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Papers
955 resultsTechnological Advances in Mechanical Recycling Innovations and Corresponding Impacts on the Circular Economy of Plastics
This review examines advances in mechanical plastic recycling, noting that microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human organs including placentas, and traces many diseases to their presence. The study highlights that improving recycling technology is critical for reducing plastic pollution and the health risks that come with it.
Influence of colourants on environmental degradation of plastic litter
A three-year outdoor experiment found that plastic color significantly affects how fast plastics break down into microplastics, with red, blue, and green colored plastics degrading much faster than black, white, and silver ones. Black and white plastics were found to resist degradation for over 45 years, while certain colored pigments allow UV light to break down the plastic, accelerating the formation of harmful microplastics.
Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Impact of Biopolymer-Based and Conventional Plastic Packaging in Food Engineering Applications
This review compares plant-based biodegradable packaging materials with traditional plastics like PET and HDPE used in food packaging. While bioplastics produce fewer carbon emissions and break down more easily, they still face cost and performance challenges. The study matters because conventional plastic packaging is a major source of microplastic pollution in the environment.
Marine Plastic Waste in Construction: A Systematic Review of Applications in the Built Environment
This systematic review evaluates how recycled marine plastic waste can be used in construction materials like concrete, asphalt, bricks, and insulation. Reusing ocean plastics in buildings could help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in the environment. While performance varies, this approach offers a promising way to address marine plastic waste while creating useful building materials.
Reproductive Effects of Phthalates and Microplastics on Marine Mussels Based on Adverse Outcome Pathway
Researchers found that microplastics and the chemical plasticizer DEHP that leaches from them work together to disrupt reproductive function in female mussels by interfering with estrogen signaling and reducing hormone levels. While this study focused on marine mussels, DEHP is a known endocrine disruptor in humans as well, and the findings illustrate how microplastics can release harmful chemicals that affect hormone systems.
Unravelling the microplastic contamination: A comprehensive analysis of microplastics in indoor house dust
This study provides a detailed analysis of microplastics found in indoor house dust, where people spend most of their time. Fibers were the most common type found, originating from textiles, carpets, and clothing, with plastic sizes and types varying across different household areas. The findings highlight that everyday indoor environments are a significant source of microplastic exposure through inhalation and ingestion of dust.
Assessment of microplastic contamination in shrimps from the Bay of Bengal and associated human health risk
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in seven shrimp species from the Bay of Bengal and found plastic particles in every species tested, with most particles smaller than 100 micrometers. The study calculated that women in Bangladesh face a higher health risk than men from eating contaminated shrimp, highlighting how seafood can be a direct pathway for microplastic exposure in human diets.
Beached microplastics at the Bahia Blanca Estuary (Argentina): Plastic pellets as potential vectors of environmental pollution by POPs
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination along beaches of the Bahia Blanca Estuary in Argentina, finding an average of about 1,693 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment. Plastic pellets, which are raw materials used in manufacturing, were particularly common and were found to carry persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on their surfaces. The study shows that microplastics on beaches can act as vehicles for toxic chemicals, potentially exposing both wildlife and people who use these coastal areas.
Aging of microplastics increases their adsorption affinity towards organic contaminants
Researchers found that microplastics that have been weathered by sunlight and environmental exposure absorb significantly more chemical pollutants than fresh microplastics, with up to a 4.7-fold increase in adsorption. Ultraviolet exposure changes the surface chemistry of the plastics, making them stickier for contaminants. This matters because most microplastics in nature are weathered, meaning they may be carrying more toxic chemicals into the food chain than laboratory studies using new plastics would suggest.
Revealing the long-term impact of photodegradation and fragmentation on HDPE in the marine environment: Origins of microplastics and dissolved organics
Researchers studied how high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a common marine plastic, degrades over nine years of ocean exposure and in lab UV tests. Real-world conditions caused more severe breakdown than UV light alone, suggesting multiple factors work together to turn plastic products into microplastics. The degrading plastic also released dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen into the water, adding another way that plastic pollution changes ocean chemistry.
Enhanced biodegradation of high-density polyethylene microplastics: Study of bacterial efficiency and process parameters
Researchers tested three types of bacteria for their ability to break down high-density polyethylene (HDPE) microplastics and found degradation rates of up to 15% in just 30 days. While this study focuses on environmental cleanup rather than direct health effects, developing effective ways to biodegrade common plastics could help reduce the growing burden of microplastics in our environment and food supply.
Biodegradation of various grades of polyethylene microplastics by Tenebrio molitor and Tenebrio obscurus larvae: Effects on their physiology
Mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor and Tenebrio obscurus) were fed different grades of polyethylene plastic to test their ability to biodegrade this common plastic. Both species could consume and partially break down all three types of polyethylene, though the process caused oxidative stress and shifted their gut bacteria. This research suggests biological degradation of plastic waste is possible, which could help reduce the environmental breakdown of plastics into harmful microplastics.
Microplastics Enhance the Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Anaerobic Sludge Digestion by Enriching Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Surface Biofilm and Facilitating the Vertical and Horizontal Gene Transfer
This study found that microplastics in sewage sludge promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, which make bacteria harder to treat with antibiotics. Microplastics provided a surface for resistant bacteria to grow and helped them share resistance genes with other bacteria. The more microplastics present, the more antibiotic resistance spread, raising concerns about how plastic pollution in wastewater could contribute to the growing antibiotic resistance crisis.
Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation
Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.
Detection and characterisation of microplastics in tap water from Gauteng, South Africa
Researchers detected microplastics in tap water from three suburbs in South Africa's Gauteng Province, finding concentrations ranging from about 5 to 31 particles per liter. Fibers were the dominant shape (83%), and most particles were smaller than 1 millimeter. Chemical analysis identified common plastics like polyester and polyethylene, highlighting that tap water is a daily source of microplastic exposure for millions of people.
A comprehensive characterization of indoor ambient microplastics in households during the COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers used active air sampling to measure airborne microplastics inside seven homes in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people spent significantly more time indoors. They found microplastics in all homes, primarily fibers from textiles, with concentrations varying by room and household activities. Since people spend over 80% of their time indoors, the study highlights that household air is a major and underappreciated route of microplastic inhalation exposure.
Effects of microplastics and carbon nanotubes on soil geochemical properties and bacterial communities
In a 100-day soil experiment, researchers found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics significantly altered soil chemistry, nutrient levels, and bacterial communities. At higher concentrations, microplastics reduced nitrogen and phosphorus availability and changed the types of bacteria present, which could affect soil fertility. These findings matter because healthy soil bacteria are essential for growing the food we eat, and widespread microplastic contamination could quietly undermine agricultural productivity.
Sorption of representative organic contaminants on microplastics: Effects of chemical physicochemical properties, particle size, and biofilm presence
This study examined how organic pollutants like flame retardants and industrial chemicals attach to microplastics in saltwater conditions. Smaller microplastic particles absorbed more contaminants per unit weight, and natural biofilms growing on the plastic surfaces changed how much pollution they could carry. The findings help explain how microplastics act as carriers of toxic chemicals through the environment and potentially into the food chain.
Microplastic pollution in high-altitude Nainital lake, Uttarakhand, India
This is the first study to document microplastic contamination in Nainital Lake, a high-altitude lake in the Indian Himalayas that serves as the main drinking water source for the local town. Researchers found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations up to 56 particles per liter in lake water. Tourist activities and runoff were identified as the main pollution sources, raising concerns about drinking water safety for the local population.
Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of high-density polyethylene microplastics on TiO2-modified boron-doped diamond photoanode
Scientists developed a new method using a light-activated diamond electrode to break down high-density polyethylene microplastics, achieving nearly 90% degradation in 10 hours. This photoelectrocatalytic approach is the first of its kind for HDPE and works at lower energy levels than previous methods. Developing effective ways to destroy microplastics is important for cleaning up contaminated water and reducing human exposure.
Evaluation of the Viability of 3D Printing in Recycling Polymers
This systematic review explores whether 3D printing technology can help recycle plastic waste, particularly from agriculture. Finding better ways to reuse plastics matters because unrecycled plastic breaks down into microplastics that contaminate soil, water, and eventually the food chain.
UV sources and plastic composition influence microplastic surface degradation: Implications for plastic weathering studies
This study tested how different UV light sources change the surface of common microplastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The results show that sunlight and lab UV lights weather plastics differently, changing their surface roughness and chemical makeup -- which matters because these surface changes affect how microplastics transport pollutants and interact with living organisms in the environment.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in major urban lakes of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in three major urban lakes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, finding plastic particles in the water, sediment, and fish at all sites. The dominant plastics were common consumer types like polyethylene and PVC, with sizes mostly under 100 micrometers. Since these lakes are in a densely populated urban area, the findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure for the local population through both water and fish consumption.
Ranking of potential hazards from microplastics polymers in the marine environment
Researchers developed a model to rank which types of microplastic polymers pose the greatest health risk from marine exposure pathways, based on their chemical toxicity when broken down and their particle size. Polyurethane, PVC, and polyacrylonitrile ranked as the most hazardous, while the toxicity of the broken-down chemical components was the single biggest factor in determining risk. This ranking system could help policymakers prioritize which plastic types to regulate first to protect human health.