Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Thermal analysis and thermography observation of stainless-steel ice cubes

This paper is not about microplastics; it measures the thermal performance of stainless-steel ice cubes compared to conventional water ice cubes using temperature sensors and thermal cameras, finding that some brands match water ice performance while others maintain cold temperatures longer.

2023 Jurnal POLIMESIN
Article Tier 2

First evidence of microplastic contamination in ready-to-use packaged food ice cubes

Researchers screened 15 popular commercial brands of packaged food ice cubes in Mexico City and found microplastics in 100% of samples, with concentrations ranging from 19 to 178 particles per liter. The most common plastic types identified were polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyamide, predominantly in fiber form. The findings indicate that packaged ice cubes represent a previously unrecognized route of human dietary exposure to microplastics.

2022 Environmental Pollution 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and health risk assessment of microplastics in beverages and ice packs

Researchers found an average of 183 microplastic particles per liter in beverages and 179 particles per liter in ice packs, mostly polypropylene and PET from packaging. Adults are estimated to consume about 5.5 microplastic particles per kilogram of body weight daily through beverages, making packaged drinks a significant and underappreciated source of human microplastic exposure.

2025 Scientific Reports 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Using Commercial Cleaning Facilities on the Safety of Food Contact Surfaces of Reusable Cups

Researchers evaluated the safety of food contact surfaces on reusable cups after commercial cleaning, analysing microbiological risks at each cleaning step, residual allergens, and microplastic contamination, and found that disinfection and drying processes reduced microbial loads but microplastic residues remained a concern.

2024 Culinary Science & Hospitality Research
Article Tier 2

Identification and characterization of microplastics released during the actual use of disposable cups using laser direct infrared imaging

Researchers found that disposable polypropylene and polystyrene cups release over 1,000 microplastic particles per liter when filled with hot water, with higher temperatures producing more particles. Using a disposable cup three times a day could mean unintentionally swallowing 294 to 402 microplastic particles daily. The study suggests that reusable cups release fewer microplastics and may be a safer choice for regular hot beverage consumption.

2025 The Analyst 5 citations
Review Tier 2

State of the Art in Hygienic Quality of Food Ice Worldwide: A Ten-Year Review

This ten-year review assessed the hygienic quality of food ice worldwide, analyzing contamination data from studies published between 2012 and 2022. Food ice frequently contained microbial contaminants exceeding safety thresholds across multiple countries, pointing to inadequate ice production hygiene as a persistent global food safety concern.

2024 Microorganisms 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination in soda beverages: A Multi-city, Multi-container laser Direct infrared spectroscopy study

Researchers tested soda beverages from four major U.S. cities in three container types, aluminum, glass, and plastic, using infrared spectroscopy to identify microplastics. They found that microplastic contamination patterns differed somewhat by city but showed no significant difference between container materials, suggesting that geographic factors may play a larger role than packaging in determining what ends up in beverages.

2024 Heliyon 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic release from disposable plastics: Correlation with maximum service temperature

Testing five types of disposable plastics confirmed that nanoplastic release correlates with maximum service temperature, with materials used beyond their temperature limits releasing significantly more nanoplastics when packaging hot food, cooking in ovens, or using microwaves.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Criteria for Choosing Thermal Packaging for Temperature Sensitive Goods Transportation

This paper reviewed criteria for selecting sustainable thermal packaging materials for cold chain transport, particularly relevant for vaccine and food distribution. Reducing the use of single-use plastic insulation materials in cold chain logistics could help limit the plastic waste that becomes microplastics.

2021 Environmental and Climate Technologies 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of polystyrene microplastics in water, milk, and coffee using thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR)

Scientists developed a new method to quickly measure polystyrene microplastics in water, milk, and coffee without needing to pre-treat the samples. Using a combination of heat analysis and infrared spectroscopy, they could detect microplastic contamination at low levels in common beverages. This approach could make routine testing for microplastics in food and drinks faster and more practical.

2024 Chemosphere 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Rethinking Glacier Insulation in the Alpine Space: Microplastic Concerns and Sustainable Materials

This review examines glacier insulation techniques used to mitigate climate-driven ice melt in the Alpine space, evaluating the microplastic contamination risks posed by commonly used synthetic insulating materials and proposing more sustainable material alternatives for geoengineering interventions on mountain glaciers.

2025
Article Tier 2

The spatial distribution and abundance of microplastics in lake waters and ice during ice-free and ice-covered periods

Researchers investigated how lake ice affects microplastic distribution in Lake Ulansuhai, finding that ice formation traps and concentrates microplastics, altering their spatial distribution and abundance between ice-covered and ice-free periods.

2023 Environmental Pollution 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics released from plastic take-out food containers based on thermal properties and morphology study

Researchers found that plastic take-out food containers made of polypropylene, polyethylene, and expanded polystyrene release microplastics into hot water, with over 96% of particles smaller than 10 micrometers and concentrations varying by material type and temperature.

2022 Food Additives & Contaminants Part A 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Distribution during Ice Formation: Insights into Natural Surface Water Freezing Conditions

Laboratory experiments simulating natural surface water freezing found that nanoplastics were excluded from forming ice and concentrated in unfrozen water regions, with a new local distribution coefficient developed to better characterize nanoplastic behavior during freeze-thaw cycles.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparative study of thermo‐physical properties of different nanofluids for effective heat transfer leading to Li‐ion battery pack cooling

Researchers compared the thermal and physical properties of various nanofluids for cooling lithium-ion battery packs in electric vehicles. The study evaluated different nanoparticle-enhanced coolants to identify which combinations provide the most effective heat transfer, addressing the critical need to maintain battery operating temperatures within safe ranges for optimal performance and longevity.

2024 Energy Storage 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Steam disinfection releases micro(nano)plastics from silicone-rubber baby teats as examined by optical photothermal infrared microspectroscopy

Researchers used advanced infrared microscopy to examine whether steam-sterilizing silicone baby bottle teats releases microplastics. They found that repeated heating caused hydrothermal decomposition of the silicone, releasing both micro- and nanoplastic particles into the wash water. The findings raise concerns about infant exposure to tiny plastic particles from a routine and widely recommended bottle-cleaning practice.

2021 Nature Nanotechnology 214 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and impacts of microplastic incorporation within sea ice

Researchers experimentally incorporated microplastics into sea ice to investigate their distribution and impact on ice properties, finding that microplastics concentrate within sea ice at levels far exceeding surface seawater and that their presence alters the physical and optical properties of the ice.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 124 citations
Article Tier 2

Water Quality in Different Storage Containers: A Comparative Study of Materials

This review compares how plastic, glass, and metal storage containers affect drinking water quality, finding that plastic containers can leach harmful chemicals and that container choice has meaningful implications for human health.

2024 International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Applications 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fatigue-Limit Assessment via Infrared Thermography for a High-Strength Steel

Despite its title referencing infrared thermography, this paper tests whether thermal imaging techniques can accurately assess the fatigue limits of high-strength steel under cyclic stress loading — not microplastic pollution. It examines materials engineering for metal fatigue testing and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

2025 Materials 1 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Release of microplastics from commonly used plastic containers: Combined meta-analysis and case study

This meta-analysis pooled data from 30 studies and found that plastic cups and containers release significantly more microplastics at higher temperatures. Hot drinks and heated food containers can release hundreds to millions of particles per use, depending on the plastic type. This is a practical health concern — it suggests that letting hot beverages cool before drinking from plastic containers, or switching to glass or ceramic, could reduce your microplastic intake.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Designer SiO2 Metasurfaces for Efficient Passive Radiative Cooling

This review examines how engineered silica surfaces can be designed for passive radiative cooling, which allows buildings to cool without using electricity. While not directly about microplastics, the technology is relevant because it addresses energy efficiency and reducing environmental pollution from cooling systems. The research evaluates different design strategies for making silica-based cooling materials that could be manufactured at scale.

2023 Advanced Materials Interfaces 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation of Microplastics before and after Oxidation

Researchers investigated heterogeneous ice nucleation induced by seven morphologies of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in immersion freezing mode, and examined how atmospheric oxidation affects their ice-nucleating efficiency and potential influence on cloud formation.

2024
Article Tier 2

The Chemical Composition of Packaged Drinking Water: Inorganic and Organic Contaminants, Disinfection Byproducts, and Microplastics

Researchers analyzed five PET-bottled water brands in Qatar at different storage temperatures (room temperature, 4°C, 40°C) for heavy metals, BPA, phthalates, microplastics, and disinfection byproducts. Antimony was consistently detected and increased at elevated temperatures, and microplastics were confirmed by FTIR, with contamination levels rising under heat storage conditions.

2025 Science Get Journal.
Article Tier 2

A Study on Microplastic Emission from Disposable Straws and Its Dietary Relevance

Researchers systematically quantified microplastic release from polypropylene and polylactic acid straws across three beverage matrices (deionized water, cola, and skim milk) at temperatures from 25°C to 65°C, using FTIR, micro-FTIR, SEM, and optical microscopy to characterize MP size reduction and dietary exposure implications.

2025 Microplastics