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Papers
118 resultsShowing papers from University of California, Davis
ClearWhere the rubber meets the road: Emerging environmental impacts of tire wear particles and their chemical cocktails
About 3 billion new tires are produced every year, and the particles they shed during use are one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution, especially in urban areas. Tire wear particles contain a cocktail of heavy metals, plastics, and toxic organic compounds that wash into waterways during rain. Even recycled tire products like crumb rubber fields and rubber-modified pavement continue to release pollutants, making tire pollution a complex lifecycle problem.
Micro- and nano-plastics in the atmosphere: A review of occurrence, properties and human health risks
This review summarizes research on tiny plastic particles floating in the air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors. Studies show that inhaling these airborne microplastics and nanoplastics can trigger immune responses, oxidative stress, and cell death, potentially contributing to cardiovascular disease and reproductive problems, though standardized testing methods are still needed.
Compounding one problem with another? A look at biodegradable microplastics
This review examines whether biodegradable plastics truly solve the microplastic problem, finding that many do not fully break down under real-world conditions. Incomplete decomposition of biodegradable plastics can generate micro-sized particles that may be just as harmful as conventional microplastics. The authors warn that marketing plastics as "biodegradable" without ensuring complete breakdown could actually worsen environmental microplastic contamination.
Microplastic pollution characteristics and its future perspectives in the Tibetan Plateau
Researchers reviewed microplastic pollution on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most remote places on Earth, and found plastic particles in rivers, lakes, soil, snow, and even the atmosphere near Mount Everest. While concentrations are lower than in populated areas, the presence of microplastics in such a remote region shows how far these pollutants can travel through air and water currents. The findings underscore that microplastic contamination is truly a global problem with no pristine environments left untouched.
Microplastic pollution: a review of techniques to identify microplastics and their threats to the aquatic ecosystem
This review summarizes existing research on methods for identifying microplastics in water and their effects on aquatic ecosystems. The paper covers detection techniques like infrared and Raman spectroscopy and discusses how microplastics threaten aquatic organisms through ingestion and entanglement. Since these contaminated organisms enter the human food chain, the findings underscore why understanding aquatic microplastic pollution matters for human health.
Impact of climate change and natural disasters on fungal infections
Researchers reviewed how climate change and natural disasters are making fungal infections more dangerous, as rising temperatures help fungi adapt to the human body's heat and spread into new geographic regions. Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected, and the authors call for more research, funding, and policy attention to this growing but overlooked health threat.
Airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments of a coastal city in Eastern China
Researchers measured airborne microplastic levels in both indoor and outdoor environments in a Chinese coastal city and found that indoor air contained about eight times more microplastics than outdoor air. Fragments smaller than 100 micrometers were the most common type, and urban areas had higher levels than rural areas. The study estimates that a person's annual exposure to airborne microplastics could reach over one million particles, with most exposure occurring indoors where people spend the majority of their time.
Plants and microplastics: Growing impacts in the terrestrial environment
This review examines how microplastics affect plant growth and food crops, finding that exposure generally reduces plant size, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis, though low concentrations can sometimes stimulate root growth. Plants can take up plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer through their roots and move them to other tissues. These findings raise concerns that microplastics in soil, which can occur at higher levels than in water, could affect the health and nutritional quality of the food crops that people depend on.
Cell-cultivated aquatic food products: emerging production systems for seafood
This review examines cell-cultivated seafood, a new approach to producing fish protein by growing fish cells in a lab rather than catching or farming fish. One potential benefit is avoiding the microplastic contamination found in wild and farmed fish, since the production environment can be controlled. As concerns grow about microplastics accumulating in seafood, lab-grown alternatives could offer a way to reduce human exposure to microplastics through diet.
Airborne Microplastic Concentrations in Five Megacities of Northern and Southeast China
Researchers used uniform sampling methods to measure airborne microplastic concentrations across five major cities in northern and southeastern China. They found that indoor environments generally had higher microplastic levels than outdoor air, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study provides some of the first directly comparable data on airborne microplastic exposure across multiple cities, suggesting that people in densely populated areas face meaningful inhalation risks.
Mitigating risks and maximizing sustainability of treated wastewater reuse for irrigation
This review examines the benefits and risks of using treated wastewater for crop irrigation, drawing heavily on Israel's experience as a world leader in this practice. While treated wastewater is a valuable water source, it can contain emerging contaminants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens that may affect soil health, crops, and human health. The authors call for better policies and global data sharing to ensure safe reuse of wastewater in agriculture.
The ecological impacts of marine debris: unraveling the demonstrated evidence from what is perceived
This systematic review critically examined the evidence for ecological damage caused by marine debris, including plastic pollution. Researchers found 366 perceived environmental threats from marine debris, and when tested, 83% of those threats were confirmed through scientific studies. This large-scale confirmation of marine debris impacts reinforces concerns about microplastics harming ocean ecosystems that humans depend on for food.
Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption
Researchers examined fish and shellfish sold for human consumption in markets in Indonesia and California and found anthropogenic debris, including microplastic fibers and fragments, in every species tested. Fish tended to contain debris in their gastrointestinal tracts, while shellfish, which are eaten whole, contained it in their edible tissues. The findings raise direct concerns about human exposure to microplastics and textile fibers through everyday seafood consumption.
Long-Term Sorption of Metals Is Similar among Plastic Types: Implications for Plastic Debris in Aquatic Environments
Researchers deployed five types of common plastic in San Diego Bay for up to 12 months and measured how much metal accumulated on each type. They found that all plastics accumulated similar concentrations of metals over the long term, regardless of polymer type, suggesting that metal sorption is driven more by surface biofilm formation than by plastic chemistry. The findings indicate that any type of plastic debris in aquatic environments can become a carrier for potentially toxic metals.
Microplastics Pollution: A Brief Review of Its Source and Abundance in Different Aquatic Ecosystems
This review summarizes what is known about microplastic sources and abundance across different aquatic ecosystems including rivers, lakes, and oceans. Researchers found that microplastics are pervasive across all water environments, with concentrations influenced by nearby human activities and pollution sources. The study identifies key pathways through which microplastics enter aquatic habitats and calls for standardized monitoring methods to better track contamination levels.
Early warning signs of endocrine disruption in adult fish from the ingestion of polyethylene with and without sorbed chemical pollutants from the marine environment
Researchers fed Japanese medaka fish environmentally sourced marine plastic pellets for two months and observed significant downregulation of key estrogen-related genes — including vitellogenin and estrogen receptor — in both sexes, providing early evidence that plastic debris ingestion at realistic concentrations can disrupt endocrine function in adult fish.
Microplastic ingestion from atmospheric deposition during dining/drinking activities
Researchers measured microplastics that settle from the air onto food and drinks during routine dining activities, identifying this as an important but overlooked exposure pathway. They found that atmospheric deposition contributed microplastic exposure roughly equal to inhalation and two to three orders of magnitude greater than direct contamination already present in food. The study suggests that simple steps like covering dishes and rinsing dishware before use can substantially reduce this type of exposure.
Microbial ecosystem disruption under persistent organic pollutant stress: Consequences for soil biogeochemistry and environmental sustainability – A review
This review examines how persistent organic pollutants disrupt soil microbial communities and the nutrient cycling processes they drive. Researchers found that these chemicals cause diversity loss, suppress beneficial microbes, and impair the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in soils. The study also explores how co-contamination with microplastics and heavy metals can produce compounding effects on soil health, creating risks for agricultural productivity and ecosystem stability.
Chronic exposure to high-density polyethylene microplastic through feeding alters the nutrient metabolism of juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
Researchers fed juvenile yellow perch diets containing varying levels of high-density polyethylene microplastics for nine weeks. While no mortality or growth effects were observed, fish exposed to the highest microplastic levels showed decreased body protein and ash content, enlarged liver cells with increased glycogen storage, reduced liver lipid, and significant intestinal cell damage. The study suggests that chronic microplastic ingestion can alter nutrient metabolism and cause organ-level damage in fish even without affecting survival or growth.
Analyzing socio-environmental determinants of bone and soft tissue cancer in Indonesia
Researchers analyzing bone and soft tissue cancer cases in Indonesia found that older age and proximity to the sea were significant risk factors, suggesting that environmental exposures — potentially including coastal pollution — may play a role alongside biological factors in driving these cancers.
The Importance of Nonconventional Water Resources under Water Scarcity
This review explores the importance of nonconventional water resources, such as treated wastewater, desalinated water, and harvested rainwater, in addressing growing global water scarcity. Researchers found that these alternative sources are becoming increasingly vital as climate change and population growth strain traditional supplies. The study highlights how expanding the use of nonconventional water can help build a more sustainable water future.
One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice
A collaborative effort identified 100 priority research questions across 10 themes in conservation physiology, including pollution, human-wildlife interactions, and climate adaptation. The study suggests that conservation physiology is well positioned to identify mechanisms behind population declines and test intervention strategies, providing actionable evidence to inform biodiversity management and policy decisions.
Microplastics impair digestive performance but show little effects on antioxidant activity in mussels under low pH conditions
Researchers exposed thick shell mussels to polystyrene microplastics under both normal and acidified ocean conditions. They found that microplastics had little effect on antioxidant defenses but significantly impaired digestive enzyme activity, with ocean acidification worsening the impact. The study suggests that the combined stress of microplastics and lower pH may pose particular risks to the digestive function of marine shellfish.
Environmental interactions and remediation strategies for co-occurring pollutants in soil
Researchers review how multiple pollutants — including heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics — interact in contaminated soils, creating combined effects that are harder to remediate than any single pollutant alone. The review synthesizes current remediation strategies and identifies key knowledge gaps in understanding how co-occurring pollutants behave together, which is critical for protecting agricultural soil health and food safety.