Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Study of the release of microplastics during the use phase of products from the plastics industry

Researchers investigated microplastic release during the use phase of plastic consumer products across multiple product categories from the plastics industry, examining how ordinary use conditions generate plastic particles that enter food and the environment. The study contributes to understanding the full microplastic lifecycle as the plastics industry transitions toward reuse-oriented product models.

2025 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

微纳米塑料在典型日用塑料制品使用过程中的释放规律及机制

This Chinese study investigated the release of micro- and nanoplastics from everyday plastic products including food containers, tableware, and clothing during normal use, characterizing release rates and mechanisms and estimating daily human exposure from common household items.

2024 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version)
Article Tier 2

Recycle or Not? An Exploration of Microplastic Generation During Plastic Processing via a Local Case Study

Researchers measured microplastic generation during plastic extrusion processing for both virgin and recycled materials, finding that each ton of plastic processed releases between roughly 213,000 and 98 million microplastic particles. Virgin plastic processing and water ring pelletizing techniques generated more and smaller microplastics than recycling operations, making plastic recycling the preferable option for reducing microplastic emissions. Simulations showed that up to 84% of these particles could be removed using commonly available filtration materials at processing facilities.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Using Dynamic Release Modeling to Predict Historic and Current Macro- and Microplastic Releases

Researchers developed a Dynamic Probabilistic Material Flow Analysis model coupled with a release model to quantify historic and current macro- and microplastic emissions in Switzerland, providing a dataset tracking plastic releases across product lifecycles.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Etude de la pollution environnementale par les micro- et nanoplastiques : échantillonnage atmosphérique, développement d'un modèle de plastique marqué, interaction avec des organismes vivants

This French-language thesis developed new methods for sampling airborne microplastics and nanoplastics, created environmentally realistic plastic particle models for lab toxicity testing, and studied how these particles interact with microorganisms. The work addresses methodological gaps that have limited understanding of how real-world micro- and nanoplastics behave and cause harm in environmental and biological settings.

2021 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

A Hidden Pathway for Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics—The Mechanical Fragmentation of Plastic Products during Daily Use

This review examines a commonly overlooked source of human microplastic exposure: the mechanical wear and fragmentation of everyday plastic products during normal use. Researchers found that activities like opening containers, using cutting boards, and handling plastic items release significant quantities of micro- and nanoplastics directly into our immediate environment. The study highlights that this daily fragmentation pathway may contribute more to personal microplastic exposure than previously appreciated.

2023 Toxics 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in food sold in France: a matter of containers ?

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in food sold in France, comparing contamination levels across products packaged in different container types to determine whether packaging materials rather than environmental ubiquity represent the primary microplastic exposure route in the French food supply.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Human occupational exposure to microplastics: A cross-sectional study in a plastic products manufacturing plant

Researchers measured microplastic exposure in 19 workers at a plastic products factory in Iran by sampling their skin, hair, and saliva before and after work shifts. They found 4,802 microplastic particles across all samples, with hair collecting the most and saliva the least. The study shows that people working directly with plastics face significantly higher microplastic exposure, and that protective equipment like gloves and masks can help reduce it.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne Microplastics in Workplaces: Preliminary Findings from a Multi-site Investigation of Plastic Handling and Processing Facilities

A multi-site investigation of airborne microplastics in plastic handling and processing workplaces found elevated concentrations compared to outdoor air, with particle morphology and polymer types reflecting the specific plastics handled at each facility, identifying occupational inhalation as a significant exposure pathway.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
Article Tier 2

Impacts des nano- et micro-plastiques sur l'environnement et la santé

This French-language review summarizes the omnipresence of plastic pollution in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, covering sources, environmental fate, and human health consequences of micro- and nanoplastic exposure.

2024 HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)
Article Tier 2

Mechanical recycling of plastic waste as a point source of microplastic pollution

Researchers found that mechanical recycling of plastic waste is a significant point source of microplastic pollution, releasing plastic fragments into wastewater during washing, shredding, and processing stages of the recycling chain.

2022 Environmental Pollution 181 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of airborne microplastics emissions in workplaces

Researchers measured airborne microplastic emissions in occupational settings, finding that workplaces can be significant sources of MP exposure through inhalation. The study characterized particle size, composition, and concentration of MPs in workplace air across different industrial environments.

2025 IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome)
Article Tier 2

Occupational exposure to microplastics and heavy metals: a workstation-based study across small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale plastic manufacturing in Nagpur, India

Researchers measured occupational exposure to airborne microplastics and heavy metals across small, medium, and large-scale plastic manufacturing facilities in Nagpur, India. They found varying levels of microplastic and metal contamination depending on industry scale and workstation location, with workers in certain areas facing notably higher exposure. The study highlights the need for improved workplace safety measures and exposure monitoring in plastic manufacturing settings.

2026 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

Waste plastic management: Recycling and the environmental health nexus

Researchers reviewed plastic recycling methods and their health and environmental trade-offs, finding that mechanical recycling releases microplastics that can enter the body through inhalation and ingestion, and calling for smarter waste management systems and reduced use of toxic plastic additives.

2024 Cleaner Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Leachability of microplastic from different plastic materials

This study tested the leachability of microplastics from several common plastic materials under environmental conditions, finding that plastic type and degradation state influence how readily microplastic particles are released.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating the generation of microplastics from an unlikely source: The unintentional consequence of the current plastic recycling process

This study revealed that the plastic recycling process itself generates large quantities of microplastics, particularly during the mechanical shredding step. Depending on the plastic type, shredding produced between 7,000 and 29,000 microplastic particles per kilogram of material processed, and weathered plastics generated even more. This is an important finding because it means recycling, which is intended to reduce plastic pollution, may actually be creating a significant new source of microplastic contamination.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 51 citations
Article Tier 2

From bottle to microplastics: Can we estimate how our plastic products are breaking down?

A review of plastic fragmentation modeling found that while models predicting microplastic generation from mechanical stress, chemical degradation, and biological breakdown are developing, there remains a critical lack of empirical data on fragmentation rates needed to parameterize these models.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics formed during the mechanical breakdown of daily-use polystyrene products

This study demonstrated that everyday mechanical use of polystyrene products generates nanoplastic particles, confirming that nanoplastics are continuously produced from common consumer items through normal wear and tear. The findings suggest nanoplastic exposure from household products may be more widespread than previously appreciated.

2018 Nanoscale Advances 291 citations
Article Tier 2

From Kitchen to Cell: A Critical Review of Microplastic Release from Consumer Products and Its Health Implications

This review examines how everyday consumer products such as food packaging, kitchen utensils, and household appliances release microplastics directly into the food and beverages we consume. The authors link release mechanisms like thermal stress, mechanical abrasion, and chemical leaching to potential human health risks. The study highlights a gap in industry and regulatory responses to this direct exposure pathway.

2026 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Stress-induced phase separation in plastics drives the release of amorphous polymer micropollutants into water

Scientists discovered that internal stress built up during plastic manufacturing forces tiny droplets of low-weight plastic to migrate to the surface and release into water. This means everyday items like plastic water bottles are shedding a previously unrecognized type of plastic pollutant, especially from high-stress areas like bottle necks, which could increase human exposure through drinking water.

2025 Nature Communications 13 citations