Papers

Unveiling the microplastics degradation and its transformative effects on soil nutrient dynamics and plant health – A systematic review

Nonbiodegradable microplastic types determine the diversity and structure of soil microbial communities: A meta-analysis

A global meta-analysis of 95 studies found that nonbiodegradable microplastics increased soil active microbial biomass by 42% while simultaneously decreasing bacterial Shannon and Chao1 diversity indices by 2-3%. This paradox suggests microplastics promote the growth of specific microbial taxa while suppressing overall diversity, potentially disrupting soil biogeochemical cycles.

Aged polystyrene microplastics exacerbate alopecia associated with tight junction injuries and apoptosis via oxidative stress pathway in skin

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics, especially those aged by UV light, caused hair loss and skin damage in mice by triggering oxidative stress that broke down the tight junctions (seals between skin cells) and activated cell death pathways. This study provides early evidence that microplastic pollution could contribute to skin conditions and hair loss, particularly from weathered plastics that are more toxic than fresh ones.

Unraveling the ecotoxicological effects of micro and nano-plastics on aquatic organisms and human health

This review summarizes the growing body of evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics affect aquatic organisms and, through the food chain, potentially human health. The tiny plastic particles absorb toxic pollutants and pathogens from the water, acting as carriers that deliver these harmful substances into the bodies of fish, shellfish, and other organisms. The review highlights that both direct plastic toxicity and indirect chemical exposure through contaminated seafood pose risks to human consumers.

Polyvinyl chloride microplastic triggers bidirectional transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in soil-earthworm systems

This study found that PVC microplastics in soil trigger a two-way spread of antibiotic resistance genes between earthworm guts and the surrounding soil. The microplastics increased both the diversity and abundance of these resistance genes, with the transfer happening through bacteria sharing genetic material. This is concerning because earthworms are essential for soil health, and microplastics may be turning soil ecosystems into breeding grounds for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Phosphate solubilizing fungi enhance insoluble phosphate dissolution via organic acid production: mechanisms and applications

This review explores how certain fungi can dissolve locked-up phosphorus in soil by producing organic acids, making it available for plants to absorb. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastics in soil can alter microbial communities, potentially disrupting these natural phosphorus-recycling processes. Understanding how soil fungi support plant nutrition helps explain the broader consequences of microplastic contamination on food production.

The application of biochar and organic fertilizer substitution regulates the diversities of habitat specialist bacterial communities within soil aggregates in proso millet farmland

Researchers conducted a field experiment on millet farmland to study how biochar and organic fertilizer combinations affect soil bacterial communities, finding that combining both improved soil nutrients and bacterial diversity more than either treatment alone — supporting healthier, more resilient farming soils.

Fully bio-based polyurethane coating for environmentally friendly controlled release fertilizer: Construction, degradation mechanism and effect on plant growth

Researchers developed a fully bio-based polyurethane coating for controlled-release fertilizers using castor oil and a plant-derived chemical. Unlike conventional polyurethane coatings that persist in soil as microplastics, this coating showed strong biodegradability while still effectively controlling nutrient release. The study offers a practical solution to reduce microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from fertilizer coatings.

Tracking spatio-temporal dynamics of harmful algal blooms using long-term MODIS observations of Chaohu Lake in China from 2000 to 2021

Researchers tracked harmful algal blooms in Chaohu Lake, China, using over 7,900 daily satellite images spanning from 2000 to 2021. They found that algal blooms have generally increased over the past two decades, with spatial and temporal patterns linked to nutrient inputs and environmental conditions. The study demonstrates how long-term satellite monitoring can reveal trends in water quality degradation driven by factors including pollution runoff.

Postponed Application of Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizers Mitigates the Damage of Late Spring Coldness by Improving Winter Wheat Root Physiology

Researchers tested whether changing the timing of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application could help winter wheat survive late spring cold snaps. By splitting the fertilizer dose between planting and the jointing stage rather than applying it all at once, they found improved root health and better cold tolerance in the plants. The study suggests that adjusting nutrient management strategies could help farmers protect wheat crops from increasingly unpredictable spring weather.

Toxicity and behavioral response of zebrafish exposed to combined microplastic and bisphenol analogues

Dual-Stress Mitigation of Sclerotinia under Microplastic Toxicity by Nano-Selenium: Redox Balance, Pathogen Suppression, and Transcriptome Reprogramming

Researchers investigated whether selenium nanoparticles could protect rapeseed plants from combined stress caused by microplastics and the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia. The study found that selenium nanoparticles improved photosynthesis, reduced oxidative damage, and showed strong antifungal activity, suggesting they may help mitigate microplastic-induced phytotoxicity and fungal disease in agricultural settings.

Polyethylene microplastics decrease the bioaccumulation and toxicity of picoxystrobin and azoxystrobin to microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics actually reduced the toxicity of two common fungicides to the microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus by adsorbing the chemicals and lowering their freely dissolved concentrations in water. Smaller microplastic particles at higher concentrations had the greatest protective effect, promoting algal growth and chlorophyll production compared to fungicide-only treatments. The study demonstrates an antagonistic interaction where microplastics act as a physical sorbent that decreases the bioavailability of certain pesticides.

Phanerochaete chrysosporium hyphae bio-crack, endocytose and metabolize plastic films

Researchers mapped the complete mineralization pathway of polyethylene plastic film by white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, showing that the fungus first colonizes the film using plastic additives as carbon sources, then secretes enzymes that crack and oxidize the polymer, before sub-microplastic fragments enter fungal cells for final breakdown via beta-oxidation.

Deciphering the aged composite microplastics alleviates methanogenesis inhibitions in anaerobic digestion: The neglected microplastic eco-coronas and microbial electron transfer

Distribution and Tissue Damage After a Single Microplastic Exposure in Mice

Researchers administered fluorescent microplastics to mice by oral gavage and tracked their distribution through the body over several hours. They found direct evidence of microplastic particles in the blood, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver, and spleen, with fluorescence peaking at two hours after exposure. Histological examination revealed mild tissue damage including congestion in the liver and lungs, providing evidence that ingested microplastics can enter the bloodstream and reach multiple organs.

Can Rhizosphere Effects Mitigate the Threat from Nanoplastics and Plastic Additives to Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)?

Researchers investigated whether the rhizosphere, the zone of soil around plant roots, can mitigate the combined threats of nanoplastics and the plastic additive DEHP to tomato plants. The study found that while the rhizosphere provided some protective effects against soil contamination, the coexistence of nanoplastics and DEHP actually increased risks to food safety compared to DEHP alone, indicating that plastic pollution compounds the threat from plastic additives.

Effects of compost as a soil amendment on bacterial community diversity in saline–alkali soil

Researchers found that adding compost as a soil amendment to saline-alkali soil effectively reduced pH while increasing enzyme activity and organic matter content. The study provides theoretical support for using compost to improve microbial diversity and soil quality in salt-affected agricultural lands.

Biodegradable film: a sustainable alternative to polyethylene film for Loess Plateau maize production

Scientists tested biodegradable plastic films instead of regular plastic films to cover soil when growing corn in China. The biodegradable films worked almost as well as regular plastic films for improving crop growth and water efficiency, while being better for the environment since they break down naturally instead of leaving harmful plastic pieces in soil. This matters because it shows farmers can reduce plastic pollution in our food system without hurting crop production.

Ecological packaging: Creating sustainable solutions with all-natural biodegradable cellulose materials

Researchers developed a pure cellulose food packaging material by combining bacterial cellulose and ethyl cellulose — both natural, biodegradable materials — into a strong, water-resistant film that degrades naturally and avoids the microplastic pollution associated with conventional single-use plastic packaging. The material's mechanical strength, water resistance, and recyclability position it as a practical plastic replacement for food packaging.

Polyethylene Microplastics Decrease the Bioaccumulation and Toxicity of Picoxystrobin and Azoxystrobin to Microalgae Scenedesmus Obliquus

Microplastics modulate neutrophil migration via an ROS histone lactylation positive feedback loop

Using zebrafish, researchers showed that microplastic exposure at 100 µg/L increased neutrophil migration to inflammation sites by up to 1.7-fold, and identified a reactive oxygen species–histone lactylation positive feedback loop as the underlying regulatory mechanism. The findings reveal a novel epigenetic pathway through which microplastics dysregulate immune responses.

Effects of polypropylene nanoplastics on nitrogen removal, microbial communities and microbial metabolic pathways in biological nitrogen removal processes

Biomineralization of Cd2+ and Pb2+ by sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and Desulfobulbus propionicus

Researchers used sulfate-reducing bacteria to immobilize cadmium and lead ions through biomineralization, finding that microplastics present in the system affected bacterial activity and metal precipitation efficiency, with implications for using biological approaches to treat heavy metal contamination in MP-polluted environments.