Food & Water

A global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution

This meta-analysis pooled data from over 3,200 measurements and found that microplastic pollution reduces photosynthesis by 7–12% in plants and algae worldwide. This matters because less photosynthesis means lower crop yields and disrupted ecosystems, which can ultimately affect food security and human nutrition.

The neurotoxic threat of micro- and nanoplastics: evidence from In Vitro and In Vivo models

This systematic review examined 26 studies showing that micro- and nanoplastics can cross into the brain, damage neurons, and trigger inflammation in lab and animal models. These findings raise concerns that long-term plastic exposure could contribute to neurological problems in humans, though more research is needed.

Occurrence, transport, and toxicity of microplastics in tropical food chains: perspectives view and way forward

This systematic review of 206 publications found that microplastics move through both aquatic and terrestrial food chains, accumulating as they transfer from lower to higher trophic levels. The interactions between microorganisms and microplastics facilitate the transport of associated pollutants like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants to top predators, including humans who consume contaminated food.

Microplastics in drinking water: A review on methods, occurrence, sources, and potential risks assessment

This systematic review found that microplastics are widespread in drinking water worldwide, with most particles smaller than 10 micrometers and composed of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Standardized sampling and analysis methods are urgently needed, as large variations in reported concentrations make it difficult to accurately assess health risks from drinking water exposure.

A global meta-analysis of phthalate esters in drinking water sources and associated health risks

This meta-analysis examined phthalate levels — chemicals that leach from plastics — in drinking water sources around the world. Several phthalates exceeded safe limits in certain regions, posing potential health risks including hormone disruption and cancer, especially with long-term exposure.

Recent advances in microplastic removal from drinking water by coagulation: Removal mechanisms and influencing factors

A meta-analysis and random forest model found that coagulation can effectively remove microplastics from drinking water, with particle shape being the most important factor affecting removal efficiency, followed by coagulant type and dosage. Charge neutralization is the dominant mechanism for small microplastics, while adsorption bridging and sweeping work better for larger particles.

A systematic review of biomonitoring microplastics in environmental matrices: Emphasis on airborne particles, dry deposits, and comparative analysis with traditional methods

This systematic review examines methods for monitoring microplastics in the air, including airborne particles and deposits. Researchers have found microplastics everywhere from city streets to clouds, underscoring the extent of airborne plastic pollution that people breathe in every day.

A Review of Sources, Hazards, and Removal Methods of Microplastics in the Environment

This systematic review provides a comprehensive look at where microplastics come from, what risks they pose, and how they can be removed from the environment. The review covers contamination in air, water, and soil, noting that microplastics can carry toxic chemicals and harm both ecosystems and human health.

Microplastics in Our Waters: Insights from a Configurative Systematic Review of Water Bodies and Drinking Water Sources

This systematic review mapped microplastic contamination across rivers, lakes, seas, tap water, and bottled water worldwide. The findings show that microplastics are present in virtually every water source we rely on, with rivers being the most studied and polyethylene being the most commonly found plastic type.

A Review on Biopolymer-Based Biodegradable Film for Food Packaging: Trends over the Last Decade and Future Research

This systematic review explores biodegradable packaging made from natural materials like starch and proteins as alternatives to conventional plastics. Reducing plastic packaging is important because traditional plastics break down into microplastics that contaminate food and the environment.

Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy

Using a new high-speed imaging technique, researchers detected and identified nanoplastics in bottled water at the single-particle level, finding roughly 240,000 plastic particles per liter. This is far more than previously estimated and includes particles smaller than 100 nanometers made from common plastics, suggesting our exposure to nanoplastics from bottled water may be much higher than thought.

The One Health Concept

This article explains the One Health concept, which recognizes that human health, animal health, and environmental health are deeply interconnected. Environmental threats like pollution, including microplastic contamination, affect all three domains simultaneously. The framework is relevant to understanding microplastic risks because plastics move through ecosystems, accumulate in animals, and ultimately reach humans through the food chain and environment.

A systematic review and quality assessment of estimated daily intake of microplastics through food

This systematic review assessed how much microplastic people consume through food daily. While estimates vary widely due to differences in study methods, the evidence confirms that humans regularly ingest microplastics through seafood, water, salt, and other common foods.

Microplastics in seafood: Navigating the silent health threat and intestinal implications through a One Health food safety lens

This systematic review and meta-analysis found microplastic contamination across fish, crustaceans, and mollusks globally, with flathead lobsters from Iran carrying the highest individual load (460 MPs per animal). PET fibers in the 100-1500 micron range were the most common type, and microplastics were shown to alter gut microbial communities, increase intestinal permeability, and promote inflammation.

Behaviour, ecological impacts of microplastics and cadmium on soil systems: A systematic review

This systematic review examines how microplastics and cadmium interact in soil, finding that they can make each other more harmful. Microplastics can carry toxic cadmium further through soil and increase its uptake by plants, which could mean more heavy metal contamination in the food we eat.

Food chain microplastics contamination and impact on human health: a review

Microplastic and Nanoplastic in Crops: Possible Adverse Effects to Crop Production and Contaminant Transfer in the Food Chain

This meta-analysis found that nanoplastics can be taken up by plant roots and transferred to the parts we eat, while also reducing crop yields. This means microplastic pollution in agricultural soil could affect both food safety and food production, creating a dual concern for human health.

A systematic review on microplastic contamination in marine Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia: Current scenario, concentration, characterization, polymeric risk assessment, and future Prospectives

This systematic review documented microplastic contamination in shellfish and crustaceans across Asia, finding 79 species affected. Since these seafood species are widely consumed, the presence of microplastics — especially polyethylene and polypropylene — in their tissues represents a direct route of human exposure through diet.

Microplastics alter the equilibrium of plant-soil-microbial system: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to show that microplastics disrupt the balance between plants, soil, and soil microbes. The effects vary depending on the type, size, and concentration of microplastics, suggesting that these tiny plastic particles can alter how nutrients cycle through the soil and ultimately affect the food we grow.

Global Food Security and Sustainability Issues: The Road to 2030 from Nutrition and Sustainable Healthy Diets to Food Systems Change

This review examines the challenges of achieving global food security through sustainable food systems by 2030. It discusses how shifting to plant-based proteins and reducing food waste through system-wide transformation are essential steps, but lack of practical tools and skills remains a major obstacle.

Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review

This systematic review mapped the types and shapes of microplastics found in food, drinking water, and human tissue samples. Polyethylene and polypropylene — common in food packaging — were the most frequently detected plastics, and fiber-shaped particles were especially prevalent in human samples.

Natural and Synthetic Polymers for Biomedical and Environmental Applications

This review covers both natural and synthetic polymers used in biomedical and environmental applications, from drug delivery systems to food packaging. It discusses how biodegradable plastics like polylactic acid are being developed for medical uses, while also noting environmental concerns. Understanding how these polymers behave in the body and environment is relevant to the broader question of how plastic materials interact with human health.

Cyanobacteria Harmful Algae Blooms: Causes, Impacts, and Risk Management

This review covers harmful algal blooms caused by cyanobacteria, which release toxins that threaten fish, pets, livestock, and human health through contaminated water. The blooms are worsened by agricultural runoff and industrial pollution, and the authors call for better monitoring tools and standardized methods to detect and manage these toxic events.

Environmental behavior of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and the potential role of biochar for its remediation: a review

This review summarizes how biochar, a carbon-rich material made from organic waste, can be used to clean up PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), the persistent "forever chemicals" found widely in the environment. Since microplastics can carry and transport PFAS through water systems, understanding how to remove PFAS is an important piece of the broader pollution picture.