocosm experiment showed that copper contamination disrupts the microbial cycling of nitrogen in freshwater sediments. Microplastics can carry copper and other heavy metals into sediments, and this study helps explain how metal-microplastic co-contamination can alter the chemistry of aquatic ecosystems.