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Papers
40 resultsAppraising co-composting efficiency of biodegradable plastic bags and food wastes: Assessment microplastics morphology, greenhouse gas emissions, and changes in microbial community
Researchers tested composting biodegradable plastic bags with food waste and found that while the bags broke down faster than regular plastic, the process still produced microplastic fragments and affected greenhouse gas emissions. The type of additives in the biodegradable bags influenced both the composting process and the microbial communities involved. This study raises important questions about whether "biodegradable" plastics truly solve the microplastic problem or simply create smaller plastic particles during decomposition.
Microplastics in oral healthcare products (OHPs) and their environmental health risks and mitigation measures
Scientists tested common oral healthcare products sold across India, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss, and found microplastic contamination in all of them. Toothbrushes released the most particles (30 to 120 per brush), with polyethylene and polyamide being the most common plastic types. This means people are regularly putting microplastics directly into their mouths through everyday dental hygiene products, creating a direct route of exposure.
Rethinking microplastics as a diverse contaminant suite
Researchers argue that the term microplastics oversimplifies what is actually a hugely diverse class of contaminants varying in size, shape, polymer type, and chemical additives. Treating all microplastics as a single pollutant leads to studies and regulations that may miss critical differences in how various particles behave and affect organisms. The study calls for a more nuanced approach that treats microplastics as a contaminant suite, similar to how pesticides or pharmaceuticals are categorized.
Discovery of microplastics in the Alabama River: Distributions, transport and loads, sources, and relative comparison with world rivers
Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic contamination in the Alabama River, finding pollution levels comparable to other affected rivers worldwide. Polyethylene terephthalate was the most common plastic type detected, and the particles appeared to originate from nearby sources rather than traveling long distances. The study suggests that riverbed sediment serves as a major sink for microplastics, and contamination patterns varied by season and location without consistent trends.
A Thermodynamic Approach for Assessing the Environmental Exposure of Chemicals Absorbed to Microplastic
Researchers used thermodynamic and multimedia modeling to assess how microplastics influence the transport and bioavailability of persistent toxic substances in marine environments. The study suggests that chemicals with high hydrophobicity may partition to polyethylene microplastic, but overall, microplastic is likely of limited importance as a vector for delivering toxic substances to marine organisms compared to other exposure pathways.
Fin whales and microplastics: The Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Cortez scenarios
Researchers compared microplastic interactions with fin whale populations in the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Cortez. The study found considerable microplastic abundance in surface water samples from both regions, suggesting that baleen whales that feed by filtering large volumes of seawater face significant exposure to microplastic contamination.
Alleviating effects of microplastics together with tetracycline hydrochloride on the physiological stress of <i>Closterium</i> sp.
Researchers studied how PET and PBT microplastics combined with the antibiotic tetracycline affect freshwater microalgae. They found that in some combinations, microplastics actually reduced the toxicity of the antibiotic to the algae, likely by adsorbing the chemical onto their surfaces. The study highlights the complex and sometimes counterintuitive ways that microplastics interact with other pollutants in aquatic environments.
Big eyes can't see microplastics: Feeding selectivity and eco-morphological adaptations in oral cavity affect microplastic uptake in mud-dwelling amphibious mudskipper fish
Researchers studied microplastic contamination in mudskipper fish from the Ulhas River estuary in India, finding that pollution levels increased from suburban to urban-industrial areas. The fish ingested primarily filament-shaped microplastics, likely due to their filter-feeding habits and oral cavity adaptations. The study also found that microplastics served as carriers for heavy metals, suggesting they act as vectors for additional contaminants in estuarine ecosystems.
Pyrolysis-GC/MS differentiates polyesters and detects additives for improved monitoring of textile labeling accuracy and plastic pollution
Researchers used pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to analyze 229 consumer polyester products and found that while most were PET, some were mislabeled or contained unexpected polymer blends. They also detected the plasticizer diethyl phthalate in over 23% of products, including children's toys. The findings challenge the common assumption that all polyester products are PET and highlight the importance of accurate textile labeling for both pollution monitoring and consumer safety.
Polymer-Specific Quantification of Circulating Microplastics in Healthy and Immunocompromised Individuals
Scientists found tiny plastic particles in the blood of all people they tested, but people with weakened immune systems had slightly higher levels than healthy people. The plastic pieces likely come from everyday items and medical equipment, and people with compromised immune systems may have trouble clearing them from their bodies. This research shows that microplastics are now circulating in human blood, though we still don't know what health effects this might have.
Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization
Researchers found evidence of microplastic contamination in barn owl pellets collected from two sites with different levels of human activity, marking the first such study of its kind. Several polymer types were identified in the pellets, indicating that microplastics are moving through terrestrial food chains to reach apex predators. The findings suggest that even wildlife in relatively natural landscapes is exposed to microplastic pollution through their prey.
Microplastic contamination in pelagic fishes from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Researchers extracted and identified microplastics from the livers of Indian mackerel and yellowtail scad collected from two states on Malaysia's east coast. Both species contained microplastics, with fiber shapes predominating, and contamination levels varied by location, highlighting regional differences in microplastic exposure risk for commercially important fish.
Characterization of Microplastics Residue in Water and Biota of Majidun Estuarines, Lagos Nigeria
Researchers characterized microplastics in surface water and commercially harvested aquatic species from the Majidun River estuary in Lagos, Nigeria, providing the first documented assessment of microplastic pollution in this location. Multiple polymer types were identified in both water and biota samples.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in South African beverages
Researchers measured microplastic occurrence and characterized particles found in multiple South African beverages including bottled water, soft drinks, and juice, finding plastic contamination across all categories. The study assessed associated human dietary exposure from beverage consumption.
Poly(Lactic Acid) / Polyester Blends: Review of Current and Future Applications
This review covers PLA blends with petroleum-based polyesters (PBT, PET) as a strategy to overcome PLA limitations including slow biodegradation, high cost, and low toughness, summarizing current research on blend compatibility, mechanical properties, and potential application areas.
Identification of microplastics by FTIR and Raman microscopy: a novel silicon filter substrate opens the important spectral range below 1300 cm−1 for FTIR transmission measurements
Researchers developed a new approach using silicon filters compatible with both FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy to identify microplastics in environmental samples. The silicon filter substrate allows transmission-mode IR imaging across the entire sample without manual pre-sorting, improving efficiency and reducing contamination risk.
Determination of plastic polyester oligomers in real samples and their bioeffects
This study developed methods to detect and quantify plastic polyester oligomers in food and environmental samples, and assessed their biological effects, contributing to understanding of chemical risks from plastic degradation products beyond bulk microplastic particles.
First report of microplastic ingestion by the alien fish Pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus) in the Ramsar site Vembanad Lake, south India
Researchers reported the first documented case of microplastic ingestion by the alien fish Pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus) in Vembanad Lake, India, a Ramsar-designated wetland, with fibers and fragments identified in gastrointestinal tracts of fish that had escaped aquaculture facilities during flooding events.
Discrimination and simultaneous quantification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate) microplastics in environmental samples via gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Scientists developed a method using chemical depolymerization followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to simultaneously identify and quantify two common plastic types — PET and PBT — as microplastics in environmental water samples, without requiring complex separation steps. The method achieved high recovery rates (89–100%) and low detection limits, making it practical for routine environmental monitoring of textile and packaging microplastics.
Field Survey of Indoor Microplastic in Four Regions of Japan
Researchers surveyed indoor microplastic contamination in residential house dust across four regions of Japan, using micro-FTIR spectroscopy to identify multiple polymer types — including polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene — in settled floor dust, extending previous Tokyo-focused findings to a national scale.
Multivariate Analysis of Factors Influencing the Concentration of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Microplastics in Mosses Sampled Across Germany in 2020
Mosses growing across Germany were analyzed as living pollution sensors, and the results show that concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in mosses are driven by a combination of large-scale atmospheric drift and proximity to local industrial or agricultural sources. Microplastics in the mosses were harder to model statistically, with only styrene-butadiene rubber and polyethylene particles showing meaningful patterns linked to nearby sources. The study reinforces the value of national moss monitoring networks for tracking atmospheric pollution, but highlights that denser sampling is needed to reliably map microplastic deposition across a country.
TOXIC EFFECTS OF ESTER BASED POLYMERS ON DAPHNIA MAGNA: A LABORATORY MICROCOSM STUDY
Researchers assessed the acute and chronic toxicity of polycarbonate, PET, and polybutylene terephthalate microplastics on Daphnia magna, finding EC50 values of 2.6, 4.7, and greater than 100 mg/L respectively at 72 hours, with physiological effects observed even at low immobilization rates. The study demonstrates that ester-based polymer microplastics differ substantially in their toxicity to freshwater zooplankton.
Evaluation of enzymatic degradation of petase against PBT and PEN nanoplastics using dye release assay
Researchers expressed, purified, and tested wild-type and engineered variants of PETase enzyme against polyethylene naphthalate and polybutylene terephthalate nanoplastic substrates, developing a dye-release fluorescence assay that correlated with HPLC measurements to enable rapid, quantitative screening of enzymatic plastic degradation.
An experimental study on microplastic settling velocities in different water environments: Which factors shape the settling process?
Researchers experimentally investigated how biofilm formation and weathering processes affect the settling velocities of microplastics across different water matrices, identifying the key physical and biological factors shaping how particles sink in aquatic environments.