Papers

When microplastics meet microalgae: Unveiling the dynamic formation of aggregates and their impact on toxicity and environmental health

Researchers studied what happens when microplastics and algae meet in water, finding that algae colonize plastic surfaces and form clumps that absorb more toxic metals like copper than bare microplastics alone. This matters for human health because these microplastic-algae clumps can concentrate pollutants in aquatic food chains that eventually lead to the seafood on our plates.

The threat of microplastics and microbial degradation potential; a current perspective

This review covers the growing threat of microplastics in marine environments, where they enter the food chain and can transfer to humans along with pathogenic organisms, causing various toxic effects. The paper also explores how bacteria and fungi found in ocean environments could be harnessed to biodegrade different types of plastics as a future strategy for reducing microplastic pollution.

UV aging may enhance adsorption capacity of Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) to heavy metals and toxicity to zebrafish

Researchers found that a biodegradable plastic called PBAT, when aged by UV sunlight, absorbed significantly more heavy metals like copper and lead than fresh PBAT. When zebrafish were exposed to these aged, metal-laden particles, they suffered greater toxic effects than from either the plastic or metals alone. This suggests that biodegradable plastics marketed as eco-friendly may actually become more dangerous over time by concentrating toxic metals from the environment.

Microplastics leachate may play a more important role than microplastics in inhibiting microalga Chlorella vulgaris growth at cellular and molecular levels

Researchers found that chemical compounds leaching from aged microplastics may be more harmful to algae than the microplastic particles themselves. UV-weathered polyethylene and PVC released substances that inhibited algae growth, caused oxidative stress, and altered gene expression more severely than direct particle exposure. The study suggests that the chemicals released by degrading microplastics deserve more attention as a source of aquatic toxicity.

Risk assessment of potentially toxic elements, microplastics, and microorganisms in groundwater around municipal solid waste landfill

This study assessed contamination from toxic metals, microplastics, and harmful microorganisms in groundwater near a closed municipal landfill. Researchers found seasonal variation in pollutant levels, with manganese and chromium as the dominant metals, and identified microplastics and pathogenic bacteria in the groundwater, highlighting the ongoing environmental and health risks from closed landfill sites.

Adverse effects of microplastics on the growth, photosynthesis, and astaxanthin synthesis of Haematococcus pluvialis

Researchers exposed the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis to polystyrene microplastics and found that while short-term contact briefly stimulated growth, longer exposure inhibited photosynthesis, caused oxidative stress, and impaired the organism's ability to produce astaxanthin, a valuable natural antioxidant. The findings highlight how microplastic pollution could disrupt both aquatic ecosystems and the commercial production of beneficial compounds from algae.

How do polyhydroxyalkanoates aged by aerobic compost interact with steroidal estrogens to alter their adsorption and transport characteristics? Kinetics, isotherms, and influencing factors

Researchers studied how biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate microplastics aged through composting interact with estrogen hormones in the environment. They found that compost-aged particles had significantly higher capacity to absorb estrogens than fresh ones, and that the hormones were readily released when exposed to conditions simulating bird digestion. The study suggests that aged biodegradable microplastics in compost-treated soils could act as carriers that increase the spread and bioavailability of hormone pollutants.

Integrated microbiota and multi-omics analysis reveal the differential responses of earthworm to conventional and biodegradable microplastics in soil under biogas slurry irrigation

Researchers compared how conventional and biodegradable microplastics from agricultural mulch films affect earthworms in soil treated with biogas slurry fertilizer. Using multi-omics analysis, they found that both types of microplastics disrupted earthworm gut bacteria and metabolic pathways, though through different molecular mechanisms. The study suggests that biodegradable plastic alternatives may still pose risks to soil organisms that warrant further investigation.

Impacts of microplastic–petroleum pollution on nutrient uptake, growth, and antioxidative activity of Chlorella vulgaris

Researchers examined the single and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and petroleum on the microalga Chlorella vulgaris. Both pollutants individually and in combination caused oxidative stress, disrupted nutrient uptake of key elements like iron and silicon, and affected cell growth, with iron and manganese playing critical roles in nitrate absorption pathways.

Polystyrene nanoplastics and benzo(a)pyrene synergistically induce lung fibrosis and inflammation via relaxin signalling in mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics, benzo(a)pyrene, or their combination over 16 weeks and found that only combined exposure produced significant lung inflammation and fibrosis, with transcriptomic analysis identifying the Relaxin signaling pathway — acting through PI3K-AKT, MAPK, and calcium-dependent macrophage trap formation — as a key mediator of the synergistic toxicity.

Effects of polypropylene microplastics on carbon dioxide dynamics in intertidal mangrove sediments

This study investigated how polypropylene microplastics affect carbon dioxide dynamics in mangrove sediments. Researchers found that microplastic contamination altered organic carbon content and microbial communities, influencing CO2 release patterns differently depending on tidal elevation and microplastic concentration.

Occurrence of microplastics in farmed and wild snails along the coasts of Thailand: Implications for consumer exposure and health risks

Insights into co-occurrence characteristics and interplay of microbial communities and environmental pollutants on biofilm-colonized microplastics in mangrove ecosystems

Researchers conducted an in situ study in mangrove ecosystems examining how microplastics accumulate biofilms over time, finding progressive development of microbial communities across seasons, polymer types, and exposure durations, with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants co-occurring on microplastic surfaces.

Enrichment and ecological risks of microplastics in mangroves of southern Hainan Island, China

Microplastics were detected in surface seawater and sediments of three mangrove ecosystems in southern Hainan Island, with fibre-shaped, transparent, small (100-500 micron) particles of polypropylene and PET dominating, and ecological risk assessments indicating varying degrees of concern across sites.

Multidimensional Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Mangrove Wetlands: Driving Mechanisms, Carbon Contribution, and Ecological Risk

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics throughout mangrove wetlands in China, with the highest levels in areas used for fishing and fish farming. These plastic particles are building up in the sediment and water, creating pollution hotspots that pose moderate ecological risks to these important coastal ecosystems. This matters because mangroves help protect coastlines and support marine life that humans depend on for food, so plastic pollution in these areas could ultimately affect our food supply and coastal protection.

Variation in the gut microbiota of wild Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) likely reflects diet shifts between snow-free and snow seasons

Researchers studied the gut bacteria of wild Eurasian otters across two seasons, finding that their microbiome shifts significantly depending on what they eat — fish in summer versus high-fat prey in winter. The study notes that future comparisons with urban otters could reveal whether microplastic contamination in waterways disrupts their gut health.

Warming alters temporal patterns of microbial-mediated nitrogen cycling under microplastics stress in intertidal sediment ecosystems

Researchers incubated intertidal sediment microcosms with polyethylene microplastics at two temperatures (25 and 30 degrees C) to examine how warming interacts with microplastics to alter microbial nitrogen cycling. Elevated temperature and microplastic concentrations disrupted key nitrogen-cycling functions, with metagenomic analysis revealing shifts in functional gene composition that could affect coastal nutrient dynamics.