Microplastics

Anal Chem. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c07817. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a promising method for identifying microplastics (MPs). Nonetheless, traditional solid SERS substrate-based detection often struggles with individual MPs, making it particularly difficult to detect multiple MPs simultaneously and in a recyclable manner. To achieve ultrasensitive, multiplex, and easily recyclable SERS detection of MPs in environmental water samples, an in situ construction method was developed to create a particle-in-cavity (PIC) structure. This involved the simultaneous formation of PDMS cavities and the in situ embedding of Ag NPs into these cavities. The PIC structure not only successfully combined "surface hot spots" and "volume hot spots" but also enhanced SERS uniformity and resistance to ultrasonication due to the in situ embedding strategy. The flexible PIC-structured film allowed for the simultaneous SERS detection of three MPs (polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene) in both seawater and tap water, with detection limits (LODs) of 0.1, 0.5, and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively. Recyclable SERS detection of the MPs for five recycles was easily accomplished through ultrasonication cleaning with xylene. Utilizing the SERS spectra of the three MPs, machine learning algorithms enabled precise quantification of the MPs in environmental water. Visual identification was conducted using Raman mapping for the mixture of the three MPs. This detection method, which integrates the unique PIC structure and machine learning, paves the way for future advancements in ultrasensitive and easily recyclable SERS detection for environmental monitoring.

PMID:41986999 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.5c07817

BMC Genomics. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1186/s12864-026-12809-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Understanding recombination rates is crucial in evolutionary biology, as recombination shapes genetic diversity, natural selection, and adaptation. We investigated recombination rate variation in Chironomus riparius across different latitudes, seasons, and experimental treatments using Pool-seq data from five studies and the ReLERNN neural network-based method. We examined its relationship with genetic diversity, GC content, and F_ST, assessing causality through structural equation modeling.

RESULTS: In natural populations, recombination rates showed no clear latitudinal pattern, likely due to interactions between climate-driven selection, demographic history and regional environmental heterogeneity. However, seasonal variation was evident, with higher recombination rates in autumn than winter, possibly due to temperature-induced plasticity or seasonal bottlenecks. A cold snap in March 2018 triggered a sharp recombination increase, potentially suggesting a stress-induced adaptive response. Across datasets, recombination rates were correlated with genetic diversity and other genomic parameters, with structural equation models (SEMs) indicating that recombination and selection jointly shape patterns of π and differentiation, while relationships with GC content and TEs counts varied among environmental and experimental contexts. In experimental populations, thermal regimes alone had little effect on recombination; instead, adaptation to laboratory conditions and specific stressors drove recombination changes. Exposure to microplastics led to a genome-wide reduction in recombination, likely due to stress-induced DNA repair prioritizing genome integrity, whereas cadmium exposure generally suppressed recombination.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that recombination in C. riparius is a highly dynamic trait influenced by environmental conditions, selection, and genomic context. By integrating ecological variation, experimental evolution, and multivariate genomic analyses, this study highlights recombination as a context-dependent process that responds to both natural and anthropogenic stressors and interacts with multiple features of genome architecture.

PMID:41987049 | DOI:10.1186/s12864-026-12809-5

Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c16924. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The adverse effects of microplastic particles on plant growth have been extensively studied, but the ecological risks caused by microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM), which is substance continuously released from microplastics and highly bioavailable, still remain largely unexplored, especially its toxic effects and underlying mechanisms on plant growth. Here, we employed multiomics combined with transgenic materials to investigate the effects of different MP-DOM types, including PP-DOM, PS-DOM, and PBAT-DOM, on Arabidopsis root growth. The results indicated that PS-DOM and PBAT-DOM, but not PP-DOM, significantly inhibit root elongation in a dose-dependent manner by impairing the meristem zone and stem cell activity. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that MP-DOM altered gene expression related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. Molecular transformation network analysis revealed that low-polarity saturated molecules enriched in PS-DOM and PBAT-DOM perturbed the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, thereby indirectly impairing auxin homeostasis. Phenotypic analysis of auxin reporter lines confirmed that PS-DOM and PBAT-DOM disrupt polar auxin transport by downregulating the expression of auxin transporters, leading to abnormal auxin accumulation and inhibition of root growth. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying MP-DOM-induced phytotoxicity, providing insight into the ecological risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural production.

PMID:41987510 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c16924

Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6c03893. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurately modeling microplastic (MP) transport in rivers requires a deep understanding of their transport mechanisms. However, the transport behavior of microplastics (MPs) under moderate flow conditions, where their near-bed movement is intermittent, remains poorly understood. This study addresses this gap by conducting particle tracking experiments under flow conditions near the threshold of MP mobilization in open channel flows. The analysis focuses on the stochastic nature of MP streamwise movements. A statistical description for the key kinematic variables was developed, including MP streamwise velocity (v_x), hop length (L_x), and hop duration (T_tr). The results showed that both L_x and T_tr followed exponential distributions and that a truncated Gaussian distribution provided the best fit for v_x. Analysis of the relationship between L_x and T_tr revealed that, on average, approximately 60% of MP hops across all experimental cases corresponded to "long hops", which are characterized by L_x ∝ T_tr. Relative to pristine MPs, aged MPs had approximately 30% lower surface roughness, with negligible differences in the kinematic variables. In addition, the v_x correlation time scales were comparable to the particle response times, showing that particle inertia contributes to the temporal persistence of v_x variations and to the lagged adjustment of v_x to fluid drag.

PMID:41985889 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.6c03893

Front Plant Sci. 2026 Mar 30;17:1755367. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1755367. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) and microplastics (MPs) are gradually increasing in soils, posing a serious threat to humans and crop production. Biochar is a important amendment used worldwide for the remediation of contaminated soils. The role of biochar in mitigating combined Cd and MPs toxicity is rarely studied. Thus, we studied the impact of nano-zinc modified biochar (NZMB) on rice growth, functioning, and productivity in Cd and MPs-co-contaminated soil.

METHODS: The study has different treatments: control, Cd contaminated soil (20 mg kg^-1), MPs contaminated soil (1%), Cd + MPs contaminated soil, NZMB (2%), Cd contaminated soil (20 mg kg^-1) + NZMB (2%), MPs contaminated soil (1%) + NZMB (2%) and Cd + MPs contaminated soil + NZMB (2%).

RESULTS: It was observed that Cd and MPs reduced rice yield (-81%) by impairing chlorophyll synthesis, leaf water contents (-91%), soil nutrient availability, and increasing Cd availability. Biochar application increased the antioxidants activities, osmolyte synthesis, soil organic carbon (+26%), soil pH (18%), nitrogen (+61%), phosphorus (+50%) and potassium availability (40%) and reduced soil Cd availability (-31%), roots Cd (-52%) and shoot Cd (-28%), led to increase in yield in Cd + MPs contaminated soil. Further, NZMB also enhanced the gene expression related to proline (OsP5CS), sucrose (OsSPS1), and antioxidants, while decreased expression of gene associated with Cd uptake (OsNRAMP1 and OsHMA3), all of which contributed to an increase in rice yield.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights that NZMB can mitigate the combined Cd and MPs toxicity by decreasing Cd uptake and improving plant functioning. Therefore, these findings will help to develop eco-friendly measures for remediating multi-contaminated soils.

PMID:41982525 | PMC:PMC13070825 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2026.1755367

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2026 Apr 15;90(3):23. doi: 10.1007/s00244-026-01192-7.

ABSTRACT

Despite global concern over microplastic (MP) pollution, only a few studies have systematically evaluated the deposition and retention of atmospheric MP on urban tree foliage at the city scale, particularly in densely populated regions of South Asia. Here, the study present the first comprehensive assessment of foliar MP deposition in Lahore, Pakistan, examining the influence of leaf surface morphology and canopy height across 15 plant species at 44 locations along a major urban corridor. The leaves of the selected tree species were identified for smooth, leathery, hairy, and glossy surfaces, and the presence of trichomes (hair-like structures) was taken into account. Microplastic particle concentration on leaves varied between 0.93 n/cm² to 9.23 n/cm²; the highest MPs were quantified on the Morus alba leaves (i.e., 9.23 n/cm²), and the lowest were noted on Lagerstroemia indica leaves (i.e., 0.93 n/cm²). Morphologically, the highest number of MPs (4.8 n/cm²) was adhered to the hairy surface leaves (n = 9), followed by smooth surface leaves (3.8 n/cm²) (n = 10), glossy surfaces (2.7 n/cm²) (n = 13), and the lowest was on the leathery surface leaves, i.e., 2.6 n/cm² (n = 12), and were not statistically different. The spectral analysis confirmed that fibers of polyethylene terephthalate (61.25%) were the dominant polymer, followed by polyphenylene sulfide (17.67%) and aramid polymer (10.43%). An inverse relationship of MPs with the height where leaves were sampled, signifying lesser deposition above 1 m. There have been other studies within cities, and other publications have noted the influence of the tree and leaf morphology. Lower heights in the canopy are closer to ground-level emissions source or they accumulate microplastic particles that leach (wash off) from the upper canopy. Among all the plant species, Morus alba (n = 5) are most suitable species having complex venation, waxy, and hairy leaf morphology that can enhance biomonitoring and potentially mitigate airborne plastic pollution in rapidly growing cities.

PMID:41984226 | DOI:10.1007/s00244-026-01192-7

Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6c03653. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The spatiotemporal dynamics of marine microplastics remain obscure and pose significant challenges for global marine protection. To address this knowledge gap, we compiled a global data set of marine surface microplastic observations (0-5 m, 1998-2023) and employed data-driven models coupled with statistical methods to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of marine microplastics. The total quantity of marine surface microplastics (primarily 0.33-5 mm) is approximately 3.29 × 10¹⁴ items, which represents an update to previous estimates. Microplastic concentrations significantly increased in 72.59% of global marine areas, with an annual growth rate of 4.53%. Ocean dynamics under thermohaline regulation facilitates microplastic transport and seasonal accumulation, a process that may be intensified by climate warming. Total microplastic loads in the Northern Hemisphere are 18.31% (95% confidence interval: 13.75%-27.57%) greater during summer than in winter, highlighting seasonal exposure variations for marine ecosystems. Notably, targeted policy interventions resulted in an 82.54% reduction in potential loading in the Baltic Sea. The unique spatiotemporal dynamics of marine microplastics revealed in this study provide key insights for microplastic risk assessment and control.

PMID:41983490 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.6c03653

Anal Chem. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c07035. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are generated by mechanical abrasion of tires on road surfaces and represent a significant source of microplastic pollution, contributing an estimated 30-50% of total microplastic emissions in Europe. Due to their persistence and limited biodegradability, TWPs accumulate in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments. However, their detection and quantification remain challenging: carbon black hampers FTIR analysis, while pyrolysis-GC-MS yields only bulk mass data without information about particle abundance or size distribution. We present a novel approach to address this gap using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) combined with elemental fingerprinting and machine learning. We apply this method to zebrafish gut tissue to differentiate TWPs from biological tissue, paraffin-embedded material, and other naturally occurring particles. A random forest model trained on multielement signatures enables pixelwise classification of imaging data recorded with 7-μm lateral resolution despite the complexity of both TWP and biological matrices. Our results demonstrate the potential of LA-ICP-MS elemental imaging as a sensitive tool for TWP detection in biological tissue, providing new opportunities for monitoring and ecotoxicological studies.

PMID:41985070 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.5c07035

Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c14034. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) act as vectors for organic contaminants, but how polymer type, size, and pollutant hydrophobicity jointly steer biodegradation remains unclear. Here, triclosan (TCS, a hydrophobic antimicrobial, log K_ow ∼ 4.8) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX, a hydrophilic antibiotic, log K_ow ∼ 0.89) were selected owing to their distinct nature and were spiked at low and high concentrations into batch systems containing polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) MPs (10 and 50 μm). At low levels, both pollutants were rapidly biodegraded (>95%), irrespective of MPs. At high levels, TCS was strongly sorbed, lowering aqueous bioavailability and inducing dense biofilms on PP-10 μm that enriched Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas, yet degradation slowed to 24-32%. For hydrophilic SMX, MPs served as extra colonizable surfaces, with PP-10 μm boosting the removal to ∼70%. Sorption kinetics confirmed faster TCS uptake on smaller, moderately polar PP-MPs compared to SMX. Physiochemical analysis of MPs revealed pronounced surface oxidation and cracking, especially on PP-10 μm, correlating with enriched plastic degraders. In-depth microbial analysis identified Gammaproteobacteria as TCS biomarkers and Alphaproteobacteria for SMX. Overall, MPs act as conditional regulators: enhancing biodegradation at realistic doses, but at high concentrations, PP-10 μm becomes a potent sink and microreactor, retarding TCS degradation yet accelerating its own weathering.

PMID:41984741 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c14034

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 13:128140. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Organic waste treatment plays a key role in sustainability by reducing greenhouse gases, minimizing landfill, and recycling nutrients. However, microplastics (MPs) are increasingly reported in organic amendments and digestates, drawing attention to their possible adverse effects on soil health. Even with proper biowaste management, impurities, including glass, metal, plastics, and MPs may still escape into the environment due to mechanical sorting limitations. This study examined impurities and MPs in digestates and organic amendments from four waste treatment plants over three months to assess material quality in a circular economy. Five materials were analysed: (i) compost from green waste and manure (CG), (ii) composted sewage sludge and wood waste (CS), (iii) digestate from separately collected biowaste (DD), (iv) compost of previous digestate and wood waste (CD), and (v) bio-stabilised organic fraction recovered through mechanical treatment (BST) of mixed municipal waste. Gravel and impurities were manually separated, and MPs were isolated via oxidation and density separation, then quantified and characterized using stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results indicated that no samples exceeded legal thresholds for gravel/stones in compost, while only BST exceeded impurity limits. Plastic concentrations ranged from 0.03% (CG) to 2.44% (BST) dry weight, with MPs under 2 mm comprising 30-65% of total plastics, predominantly fibers, films, and fragments. The most frequently detected polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polyester. These findings highlight the importance of effective separate collection in households, efficient mechanical sorting and polishing steps, and the quality of waste-derived amendments to prevent plastics and MPs entering the environment.

PMID:41985613 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 13:128140. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Organic waste treatment plays a key role in sustainability by reducing greenhouse gases, minimizing landfill, and recycling nutrients. However, microplastics (MPs) are increasingly reported in organic amendments and digestates, drawing attention to their possible adverse effects on soil health. Even with proper biowaste management, impurities, including glass, metal, plastics, and MPs may still escape into the environment due to mechanical sorting limitations. This study examined impurities and MPs in digestates and organic amendments from four waste treatment plants over three months to assess material quality in a circular economy. Five materials were analysed: (i) compost from green waste and manure (CG), (ii) composted sewage sludge and wood waste (CS), (iii) digestate from separately collected biowaste (DD), (iv) compost of previous digestate and wood waste (CD), and (v) bio-stabilised organic fraction recovered through mechanical treatment (BST) of mixed municipal waste. Gravel and impurities were manually separated, and MPs were isolated via oxidation and density separation, then quantified and characterized using stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results indicated that no samples exceeded legal thresholds for gravel/stones in compost, while only BST exceeded impurity limits. Plastic concentrations ranged from 0.03% (CG) to 2.44% (BST) dry weight, with MPs under 2 mm comprising 30-65% of total plastics, predominantly fibers, films, and fragments. The most frequently detected polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polyester. These findings highlight the importance of effective separate collection in households, efficient mechanical sorting and polishing steps, and the quality of waste-derived amendments to prevent plastics and MPs entering the environment.

PMID:41985613 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128140

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Apr 10;509:142018. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142018. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Despite the remoteness of their breeding sites, subantarctic seabirds are susceptible to anthropogenic pollutants (e.g. microplastics) and other chemical stressors (e.g. plastic additives) that are released from ships and research stations, arrive in ocean currents, are transported in the atmosphere, or are ingested when the birds feed north of the Antarctic Polar Front. In this study, we investigated the presence and levels of microplastics and several groups of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in adults or chicks of seven seabird species breeding at the subantarctic islands of South Georgia. A total of 1275 anthropogenic particles were recovered in the gastrointestinal tracts of 76 seabirds, with a frequency of occurrence of 97.4%, a mean value of 16.78 ± 18.79 particles per individual and of 0.03 ± 0.03 particles/g body weight. Ten percent (n = 130 particles) of the particles were identified chemically using microFTIR spectroscopy, of which 59% were synthetic, 18% were natural, 19% were anthropogenic unknown and 4% were anthropogenic cellulosic. Of the EDCs, only polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) congeners occurred at levels above the limit of quantification. Liver samples consistently exhibited the highest concentrations of both contaminant groups. The highest concentrations of PBDEs were in adult brown skuas (133.96 ng/g) and of MeO-PBDEs were in wandering albatross chicks (6.50 ng/g). This research provides evidence of plastics and plastic additives in subantarctic seabirds, underscoring the need to strengthen measures aimed at reducing marine pollution.

PMID:41980382 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142018

Sci Total Environ. 2026 Apr 13;1030:181783. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181783. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics contamination in food products has raised global concerns, yet nationwide assessments in edible salt (particularly in Indonesia) remain limited. Most prior studies have focused on isolated locations, offering an incomplete understanding of spatial distribution and exposure risk. This study aims to analysis of microplastics abundance, charcateristic, and potential human intake in edible salt samples across Western, Central, and Eastern Indonesia. A total of 45 salt brands (three replicates per brand) were selected based on regional consumer preferences. Microplastics were extracted using a density separation technique, followed by visual screening and polymer identification. The mean microplastics abundance was 221.9 ± 184.0 particles/kg. Microplastics abundance was highest in Western Indonesia (292.0 ± 254.2 particles/kg), followed by Central Indonesia (212.9 ± 131.4 particles/kg) and Eastern Indonesia (160.9 ± 111.1 particles/kg). Overall, fibers (79.44%) and fragments (19.29%) were the dominant microplastics shapes. Fibers predominated across all regions, particularly in Western (85.54%), Central (67.01%), and Eastern Indonesia (84.81%). Small-sized microplastics (<1,000 μm) were most prevalent overall (59.41%). Regionally, small-sized particles dominated in Western (61.80%) and Central Indonesia (63.67%), whereas larger microplastics (>1,000 μm) were more common in Eastern Indonesia (50.55%). Fifteen polymer types were identified, with chlorobutyl (21.15%), polyester fiber (19.87%), and polyisobutylene (19.35%) most prevalent overall. However, polyester fiber (41.51%), ethylene propylene (42.50%), and polyisobutylene (47.62%) dominated in Western, Central, and Eastern Indonesia, respectively. Estimated Daily Intake ranged from 1.11 ± 0.71 to 1.56 ± 0.99 particles/day, depending on region and consumption level, while the corresponding Estimated Annual Intake varied from 404.99 ± 257.80 to 569.41 ± 362.47 particles/year. The predominance of small-sized fibers and fragments may elevate long-term health risks through dietary exposure. These findings underscore the need for stronger monitoring systems, improved salt processing practices, and national regulatory frameworks. The study also establishes a reference point for evaluating chronic microplastics intake through common food items in Indonesia. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: This study demonstrates that microplastics contamination occurs in all edible salt samples collected across Indonesia, indicating that both terrestrial and marine environments contribute to its presence in food products. The predominance of fibers and fragments, along with the detection of multiple polymer types, suggest complex contamination pathways linked to human activities. These findings provide essential baseline data for understanding microplastics transfer from environmental sources to food items. Continued monitoring and standardized analytical methods are needed to better assess exposure risks and support evidence-based management of microplastics pollution in marine-derived commodities.

PMID:41980347 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181783

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Apr 6;509:141997. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141997. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants. However, their occurrence in human breast tissues and clinical relevance remain largely unexplored. In this exploratory study, MPs were characterized in paired tumor and para-tumor tissues from seven breast cancer patients using laser direct infrared (LDIR) spectroscopy, with selected particles further examined by scanning electron microscopy. Across all samples, 26 polymer types were identified. Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) was detected in all samples and was the most abundant polymer, alongside polyurethane (PU), fluororubber (FKM), and fluorosilicone rubber (FSR). Total MP abundance tended to be higher in tumor tissues than in para-tumor tissues, although differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.0663, paired t test, Cohen's d = 0.85). The predominance of hydrophobic polymers, together with the lipid-rich composition of breast tissue, may favor passive retention of MPs, contributing to tissue-specific distribution patterns. Exploratory analyses suggested potential associations between PU abundance, clinicopathological features (including Her-2 expression), and lifestyle factors such as padded brassiere use. Given the limited sample size, these findings are hypothesis-generating. This study provides a detailed polymer-level characterization of MPs in paired human breast tissues, offering initial insights into tissue-specific distribution.

PMID:41980380 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141997

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Apr 10;509:142018. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142018. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Despite the remoteness of their breeding sites, subantarctic seabirds are susceptible to anthropogenic pollutants (e.g. microplastics) and other chemical stressors (e.g. plastic additives) that are released from ships and research stations, arrive in ocean currents, are transported in the atmosphere, or are ingested when the birds feed north of the Antarctic Polar Front. In this study, we investigated the presence and levels of microplastics and several groups of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in adults or chicks of seven seabird species breeding at the subantarctic islands of South Georgia. A total of 1275 anthropogenic particles were recovered in the gastrointestinal tracts of 76 seabirds, with a frequency of occurrence of 97.4%, a mean value of 16.78 ± 18.79 particles per individual and of 0.03 ± 0.03 particles/g body weight. Ten percent (n = 130 particles) of the particles were identified chemically using microFTIR spectroscopy, of which 59% were synthetic, 18% were natural, 19% were anthropogenic unknown and 4% were anthropogenic cellulosic. Of the EDCs, only polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) congeners occurred at levels above the limit of quantification. Liver samples consistently exhibited the highest concentrations of both contaminant groups. The highest concentrations of PBDEs were in adult brown skuas (133.96 ng/g) and of MeO-PBDEs were in wandering albatross chicks (6.50 ng/g). This research provides evidence of plastics and plastic additives in subantarctic seabirds, underscoring the need to strengthen measures aimed at reducing marine pollution.

PMID:41980382 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142018

Plants (Basel). 2026 Apr 7;15(7):1132. doi: 10.3390/plants15071132.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic pollution in farmland soils has emerged as a global concern due to its potential to degrade soil health, inhibit crop growth, and enter the food chain. However, effective and environmentally friendly remediation strategies remain limited, particularly regarding the use of biochar to mitigate polyethylene microplastic (PE-MP) stress in agroecosystems. This study investigates whether tobacco stalk biochar (TSB) can alleviate PE-MPs stress in rice seedlings. A two-factor pot experiment was conducted to systematically analyze the responses of soil physicochemical properties, rice growth indicators, and antioxidant enzyme activities to the combined application of varying concentrations of PE-MPs (0, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% (w/w)) and TSB (0, 3%, 6%, and 9% (w/w)). The results show that TSB significantly increased soil pH and organic matter content, effectively mitigating the decline in available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium caused by PE-MPs (e.g., under the M3B3 treatment, available nitrogen and phosphorus contents increased by 68.7% and 226%, respectively, compared with those under the M3B0 treatment). Under low-concentration PE-MP (0.5%) stress, an appropriate amount of TSB (3%) resulted in the highest rice germination rate, vigor index, and stress tolerance index, while significantly inducing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) to alleviate oxidative damage. However, high-concentration combinations of TSB and PE-MPs exhibited an antagonistic effect. In conclusion, tobacco stalk biochar can synergistically mitigate microplastic stress on rice through multiple pathways, with its remediation effects exhibiting significant dose dependence and interactive complexity. These findings provide a theoretical and technical basis for the ecological remediation of microplastic pollution in farmland.

PMID:41977791 | PMC:PMC13074882 | DOI:10.3390/plants15071132

Adv Sci (Weinh). 2026 Apr 14:e75293. doi: 10.1002/advs.75293. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems represent an escalating environmental challenge. Particularly, those with particle sizes below 1 µm exhibit strong Brownian motion and stable surface hydration layers, which hinder aggregation and render them exceptionally difficult to remove. Inspired by biological adhesion, we propose an adhesion-driven co-precipitation strategy that utilizes a soft polymeric microgel as a "glue" to aggregate dispersed MPs. Upon adhesion, MPs undergo directional transport toward solid-liquid interfaces, where they accumulate into removable sediments. This adhesion-driven interfacial deposition and co-precipitation allows effective enrichment and physical separation of various types of microplastics, e.g., polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Remarkably, efficient removal (>90%) is retained even for nanoscale plastic particles as small as 50 nm. This strategy thus provides a broadly applicable and environmentally sustainable route for microplastic remediation in aquatic environments.

PMID:41979431 | DOI:10.1002/advs.75293

BMJ. 2026 Apr 14;393:s706. doi: 10.1136/bmj.s706.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41980766 | DOI:10.1136/bmj.s706

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 13;229:119685. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119685. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While the harmful effects of synthetic microplastics on reef-building corals are well documented, the impacts of their bio-based counterparts remain largely understudied. In this study, we investigate the chemical and physical properties of mechanically grounded polylactic acid microplastics and assess their short-term effects on the physiology and cellular oxidative state of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis. The microplastics, obtained by mechanical grinding, exhibit a wide size distribution, with 90% of particles ≤370 μm and 50% ≤ 192 μm. They display irregular size and rough surface, along with reduced crystallinity and molecular weight compared to the original pellets. Coral colonies were exposed to three microplastic concentrations (5 mg/L, 15 mg/L, and 50 mg/L) for 72 h, and no mortality or signs of bleaching were observed in all cases. Although colonies exposed to the higher concentration exhibited an increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione reductase, no significant cellular oxidative damage was caused by the microplastics, as the lipid peroxidation analysis indicated. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the physiological effects of polylactic acid microplastics on stony corals, emphasizing the need for further research on bio-based contaminants and their impact on marine benthic organisms.

PMID:41980291 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119685

J Agric Food Chem. 2026 Apr 14. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17390. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs), as emerging food contaminants, have been established to exert adverse effects on the liver. However, the precise toxicological mechanisms remain elusive. Our results demonstrated that MPs triggered mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) accumulation, which subsequently activated NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD-N-dependent pyroptosis in hepatocytes. Notably, beyond its canonical translocation to the plasma membrane, GSDMD-N was observed to form pores on the mitochondrial outer membrane, exacerbating mitochondrial damage. The mitochondrial GSDMD-N pores amplified mtROS overproduction, triggering lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and facilitating lysosomal iron efflux, which ultimately initiated ferroptosis. Concurrently, mitochondrial GSDMD-N mediated mitochondrial intrinsic apoptosis by promoting cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Collectively, our findings revealed that MPs induced GSDMD-N activation and its mitochondrial translocation, which in turn initiated pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and apoptosis in hepatocytes. This study provided novel mechanistic insights into MPs-induced hepatotoxicity, identifying GSDMD-N as a potential central hub coordinating multiple cell death modalities.

PMID:41980172 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17390

Polymers (Basel). 2026 Apr 1;18(7):870. doi: 10.3390/polym18070870.

ABSTRACT

Amid growing environmental concerns regarding the use of non-biodegradable plastic packaging and its potential emerging contaminants, such as microplastics, currently among the most pressing global challenges, researchers in the food sector are increasingly pursuing sustainable alternatives. In this context, various organic sources have been explored for the development of innovative biocompatible films. These films exhibit properties such as low water vapor permeability, transparency, and biodegradability, and have recently gained active functionalities. These enable the extension of the shelf life of packaged foods by controlling microbial activity and oxidative degradation. Lipid-based compounds derived from animal and plant sources-including phospholipids, essential oils, free fatty acids, and saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids-have proven highly effective when incorporated into films, leading to significant physicochemical, mechanical, and microbiological improvements in both the films and the packaged products. Owing to their high hydrophobic capacity, these lipids markedly reduce water vapor permeability, which is crucial for extending the shelf life of high-moisture foods. Studies have shown that the incorporation of lipid compounds can increase film tensile strength by up to 37% and enhance antioxidant activity by over 75%. Moreover, many of these compounds exhibit antibacterial and antimicrobial activities, becoming active on the surface of food in contact. However, many bioactive compounds have poor dispersion in aqueous solutions, limiting their effectiveness in the final product. When encapsulated with the aid of a lipid fraction, the bioavailability of these compounds is improved, and their release can be effectively controlled. This review aims to consolidate recent research on the production of biopolymer films incorporating various types of lipid compounds, highlighting their enhancements and potential applications in active food packaging systems.

PMID:41977618 | PMC:PMC13074946 | DOI:10.3390/polym18070870

Crit Rev Anal Chem. 2026 Apr 13:1-36. doi: 10.1080/10408347.2026.2653034. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The nano- and microplastics (NMP) are ubiquitous in the environment. Indeed, they are present in the air, water, soils, many living organisms, and different food and beverage products. Detection, identification, and/or quantification were performed using various analytical techniques. Most NMP identification is achieved primarily through Raman and infrared microscopy, while its identification and quantification are mainly performed using thermal gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Due to the inherent characteristics of analytical fluorescence techniques, it is one of the most widely used methods for analyzing NMP. To do that, the NMP were usually stained with various fluorescent organic dyes. Fluorescent NMP staining is primarily performed with Nile Red, the principal organic dye used. This NMP fluorescence analysis was performed using steady-state fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence nanoparticles, such as carbon dots or conjugated polymer nanoparticles, are emerging as a potential alternative to organic dyes for the fluorescence-based visual detection of NMP. The fluorescence-based detection of NMP focuses on staining strategies and the characteristics of staining fluorescence detection using organic dyes and fluorescent nanoparticles, which were reviewed. A critical review of the various staining fluorescence strategies already employed, along with the fluorescence characteristics of organic dyes and fluorescent nanoparticles, will be conducted.

PMID:41978433 | DOI:10.1080/10408347.2026.2653034

Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Apr 3;27(7):3256. doi: 10.3390/ijms27073256.

ABSTRACT

Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) are emerging environmental pollutants, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their hepatotoxicity remain poorly understood. Here, we combined network toxicology with experimental validation to investigate how PET-MPs induce liver injury. In silico, we investigated the PET-repeating unit as the molecular basis for target interactions. We identified 59 overlapping genes between 157 putative PET-MPs targets and 1693 liver injury-associated genes. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed six hub genes (AKT1, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, PIK3CD, PIK3R1, and SRC), all components of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Gene ontology analysis showed that PET-MPs affect cellular stress responses and kinase activities, while pathway enrichment analysis identified PI3K-Akt, Ras, and reactive oxygen species pathways as primary targets. Molecular docking demonstrated strong binding affinity between PET-MPs and these core targets (binding free energies <-5 kcal/mol). In vitro, PET-MPs induced mitochondrial depolarization, oxidative stress, upregulation of TNF-α and IL-6, and decreased p-AKT/AKT ratio, accompanied by increased apoptosis; the apoptotic effect was reversed by the AKT agonist SC79. In vivo experiments confirmed that AKT activation reduced PET-MP-induced liver injury, evidenced by decreased inflammation, lower serum transaminases, and restored oxidative balance. These protective effects were abolished by PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors. Our study identifies potential therapeutic targets and strategies for PET-MP-induced liver injury.

PMID:41977435 | PMC:PMC13073197 | DOI:10.3390/ijms27073256

Bioresour Technol. 2026 Apr 12:134620. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134620. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microbes related to antibiotic degradation in situ in agricultural soil with MPs and their response to different sizes of MPs are ambiguity. This study investigated the microbes participating in antibiotic degradation in soils with 4.5 mm and 0.1 mm MPs by using DNA-SIP with metagenomics, Raman-activated cell sorting (RACS) with sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and polyethylene as the model compound and MPs. The 4.5 mm MPs enhanced SMX degradation by promoting diversity and abundance of degraders benefiting from improved soil properties, relation between degraders and SMX, and bacteria with positive co-occurrence relationship with degraders. The 0.1 mm MPs inhibited SMX degradation by decreasing diversity, abundance of degraders, and intensifying bacteria mutually exclusive with degraders due to harsher soil conditions. Furthermore, DNA-SIP-RACS successfully acquired cells of SIP-identified putative degraders, and directly linked SMX degradation potential with metC1, metF1and luxS1, proving possibility of applying this approach in antibiotic-degrading microbes in soil.

PMID:41980647 | DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134620

Materials (Basel). 2026 Apr 1;19(7):1403. doi: 10.3390/ma19071403.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the adsorption of organic pollutants onto microplastics in aqueous environments is crucial for assessing their environmental behavior and ecological risks. Herein, we used density functional theory (DFT) computations to simulate the aqueous adsorption of 54 organic compounds onto three representative microplastics, namely polyethylene (PE), polyoxymethylene (POM), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Afterwards, based on theoretical molecular structural descriptors, we developed six quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models based on datasets of 43 and 54 organic compounds, respectively. The results demonstrated that the oxygen-containing POM and PVA microplastics exhibited weaker adsorption in the aqueous phase compared to that in the gas phase. Furthermore, it revealed that the electron-rich atoms, van der Waals volumes and molecular polarizability exert substantial effects on the adsorption process on microplastics in water. These robust QSAR models can enable the prediction of adsorption energies for various organic pollutants on microplastics, which can offer a rapid approach for generating adsorption data. Moreover, the insights into adsorption mechanisms can provide a theoretical basis for designing modified or alternative plastics with lower environmental risks.

PMID:41976695 | PMC:PMC13074982 | DOI:10.3390/ma19071403

Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Apr 4;27(7):3272. doi: 10.3390/ijms27073272.

ABSTRACT

Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) have emerged as pervasive environmental contaminants with increasing implications for human health, particularly within the digestive system. This review critically examines the role of MPs/NPs as disruptors of gastrointestinal and liver homeostasis through the lens of the plastic-gut-liver axis. We synthesize current evidence on primary exposure routes-including ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact, and transplacental transfer-and highlight their intestinal uptake, systemic dissemination, and tissue accumulation. Mechanistically, MPs/NPs compromise intestinal barrier integrity, promote oxidative stress, and induce microbiota dysbiosis, facilitating the translocation of microbial-derived signals to the liver via the portal circulation. This process triggers inflammatory signaling cascades, metabolic reprogramming, and immune dysregulation, contributing to hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and potential carcinogenic processes. Emerging evidence also implicates pancreatic dysfunction and β-cell stress within a broader gut-liver axis context. We further discuss the systemic propagation of MPs/NPs-induced dysbiosis along multi-organ axes, including gut-lung and gut-brain interactions. Despite robust preclinical data, human evidence remains limited due to methodological heterogeneity and the lack of standardized biomarkers. This review underscores critical knowledge gaps and emphasizes the need for integrative, translational approaches to clarify long-term health risks and inform regulatory strategies within the environmental exposome framework.

PMID:41977451 | PMC:PMC13072862 | DOI:10.3390/ijms27073272

Chemosphere. 2026 Apr 13;402:144933. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144933. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics in urban road dust remain poorly understood in South America. This study investigated microplastic dynamics in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, examining precipitation effects, surface type, and traffic influence over three days (n = 30 samples). Particles (1-5000 μm) were recovered through density separation (1.2 g/cm³ NaCl solution), with visual identification limited to particles ≥50 μm using stereomicroscopy, supplemented by ATR-FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy for polymer characterization. Microplastics were detected in 100% of samples from paved and unpaved roads, with mean concentrations of 1,526 ± 795 MP/kg. A 26 mm precipitation event mobilized 31.9% of accumulated particles, with marked differences between paved surfaces (43.5% washout, 50.9% recovery) and unpaved surfaces (13.5% washout, 5.2% recovery), demonstrating surface-specific particle mobility. Morphological analysis revealed distinct contamination sources: tire wear particles (TWP) dominated paved roads (37.2%), while fibers prevailed on unpaved surfaces (67.9%). The non-linear relationship between traffic and TWP distribution-with a low-traffic parking area (26 vehicles/hour) showing higher TWP proportions (60.3%) than high-traffic sites (1,784 vehicles/hour, 36.4%)-reveals that local generation-resuspension balance depends on driving patterns and atmospheric conditions rather than traffic volume alone. Spectroscopic identification confirmed common polymers (PET, PP, PE, PA) and textile-associated pigments (copper phthalocyanine 32.8%, indigo 10.0%). The 250-500 μm size fraction (21.6% of particles) represents particular concern for resuspension and transport. Results demonstrate that urban dust operates as a dynamic microplastic reservoir, mobilized through hydrological and atmospheric pathways, with implications for stormwater management and estuarine pollution, as road dust particles are ultimately transported to the Bahía Blanca Estuary through precipitation runoff.

PMID:41980441 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144933

Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Mar 31;27(7):3191. doi: 10.3390/ijms27073191.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) have emerged as pervasive and persistent environmental contaminants, prompting significant concerns about their potential risks to human health. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current state of knowledge on the reproductive toxicity induced by MPs/NPs, with a particular focus on nanoplastics (NPs, <100 nm) due to their enhanced ability to cross biological barriers and induce cellular damage. Following a systematic literature search, we detail the multiple exposure pathways-including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact-through which MPs/NPs enter the human body and are disseminated to reproductive tissues. The core of this review elucidates the fundamental mechanisms underlying MPs/NPs-induced reproductive damage. Compelling evidence from in vitro, animal, and initial human studies demonstrates that MP/NP exposure can lead to diminished sperm quality and motility, testicular histological disruption, impaired ovarian folliculogenesis, granulosa cell apoptosis, and dysregulation of key reproductive hormones. We further summarize potential therapeutic interventions, such as antioxidants and traditional Chinese medicine compounds, and discuss key preventive and regulatory strategies. Despite the advancing evidence, critical challenges remain, including quantifying actual human exposure levels, understanding the effects of chronic, low-dose exposure, and elucidating the combined toxicity of MPs/NPs with other environmental pollutants. This comprehensive analysis underscores the urgent need for further mechanistic research, robust epidemiological studies, and the formulation of evidence-based public health policies to mitigate exposure and safeguard global reproductive health.

PMID:41977375 | PMC:PMC13074206 | DOI:10.3390/ijms27073191

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Apr 12;509:142046. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142046. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a major component of the triple planetary crisis, of omnipresence posing substantial risks to biodiversity and food security, but global overviews of MPs contamination patterns are limited, with concentration comparison lacking categorization, especially across different environmental matrices. As the need for standardized monitoring intensifies, bivalves emerge as globally reliable sentinels, overall due to their filtration capacity, wide distribution, and economic relevance. Here, we proposed the Microplastic Contamination Index (MPCI), based on a simple yet effective separatrix approach of global data, categorizing concentrations from very low to severe. The index was applied for bivalves to introduce the concept worldwide, and aquaculture farms and protected areas were used as a study-case to assess food safety and ecological risks. We synthesized data from 234 articles, encompassing 3404 MP concentration records (particles.g^-1 ww) for 150 bivalve species across 49 countries from 2011 to 2024. Severe concentrations occurred across 24 countries, particularly in Argentina, Brazil, China, Indonesia and India. A total of 13 countries had bivalve farms under severe or very high contamination levels, and protected areas with severe of MP contamination. Global patterns revealed the consistent dominance of polyethylene, small (<500 µm), fibers, and blue MPs, mirroring other environmental matrices' trends. The MPCI_Bivalve provided an overview on global MP levels, identifying severe levels, research gaps, geographical distribution. This approach can be extended to other environmental matrices, offering a powerful tool to monitor progress and guide decision-makers as support evidence-based policies to mitigate MPs contamination through international agreements.

PMID:41980388 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142046

Polymers (Basel). 2026 Apr 2;18(7):878. doi: 10.3390/polym18070878.

ABSTRACT

One of the main sources of microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is municipal wastewater, and preserving the ecological security of water depends on its effective removal. In this study, a potential multi-functionalized nanocomposite (NH₂-MIL-101(Fe)/CS/GO), which consists of an iron-based metal-organic framework (NH₂-MIL-101(Fe)) integrated with chitosan (CS) as a biopolymer matrix and graphene oxide (GO) as a conductive support, was exploited to enhance microplastic removal via different adsorptive hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions. According to adsorption tests, the removal efficiencies of NH₂-MIL-101(Fe)/CS/GO for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics (25-30 μm) were 93.8% and 89.7%, respectively, at pH 6.2 and for 40 min of contact time. Adsorption isotherms were well fitted to both the Langmuir and the Freundlich models, and the maximum adsorption capacities of PET and PS were 321.4 and 255.1 mg·g^-1, respectively. The removal efficiency reached 92.5% after six cycles. The proposed MOF-based CS/GO nanocomposite provides an efficient and durable method of controlling microplastic contamination in urban wastewater. The developed multi-functionalized nanocomposite offers excellent electrostatic and hydrophobic synergy through a large surface area and π-π interactions for GO, positively charged CS, and a very high surface area with tunable porosity for the amino-MIL-101 (Fe) moiety. The proposed MOF-based nanocomposite provides an effective and persistent method of reducing microplastic contamination in constructed wetlands and water/wastewater treatment plants.

PMID:41977626 | PMC:PMC13074558 | DOI:10.3390/polym18070878

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2026 Apr 6;358:127854. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2026.127854. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MP) characterization in environmental samples relies predominantly on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy; however, environmental aging induces subtle yet progressive spectral modifications that complicate accurate polymer identification and interpretation. Moreover, photo-oxidative degradation alters the surface chemistry of microplastics, generating oxygen-containing functional groups that may modify their reactivity and interactions with coexisting contaminants. In this study, the accelerated photodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide-6 (PA-6) in aqueous media was investigated under UV irradiation to induce controlled and fast oxidative transformations. Surface chemical changes were analyzed using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) combined with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS), enabling enhanced spectral resolution and discrimination of overlapping vibrational bands. The 2D-COS analysis resolved the sequential evolution of degradation processes that were not readily distinguishable by conventional one-dimensional spectra. PET exhibited an initial crystalline disorder phase followed by ester backbone scission consistent with Norrish type II reactions and progressive accumulation of oxidation products. In contrast, PA-6 degradation involved crystalline perturbation, hydrogen-bond weakening, CN bond scission, and the accumulation of oxidation products and aliphatic reorganization. By revealing the temporal order and correlation of spectral variations across the full mid-infrared region, the combined ATR-FTIR/2D-COS methodology provides a robust analytical framework for elucidating polymer-specific aging pathways. This approach enhances the interpretative capability of FTIR-based microplastic analysis and supports the development of reliable spectral aging indicators, contributing to a more accurate assessment of degraded microplastics and their evolving environmental behavior.

PMID:41974159 | DOI:10.1016/j.saa.2026.127854

Transl Cancer Res. 2026 Mar 31;15(3):173. doi: 10.21037/tcr-2025-1-2630. Epub 2026 Feb 27.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Airborne microplastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accumulates in human lungs and is linked to respiratory pathologies; however, its molecular role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the potential carcinogenic mechanisms of PET exposure in LUAD.

METHODS: We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing, machine learning algorithms [including Classification and Regression Trees (CART), Naïve Bayes (NB), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM)], molecular docking, survival analysis, and multi-omics data. Through differential expression screening across datasets combined with Venn analysis, we identified seven PET-associated oncogenic targets. Seven PET-associated oncogenic targets were identified via differential gene screening and Venn analysis.

RESULTS: MYL9 was validated as a downregulated, LUAD-protective biomarker associated with significant survival benefit [hazard ratio (HR) =0.59, 0.16, 0.23; all P<0.05]. These findings were consistent across the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database, co-expression networks, and three independent LUAD datasets. SPI1 was identified as a key transcriptional regulator, showing strong co-expression with MYL9 (R=0.556, P<0.05) and concurrent downregulation in LUAD. Molecular docking revealed that PET bound to the DNA-binding pocket of SPI1 (ΔG =-5.30 kcal·mol-1), suggesting its transcriptional inhibition of MYL9.

CONCLUSIONS: Our integrated bioinformatics approach supports a novel "PET-SPI1-MYL9" transcriptional axis, revealing a potential non-genotoxic carcinogenic pathway for PET. While the computational evidence is robust, further wet-lab experiments are needed to validate the binding and transcriptional inhibition mechanism. This model provides a framework for understanding airborne microplastic toxicity in LUAD. We propose that PET promotes LUAD by disrupting the SPI1-MYL9 transcriptional axis, highlighting a potential environmental trigger and candidate targets for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

PMID:41969450 | PMC:PMC13067007 | DOI:10.21037/tcr-2025-1-2630

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 11:128128. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128128. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, where they rapidly acquire organic coatings and biofilms (the plastisphere) and interact with co-occurring chemical pollutants. However, the conditions under which MPs become ecologically relevant in increasing disease risk remain underexplored. A key controversy is that microbial detection or enrichment on MPs is often treated as evidence of pathogen "vectoring," yet most studies do not quantify viability/infectivity, detachment, or delivered dose to hosts under environmentally realistic conditions. This review synthesizes evidence on MP-pathogen interactions and dispersal across ecosystems and reframes "MPs as vectors" through a vectorial-capacity lens that distinguishes association from transmission relevance and links MP-mediated risk to measurable dose delivery at host-relevant interfaces. Across ecosystems, evidence supports biofilm-driven persistence and enrichment of opportunistic taxa, but direct demonstrations of MP-mediated infection remain limited. We further highlight an unresolved issue, whether MPs confer unique transmission advantages compared with size-matched natural particulates that also sorb microbes and contaminants but are rarely used as comparators. We examine host susceptibility as a risk multiplier: MP exposure can compromise epithelial barriers via oxidative stress, modulate innate immunity, and disrupt microbiome-mediated colonization resistance. Plastisphere biofilms may also function as eco-evolutionary microhabitats that enrich antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with plausible enhancement of horizontal gene transfer, although field-scale attribution is still scarce. Finally, we outline priorities for standardized evidence grading, comparator-based study designs, and quantitative metrics (loading, viability decay, detachment kinetics) to enable risk attribution and guide monitoring and mitigation.

PMID:41974411 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128128

J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol. 2026 Apr 12. doi: 10.1002/jez.70089. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) originating from synthetic polymers can act as vectors for harmful microorganisms and pollutants, exacerbating ecological risks. Vibrio harveyi, commonly found in seawater, is a major opportunistic pathogen causing vibriosis in marine fish. MPs and pathogenic bacteria such as V. harveyi have increasingly been recognized as co-contaminants in marine environments. This study investigated the physiological responses of the big-belly seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis exposed to MPs and V. harveyi, both individually and in combination. Seahorses were exposed to small (0.2 μm) and large (1.0 μm) polystyrene MPs (50 beads/L) and V. harveyi (1 × 10³ CFU/mL) for 4 days under controlled conditions. Biochemical parameters and molecular analyses were conducted to assess hepatic function, immune regulation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related responses. MP exposure promoted V. harveyi proliferation within seahorse tissues, with higher bacterial copy numbers in the kidney than in the liver, indicating the kidney's active immune role. Plasma biochemical indices (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and glucose) and immune-related genes, including lysozyme G, interferon regulatory factor 8, and interleukin 10, were significantly elevated in co-exposure groups compared with individual exposures. Expression of heat shock protein 75 and caspase 8 was also upregulated, suggesting enhanced oxidative stress and activation of apoptotic pathways. These findings indicate that MPs and V. harveyi exert synergistic physiological stress, disrupting immune homeostasis and promoting apoptosis in seahorses. This study provides mechanistic insights into combined MP-pathogen toxicity and establishes the big-belly seahorse as a sensitive bioindicator for complex marine pollution.

PMID:41968465 | DOI:10.1002/jez.70089

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2026 Apr 13. doi: 10.1039/d6em00076b. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While stable isotope techniques (e.g., δ¹³C and δ²H) are valuable for understanding the environmental behavior of emerging contaminants (ECs), such as microplastics (MPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their application can be constrained by the ubiquitous presence of these target elements in the vast majority of ECs. This study proposes two innovative strategies to address the existing challenges in elucidating MP and PFAS behaviors. First, we introduce the rhenium-osmium (Re-Os) isotope system as a novel tool for tracing MPs. Considering the petrogenic origin of plastics and the enrichment of Re-Os in crude oils, we hypothesize that plastic products may inherit source-specific Re-Os signatures. This hypothesis was supported by the chalcophile nature (strong affinity for sulfur) and organophilicity of Re-Os, as well as their thermal stability under industrial processing conditions. Second, for PFAS, we highlight the potential of position-specific carbon isotope analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The intramolecular carbon isotope variations driven by the strong C-F bond in PFAS could yield critical insights into their degradation mechanisms and pathways when analyzed via position-specific isotope analysis (PSIA) with NMR. Our findings highlight that both the Re-Os system and PSIA, though underutilized, are powerful tools. They hold significant potential to advance the tracing and fate assessment of these persistent contaminants.

PMID:41969102 | DOI:10.1039/d6em00076b

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2026 Apr 13. doi: 10.1039/d6em00076b. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While stable isotope techniques (e.g., δ¹³C and δ²H) are valuable for understanding the environmental behavior of emerging contaminants (ECs), such as microplastics (MPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their application can be constrained by the ubiquitous presence of these target elements in the vast majority of ECs. This study proposes two innovative strategies to address the existing challenges in elucidating MP and PFAS behaviors. First, we introduce the rhenium-osmium (Re-Os) isotope system as a novel tool for tracing MPs. Considering the petrogenic origin of plastics and the enrichment of Re-Os in crude oils, we hypothesize that plastic products may inherit source-specific Re-Os signatures. This hypothesis was supported by the chalcophile nature (strong affinity for sulfur) and organophilicity of Re-Os, as well as their thermal stability under industrial processing conditions. Second, for PFAS, we highlight the potential of position-specific carbon isotope analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The intramolecular carbon isotope variations driven by the strong C-F bond in PFAS could yield critical insights into their degradation mechanisms and pathways when analyzed via position-specific isotope analysis (PSIA) with NMR. Our findings highlight that both the Re-Os system and PSIA, though underutilized, are powerful tools. They hold significant potential to advance the tracing and fate assessment of these persistent contaminants.

PMID:41969102 | DOI:10.1039/d6em00076b

Biology (Basel). 2026 Apr 2;15(7):573. doi: 10.3390/biology15070573.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic pollution has become a major environmental challenge for terrestrial ecosystems; however, the mechanisms by which it affects the growth of medicinal plants and their rhizosphere microecology remain unclear. This study selected the important medicinal herb P. capitata as the research subject. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentrations (0%, 1%, 4%, and 8% w/w) of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on its growth performance, physiological responses, and rhizosphere bacterial communities. The main findings are as follows: (1) PE-MPs exhibited a hormetic effect on the biomass of P. capitata. A low concentration (1%) slightly promoted total biomass (44.78 g) compared to the control (40.94 g), whereas higher concentrations caused significant inhibition. Total biomass decreased by 28.5% and 53.5% under the 4% and 8% treatments, respectively, indicating that the transition from stimulation to inhibition occurred between the 1% and 4% PE-MPs. (2) Chlorophyll a was more sensitive to stress, with its content significantly increasing under the 1% treatment but declining at higher concentrations. (3) Regarding the antioxidant system, POD activity was significantly inhibited at low and medium concentrations, while MDA content increased significantly only under the 8% treatment (by 72%). SOD and CAT showed no significant changes, indicating that POD and MDA were more sensitive indicators of oxidative damage. (4) PE-MPs significantly reduced rhizosphere bacterial community richness (Chao1 index), and the loss of microbial diversity was highly coupled with the decline in plant biomass and the exacerbation of oxidative damage. In conclusion, this study confirms a threshold effect in the toxicity of PE-MPs to P. capitata, with the transition from hormetic stimulation to toxic inhibition occurring between 1% and 4% (w/w). Furthermore, rhizosphere microecological imbalance is identified as a key indirect mechanism underlying phytotoxicity. These findings provide a new theoretical basis for understanding the potential impacts of microplastic pollution on medicinal plants and agroecosystems.

PMID:41972576 | PMC:PMC13072119 | DOI:10.3390/biology15070573

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 11:128078. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128078. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the presence of microplastics (MPs, >5 μm to <2 mm) in biofertilizers and estimated their mass input to Swedish agricultural soils. Collective samples from representative biogas facilities were analyzed using optical microscopy and optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, with selected MPs examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The highest MPs concentration detected was 888 items g^-1. Preliminary observation indicates that MPs abundance was moderately correlated with the proportion of food waste used as biogas feedstock. Mass concentrations reached up to 6.19 ± 0.56 mg MPs kg^-1_(dw) biofertilizer. Estimated inputs to agricultural soils ranged from 0.4 ± 0.06 to 2.0 ± 0.31 g MPs ha^-1 yr^-1, corresponding to a total annual input of 114 ± 17 to 377 ± 126 kg of plastics to Swedish soils via biofertilizer application. The total predicted environmental concentration (PEC_total) after 50 years was estimated at 0.11 mg kg^-1 soil for mineral-amended soils and 1.52 mg kg^-1 for sewage sludge-amended soils, indicating that MPs from biofertilizer represent only a minor fraction of total soil MPs contamination. Fragments dominated the MPs composition (98%), with most particles in the 5-50 μm size range. Polymer identification was achieved for 71% of particles, with paint-derived materials being most abundant (23%). Compared with other biosolids such as sewage sludge, biofertilizers represent a minor but measurable pathway for MPs inputs to agricultural soils. Nevertheless, the dominance of small-sized particles and long-term accumulation highlights the need to consider possible adverse effects of repeated biofertilizer application on soil ecosystems.

PMID:41974409 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128078

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2026 Mar 27;16(7):403. doi: 10.3390/nano16070403.

ABSTRACT

The development of new materials that are inherently safe and sustainable has become a critical objective in the context of the green transition. This challenge is especially significant for plastics, which often contain complex mixtures of chemicals that may be released during various stages of their life cycle and that can pose risks to human health and the environment. Within this context, the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework was followed to support the design of an innovative epoxy-vitrimer composite that integrates non-releasable fire-retardant functionalities, aiming to produce safer, sustainable, and recyclable materials suitable for railway applications. A simple methodology was developed to identify release hotspots potentially affecting workers, consumers, and environmental species and organisms. Based on this, experimental simulations were conducted to evaluate the release of materials such as flame retardants, non-intentionally added substances, and microplastics at hotspots and to compare release profiles between a benchmark material and an SSbD alternative. The results demonstrate that the newly developed recyclable and less hazardous composites can also reduce material release under weathering and abrasion conditions.

PMID:41972619 | PMC:PMC13075047 | DOI:10.3390/nano16070403

Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Apr 13. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c18430. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Soils have only recently gained attention as sinks for nano- and microplastics (NMPs), with concentrations exceeding those in aquatic environments. This raises concerns about the impact of these particles on agroecosystems, including plants. In this Perspective, we provide an overview of the current state of research on the interaction of NMPs with terrestrial plants. We show that plants can actively take up NMPs from the soil and atmosphere and translocate them within their tissue. Next, we provide evidence of the effects on plant growth, which commonly occur at environmentally relevant levels, making plants a very sensitive group of organisms. Then, we examine the role of so-called biodegradable plastics, often promoted as environmentally friendly alternatives, and show that these can also pose risks for plants. Building on these insights, we highlight two key directions to advance this field: increasing environmental realism in experiments (through field-relevant conditions and long-term exposure) and investigating the impacts of plastic-associated chemicals, which can leach into soils. We also emphasize the broader complexity of decision-making around plastic pollution and outline tools that could support evidence-based policies, in light of ongoing initiatives such as the Global Plastics Treaty. Looking forward, addressing the impacts of NMPs in crops will require integrative research and coordinated policy efforts to safeguard both agricultural productivity and ecosystem health.

PMID:41972842 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c18430

J Environ Manage. 2026 Apr 12;405:129629. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129629. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Digestate management is essential to both environmental protection and sustainable agriculture. However, its safe and effective agricultural use is increasingly challenged by strong variability in composition and the presence of persistent contaminants, including heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. While numerous treatment and recovery technologies have been developed, existing research remains fragmented, often addressing individual contaminants or processes without a unified framework linking environmental risk, technological performance and system-level decision-making. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on digestate characteristics, contaminant profiles and treatment technologies, with particular emphasis on nutrient recovery, contaminant control and circular valorisation pathways. Conventional, advanced and emerging technologies are critically compared across Technology Readiness Levels, highlighting trade-offs between recovery efficiency, contaminant fate, energy demand and the generation of secondary waste streams. The analysis reveals that many widely applied technologies primarily redistribute contaminants into concentrated side streams, underscoring the need for integrated treatment trains that combine separation, recovery and destructive steps. Building on this synthesis, the review proposes a structured decision framework that links digestate composition and management objectives with appropriate technology combinations, explicitly integrating techno-economic feasibility, environmental performance and technology maturity. This framework provides a practical tool for selecting and designing digestate valorisation strategies tailored to feedstock characteristics and regulatory constraints. Finally, critical research gaps and policy needs are identified to support the transition toward environmentally safe, economically viable and circular digestate management systems.

PMID:41974076 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129629

J Environ Manage. 2026 Apr 12;405:129629. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129629. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Digestate management is essential to both environmental protection and sustainable agriculture. However, its safe and effective agricultural use is increasingly challenged by strong variability in composition and the presence of persistent contaminants, including heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. While numerous treatment and recovery technologies have been developed, existing research remains fragmented, often addressing individual contaminants or processes without a unified framework linking environmental risk, technological performance and system-level decision-making. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on digestate characteristics, contaminant profiles and treatment technologies, with particular emphasis on nutrient recovery, contaminant control and circular valorisation pathways. Conventional, advanced and emerging technologies are critically compared across Technology Readiness Levels, highlighting trade-offs between recovery efficiency, contaminant fate, energy demand and the generation of secondary waste streams. The analysis reveals that many widely applied technologies primarily redistribute contaminants into concentrated side streams, underscoring the need for integrated treatment trains that combine separation, recovery and destructive steps. Building on this synthesis, the review proposes a structured decision framework that links digestate composition and management objectives with appropriate technology combinations, explicitly integrating techno-economic feasibility, environmental performance and technology maturity. This framework provides a practical tool for selecting and designing digestate valorisation strategies tailored to feedstock characteristics and regulatory constraints. Finally, critical research gaps and policy needs are identified to support the transition toward environmentally safe, economically viable and circular digestate management systems.

PMID:41974076 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129629

J Contam Hydrol. 2026 Apr 10;280:104948. doi: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2026.104948. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of increasing concern in subsurface environments because of their ability to migrate through porous media and threaten groundwater quality. Although many experimental studies have investigated MP transport, only a limited number of mathematical models exist, and these are mostly restricted to attachment-detachment processes. In reality, MPs exhibit a wide range of sizes and undergo multiple transport and retention mechanisms, including attachment, detachment, straining, blocking, ripening, agglomeration, and size exclusion. To address this gap, this study develops a unified three-dimensional mathematical framework that simultaneously incorporates these key mechanisms to provide a comprehensive description of MP transport in porous media. The governing equations are solved using a semi-implicit Crank-Nicolson finite-difference scheme and validated using four experimentally measured breakthrough curves from sand column studies. The model successfully captures early breakthrough, peak concentration, and long tailing behavior of MPs. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate the strong influence of MP size, collector grain size, attachment kinetics, and straining parameters on transport dynamics. Furthermore, three-dimensional plume simulations over a 4.8-year period reveal that blocking-dominated conditions promote long-range MP migration, whereas ripening enhances retention.

PMID:41967164 | DOI:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2026.104948

Aquat Toxicol. 2026 Apr 3;295:107819. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107819. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics are emerging pollutants that frequently co-occur in aquatic environments, where their interactions intensify ecotoxicological risks and may accelerate the spread of antibiotics resistance. Experimental assessment of such sorption-driven environmental behavior of mixture is costly, time-intensive, and ethically constrained, underscoring the need for predictive computational approaches. We have reported a Partial Least Squares (PLS)-based quantitative Read-Across Structure-Activity Relationship (q-RASAR) framework to evaluate the sorption-driven toxicity of antibiotics-microplastics mixtures. The distribution coefficient (log K_d) was selected as the endpoint, reflecting partitioning between aqueous and plastic phases, a key determinant of environmental persistence and bioavailability. A curated dataset of antibiotics-microplastics mixtures was used to generate mixture descriptors based on additivity, squared, and norm-based rules. Descriptors reduction and q-RASAR integration yielded a final model with five hybrid descriptors (structural + similarity-based). The model exhibited strong internal robustness (Q²_LOO = 0.761) and high external predictivity (Q²_F1 = 0.832; MAE_test = 0.152). Applicability domain and Y-randomization confirmed statistical soundness. Mechanistic analysis indicated that hydrogen-bond donors, oxygen-based polar functionalities, and terminal unsaturation enhance adsorption, while steric hindrance and charge asymmetry reduce binding affinity. To address limited experimental data, we further designed 111 hypothetical mixtures and validated predictions using the Prediction Reliability Indicator (PRI) tool. Most predictions were classified as "Good" and within the applicability domain, confirming the framework's scalability and reliability. By combining mechanistic interpretability with strong predictive power, the framework enables high-throughput virtual screening and supports early-stage environmental risk assessment, data-gap filling, and regulatory decision-making in line with OECD guidelines.

PMID:41967171 | DOI:10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107819

Toxicol In Vitro. 2026 Apr 10:106232. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2026.106232. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In vitro ecotoxicological approaches have gained relevance as alternative methods to investigate cellular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of environmental contaminants. This review systematically analyzed studies from the last 25 years evaluating the effects of microplastics (MPs), imidacloprid (IMI), and tebuconazole (TEB) on aquatic species using in vitro models. The survey showed that MPs dominated the literature (74.1%), followed by IMI (25.9%), while no in vitro studies were identified for TEB despite its documented environmental relevance. Among MPs studies, polystyrene was the most frequently tested polymer (50%), followed by polyethylene (22.7%) and environmental mixtures (13.6%). The year 2023 presented the highest number of publications, indicating increasing scientific attention. Regarding aquatic models, Oncorhynchus mykiss and Ctenopharyngodon idellus were most frequently studied, whereas species such as Cyprinus carpio, Mytilus edulis, and Danio rerio appeared less often. Overall, research remains disproportionately focused on isolated effects of IMI and MPs, while TEB and mixture scenarios especially MPs combined with pesticides are underexplored. In vitro approaches offer ethical and mechanistic advantages by reducing animal use and providing access to detailed molecular responses. Future studies should incorporate environmentally relevant mixtures and explore chronic, metabolic, hormonal, and epigenetic endpoints to enhance ecological relevance and strengthen aquatic risk assessments.

PMID:41967818 | DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2026.106232

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2026 Apr 8;358:127883. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2026.127883. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Micro- and nanoplastics persist in the environment and may affect human health, yet their cellular interactions remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate label-free Raman imaging to investigate size-dependent interactions of polystyrene particles (0.1 μm, 1.1 μm, and 3.0 μm) with human fibroblast MSU-1.1 cells. Spatially resolved Raman mapping tracked intracellular localization at 10.00 μg/ml, while WST-1 assays assessed viability across 3.13-150.00 μg/ml. Raman imaging revealed distinct size-dependent cellular distribution patterns. Nanoplastics (0.1 μm) were efficiently internalized, showing diffuse cytoplasmic Raman signal distribution. Intermediate microparticles (1.1 μm) showed partial internalization with clustered signals, indicating vesicular uptake. Larger microspheres (3.0 μm) remained primarily extracellular, forming surface agglomerates. Despite extensive cellular uptake, no statistically significant cytotoxic effects were observed for any particle size, consistent with increased resistance of this immortalized cell line to pristine microplastic exposure. This study establishes Raman imaging as a powerful tool for direct, chemically specific detection and spatial mapping of plastic-cell interactions. The findings demonstrate that cellular localization patterns do not necessarily predict cytotoxic outcomes, emphasizing the importance of considering both particle distribution and cell-type specific responses in microplastic research.

PMID:41967296 | DOI:10.1016/j.saa.2026.127883

Toxicol In Vitro. 2026 Apr 10:106232. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2026.106232. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In vitro ecotoxicological approaches have gained relevance as alternative methods to investigate cellular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of environmental contaminants. This review systematically analyzed studies from the last 25 years evaluating the effects of microplastics (MPs), imidacloprid (IMI), and tebuconazole (TEB) on aquatic species using in vitro models. The survey showed that MPs dominated the literature (74.1%), followed by IMI (25.9%), while no in vitro studies were identified for TEB despite its documented environmental relevance. Among MPs studies, polystyrene was the most frequently tested polymer (50%), followed by polyethylene (22.7%) and environmental mixtures (13.6%). The year 2023 presented the highest number of publications, indicating increasing scientific attention. Regarding aquatic models, Oncorhynchus mykiss and Ctenopharyngodon idellus were most frequently studied, whereas species such as Cyprinus carpio, Mytilus edulis, and Danio rerio appeared less often. Overall, research remains disproportionately focused on isolated effects of IMI and MPs, while TEB and mixture scenarios especially MPs combined with pesticides are underexplored. In vitro approaches offer ethical and mechanistic advantages by reducing animal use and providing access to detailed molecular responses. Future studies should incorporate environmentally relevant mixtures and explore chronic, metabolic, hormonal, and epigenetic endpoints to enhance ecological relevance and strengthen aquatic risk assessments.

PMID:41967818 | DOI:10.1016/j.tiv.2026.106232

Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2026 Apr 13;26(4):38. doi: 10.1007/s12012-026-10112-z.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have become pervasive contaminants in air, water, and food, leading to continuous human exposure. Contrary to the long-standing assumption that these particles are biologically inert, accumulating evidence now shows that MNPs cross epithelial and endothelial barriers, circulate systemically, and accumulate in cardiovascular tissues. Experimental, translational, and early clinical studies demonstrate that some MNPs can induce oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, mitochondrial injury, immune activation, and coagulation pathway dysregulation, mechanisms that converge on atherosclerotic development and progression, plaque destabilization, atherothrombosis, and cardiac remodeling. Recent human data identifying MNPs in carotid and coronary plaques, arterial specimens, thrombi, and cardiac tissues provide direct proof-of-concept for their cardiovascular involvement. These findings position MNPs as an emerging cardiovascular risk factor, with implications for prevention, patient risk stratification, and environmental health policy. Major knowledge gaps remain, including the absence of standardized biomarkers of exposure, dose–response quantification, and longitudinal clinical cohorts. Recognizing environmental plastics as cardiovascular toxins demands urgent, multidisciplinary investigation and integration of environmental exposure into cardiovascular disease prevention frameworks.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT:

Overview of exposure routes and subsequent pathophysiological mechanisms of microplastics and nanoplastics leading to cardiovascular disease scenarios.

PMID:41968227 | PMC:PMC13070988 | DOI:10.1007/s12012-026-10112-z

Aquat Toxicol. 2026 Apr 3;295:107818. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107818. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a notable environmental challenge affecting marine ecosystems. However, its repercussions on the reproductive success of sea turtles remain inadequately elucidated. In this systematic review, we aggregated global data on the prevalence, characteristics, and biological ramifications of MPs within sea turtle nesting habitats and developmental stages. Information was compiled from studies conducted across principal nesting sites, including China, Malaysia, Mexico, Japan, and the Mediterranean region, based on the PRISMA guidelines. The findings revealed substantial spatial heterogeneity in MP concentrations, from 1513 particles/m² on the Qilianyu Islands to ˃12,000 items/kg of dry sand on Redang Island. Polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the predominant types of MPs, which primarily manifested in fiber and foam forms. Evidence indicates that MPs permeate the nesting substrate, including sediment layers corresponding to egg incubation depth, and accumulate within turtle eggs, yolks, and embryonic tissues. Phthalate esters (PAEs) and MP particles measuring ˂5 µm were identified in yolk and liver tissues, indicating maternal transfer and the potential for endocrine disruption. Sublethal effects included increased melanomacrophage activity in embryos, intestinal obstruction, and reduced body condition in post-hatchlings. Additionally, dark-hued MPs may increase nesting temperatures, thereby affecting sex ratios in temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) frameworks. These findings suggest that persistent MP exposure may impair embryonic development, alter hatchling fitness, and potentially reduce long-term population recruitment and resilience. Mitigating microplastic pollution is essential for ensuring the reproductive viability, population resilience, and enduring conservation of sea turtle species.

PMID:41966798 | DOI:10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107818

Aquat Toxicol. 2026 Apr 3;295:107818. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107818. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a notable environmental challenge affecting marine ecosystems. However, its repercussions on the reproductive success of sea turtles remain inadequately elucidated. In this systematic review, we aggregated global data on the prevalence, characteristics, and biological ramifications of MPs within sea turtle nesting habitats and developmental stages. Information was compiled from studies conducted across principal nesting sites, including China, Malaysia, Mexico, Japan, and the Mediterranean region, based on the PRISMA guidelines. The findings revealed substantial spatial heterogeneity in MP concentrations, from 1513 particles/m² on the Qilianyu Islands to ˃12,000 items/kg of dry sand on Redang Island. Polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the predominant types of MPs, which primarily manifested in fiber and foam forms. Evidence indicates that MPs permeate the nesting substrate, including sediment layers corresponding to egg incubation depth, and accumulate within turtle eggs, yolks, and embryonic tissues. Phthalate esters (PAEs) and MP particles measuring ˂5 µm were identified in yolk and liver tissues, indicating maternal transfer and the potential for endocrine disruption. Sublethal effects included increased melanomacrophage activity in embryos, intestinal obstruction, and reduced body condition in post-hatchlings. Additionally, dark-hued MPs may increase nesting temperatures, thereby affecting sex ratios in temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) frameworks. These findings suggest that persistent MP exposure may impair embryonic development, alter hatchling fitness, and potentially reduce long-term population recruitment and resilience. Mitigating microplastic pollution is essential for ensuring the reproductive viability, population resilience, and enduring conservation of sea turtle species.

PMID:41966798 | DOI:10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107818

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 10;229:119714. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119714. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Predicting the fate of microplastics (MPs) in the environment and assessing their potential environmental hazard is crucial in defining effective mitigation strategies. This paper presents a novel approach for a comprehensive understanding of stressing factors controlling the distribution of MPs, their degradation and physicochemical transformation, by coupling spectroscopic techniques with multivariate analyses. Samples of floating MPs were collected from three transects of four coastal-port areas with different hydrodynamic characteristics and level of anthropogenic pressures (one industrial port, one commercial port and two tourist port areas). Polyethylene (PE) MPs fragments were analysed by Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), then Orthogonal Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied on the registered spectra. This approach revealed specific spectral differences between PE samples collected near industrial/commercial ports and those collected near tourist ports. The spectral regions most responsible for that distinction were the vinyl (1200-900 cm^-1) and carbonyl (1800-1600 cm^-1) regions, and to a less extent those used to calculate the crystallinity index (729 cm^-1 and 719 cm^-1). In contrast, the hydroxyl region (3500-3000 cm^-1) was somewhat less effective for discrimination. Samples from tourist port areas exhibited higher chemical index values, suggesting greater exposure to photodegradation processes due to prolonged UV light exposure. Conversely, PE MPs originating from industrial port areas exhibited lower vinyl and carbonyl indices and a less pronounced crystalline phase, despite being more polluted: we hypothesize that distinct transport pathways might have favoured prolonged residence time in water, and/or significant fouling resulting in both cases in mitigated photo-oxidation phenomena.

PMID:41965988 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119714

J Environ Manage. 2026 Apr 10;405:129620. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129620. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In the context of global climate change and the increasing use of biodegradable plastics, the freeze-thaw cycles and the residual microplastics from polylactic acid (PLA) pose combined stress on soil nitrogen cycling. However, research on the interactive effects of these two factors and the regulatory mechanisms of biochar remains insufficient. This study conducted an indoor simulated freeze-thaw cycle, establishing control (CK), biochar (3%, B), PLA (2%, L), and their composite (BL) treatments to systematically investigate the response mechanisms of biochar to PLA-contaminated soil microbial nitrogen cycle. The results indicated that the BL treatment significantly increased soil pH by 8.39%-11.12% (P < 0.05) after the 20th freeze-thaw cycle and alleviated the decrease in electrical conductivity caused by PLA. Additionally, the BL treatment significantly reduced the ammonium nitrogen content in soil (lower by 48.65%-61.32% compared to other treatments) and the nitrate nitrogen content, while increasing urease activity. Moreover, the catalase activity was enhanced by 5.94%-7.53% compared to L treatment (P < 0.05). Microbial community analysis showed that BL treatment alleviated the inhibition of the phylum Proteobacteria by PLA, promoted the enrichment of Actinobacteria, and upregulated the expression of nitrogen assimilation genes (such as nasA and nrtD), while suppressing the activity of denitrification functional genes (such as nirS and norB). Structural equation modeling further elucidated that biochar primarily enhanced nitrogen retention via indirect pathways by improving soil chemical properties and reshaping microbial community structure and function. This research provides a theoretical basis for ecological risk assessment of biodegradable film residues in cold-region farmland and biochar remediation.

PMID:41966008 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129620

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 10;229:119719. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119719. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the ocean and even low density polymers such as polyethylene (PE) are found below the surface and in seafloor sediments. Predicting when and how buoyant MPs lose buoyancy remains challenging, particularly because photooxidation and biofouling can co-occur at the ocean surface. Here, we tested a two-step mechanism: photooxidation followed by early stage biofouling and quantified its effect on PE MP buoyancy and sinking under controlled laboratory conditions. MPs were prepared from post-consumer PE grocery bags and photo-oxidized for 82 days in a solar simulator. Pristine and photooxidized MPs were incubated for 15 days in coastal seawater containing natural microbial assemblages, either unamended or amended with the diatom Chaetoceros tenuissimus or the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. Biofilms formed within five days on both PE MPs across all live treatments, showing minor differences in crystal violet based biofilm intensity through day 15. Most notably, all pristine PE MPs (n = 27) remained positively buoyant, while 92% of the photo-oxidized PE MPs sank to the bottom of a 31 cm water column within 5 days. Prior to biofouling, photo-oxidized PE MPs exhibited negative buoyancy in the top sinking column without reaching the bottom. Our results suggest photooxidation can precondition PE MPs such that early stage biofouling triggers buoyancy loss on timescales of days rather than the weeks to months often reported for pristine MPs. Our results highlight the need to consider photooxidation in biofouling studies to better predict the fate of MPs in the ocean.

PMID:41965990 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119719

Environ Res. 2026 Apr 9;300:124477. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124477. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as emerging xenobiotics that may adversely affect animal health. Their presence in dry pet food (DPF) is poorly understood. This study provides the first exploratory evidence of MP contamination in commercially available DPF in Spain. Using μ-FTIR, stereomicroscopy, and SEM, MPs were detected in all analyzed samples (n = 5 brands). Comparing dog food to cat food, the former had over twice as many MPs (9.33 ± 0.41 MPs/5g vs. 4.07 ± 0.68 MPs/5 g; p < 0.0001). polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and polystyrene (PS) were the polymers identified, and the main sources of contamination were environmental, processing, and packaging factors. A risk index model that considered species sensitivity, the nanometric fraction, and projected daily consumption showed that dogs are more vulnerable to systemic effects from MPs, whereas cats may have chronic intestinal inflammation because of the fibres' preponderance. Additionally, this study highlights the relevance of MPs to overall health, considering pets as potential indicators of environmental exposure. This study aimed to analyze the presence and characteristics of MPs, as well as their potential health risks in DPF marketed in Spain.

PMID:41966241 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2026.124477

Mater Horiz. 2026 Apr 12. doi: 10.1039/d6mh00083e. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics, in combination with ubiquitous dye pollutants, pose a complex environmental challenge through synergistic interactions that enhance contaminant mobility and amplify ecological risks. To address this, we fabricate a monolithic, recyclable chitin/activated carbon sponge (CT/AC) via a scalable, crosslinker-free cryo-assembly method. This integrated sponge enables dual-target removal of microplastics and multiple dyes, overcoming the limitations of powdered adsorbents and flocculation processes by allowing direct retrieval without secondary release. The sponge exhibits exceptional co-removal performance, achieving record-high adsorption capacities of 1177.17 mg g^-1 for 5 µm polystyrene (PS) microplastics, and 1038.86, 911.23, and 734.47 mg g^-1 for rhodamine B, malachite green, and Congo red, respectively, even under challenging conditions (e.g., high ionic strength, particulate interference, and humic acid). Life cycle assessment (LCA) confirms a low carbon footprint, attributable to renewable feedstocks and energy-efficient fabrication. Furthermore, the spent sponge is sustainably upcycled into graphene via flash Joule heating (FJH), enabling a closed-loop solution for advanced wastewater decontamination.

PMID:41966132 | DOI:10.1039/d6mh00083e

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2026 Apr 9:110545. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2026.110545. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The toxic effects of polyethylene (PE) MPs on different-sex zebrafish and the possibility of recovery in MPs-free water remain unclear. In this study, adult male and female zebrafish were exposed to PE-MPs (1-4 μm) with 0, 10 and 100 μg/L for 21 days. PE-MPs exposure significantly decreased body weight and condition factor in both sexes. The 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that exposure to MPs markedly altered the gut microbiota composition and reduced alpha diversity. At the phylum level, MPs induced a significant increase in Fusobacteriota and a decrease in Proteobacteria in both males and females. Hepatic physiological parameters and glycolipid metabolism genes were also perturbed after PE-MPs exposure. Furthermore, hepatic untargeted metabolomic analysis identified 61 and 194 differential metabolites in male and female zebrafish, respectively, predominantly belonging to the lipid and lipid-like molecules superclass. Females in the MPs-100 group exhibited a great number of differential phospholipids than males, particularly phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine. After exposure, zebrafish from the control and MPs-100 groups were transferred to MPs-free water for a 7-day recovery. Male zebrafish body weight recovered to levels comparable to those of the control group, whereas female body weight did not. Most phylum-level gut microbiota composition and hepatic physiological parameters returned toward the control group levels. These results suggested that female zebrafish were more sensitive to MPs toxicity than males, possibly due to alterations in phospholipid metabolites. In addition, recovery in MPs-free conditions ameliorated the toxic effects caused by prior MPs exposure and female zebrafish exhibited a slower recovery process than males.

PMID:41966288 | DOI:10.1016/j.cbpc.2026.110545

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 9;398:128116. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128116. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are widely acknowledged as ubiquitous pollutants in freshwater systems and may threaten a variety of aquatic organisms, including amphibians. Owing to their permeable skin, complex life cycles, and close association with aquatic environments, amphibians are considered effective bioindicators of environmental pollution. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and characteristics of MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts of Salamandra infraimmaculata Martens, 1885 and evaluated their relationship with age and body size (snout-vent length, SVL). We analyzed 32 individuals representing different life stages. MPs were detected in 75% of individuals, with a total of 43 particles identified. Fiber and fragment particles dominated the samples, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and polyethylene (PE) were the most common polymer types. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between MP abundance and age (Spearman r = 0.835, p < 0.001), indicating a strong age-related association. In contrast, the relationship between MP abundance and body size was comparatively weaker. These results suggest that MP ingestion in amphibians may reflect age-related differences in exposure pathways, feeding behavior, or habitat use rather than morphological differences alone. Our findings indicate that microplastic ingestion is positively associated with age in amphibians and emphasize the need to consider ontogenetic factors (age-related biological differences) when interpreting patterns of MP contamination in wildlife populations. Given the ecological role of amphibians as links between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, MP contamination in these organisms may have broader implications for trophic transfer and ecosystem health.

PMID:41966362 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128116

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 10;398:128082. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128082. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread environmental contaminants that have entered the human food chain, whose systemic health effects remain largely unknown. Using zebrafish as a vertebrate model, we investigated the mechanistic impacts of MPs on the liver-brain axis. After 18 days of exposure, zebrafish exhibited inhibited growth and neurobehavioral deficits, including reduced feeding, hyperactivity, spatial disorientation, and impaired sensorimotor responses. MPs accumulated in the brain, leading to structural damage, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter depletion. Molecular docking revealed that MP monomers competitively bound to acetylcholinesterase (AChE), disrupting cholinergic signaling and inducing neuroexcitation. Simultaneously, MPs triggered hepatic inflammation, enzyme dysfunction, and lipid metabolic disturbances. Biochemical analysis showed elevated inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α, HSP90), compromised antioxidant defenses, increased transaminase leakage, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Untargeted metabolomics revealed hepatic metabolic reprogramming, with disrupted glycolysis, lipid turnover, and redox homeostasis. Pathway analysis implicated liver injury as a driver of neurotoxicity, potentially via altered metabolites and cytokines crossing the blood-brain barrier to influence neuroinflammatory and neuroendocrine responses. These findings highlight a mechanistic link between hepatic dysfunction and neural impairment, suggesting hepatic metabolic dysfunction as a potential systemic contributor to MP-induced neurotoxicity, and offering novel insights into the potential human health risks of MP exposure.

PMID:41966363 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128082

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Apr 9;509:142016. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142016. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41966561 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142016

Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-44742-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The potential risks posed by microplastics (MPs) to anuran tadpoles remain poorly studied in the Brazilian Amazon region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze MP contamination in Scinax x-signatus tadpoles at two developmental stages, as well as to characterize and quantify MPs. In addition, we evaluated MP concentrations in surface water and their relationship with environmental characteristics. The study was conducted at the Gunma Ecological Park, Santa Bárbara, Pará, Brazil, across five sampling sites during April 2025. We identified MP contamination in both surface water and tadpoles from all sampled sites. Environmental characteristics showed no direct relationship with MP contamination in tadpoles. However, tadpoles in the pre-metamorphic stage exhibited higher levels of MP contamination than those in the pro-metamorphic stage. A correlation was observed between tadpole body weight (g) and MP concentration, indicating that MP ingestion decreased as body weight increased. This study is the first to report in situ MP contamination in anuran tadpoles from the Amazon region, demonstrating the susceptibility of these organisms to contamination by this pollutant.

PMID:41965905 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-44742-8

Environ Monit Assess. 2026 Apr 11;198(5):446. doi: 10.1007/s10661-026-15282-5.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic pollution has been widely known to infect river ecosystems. However, comprehensive information regarding the abundance and distribution of microplastics and the role of spatiotemporal variations in urban streams of Java Island is urgently needed. This study provides an integrated assessment of microplastic contamination in the Gajahwong Stream, Indonesia. We analyzed surface water, sediment, and fish across nine sites to assess the abundance and distribution of microplastics and the influence of land use gradients and seasonal variation. A total of 497 MP particles were collected, with a significantly higher number of particles observed during the dry season compared to the wet season. Fibers were the predominant shape, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy confirmed polyethylene terephthalate as the polymer, pointing toward laundry, textiles, and domestic greywater as major pollution sources. Generalized Linear Mixed Model revealed that developed land use positively correlated with MP abundance in water during the dry season, while the wet season was characterized by a flushing effect, obscuring local land use relationships. Bioaccumulation in fish was driven more by species-specific behavioral and morphological factors. However, the dominance of fragment particles in sediments that potentially threaten benthopelagic fish cannot be overlooked. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved waste management and greywater treatment facility to mitigate plastic leakage in the urban river ecosystem.

PMID:41965430 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-026-15282-5

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2026 Apr 8:vgag092. doi: 10.1093/etojnl/vgag092. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Most plastic pollution is hypothesized to be transported through urban rivers toward sinks like lakes and oceans, yet its effect on ecological communities within these systems remains poorly understood. Additionally, we do not know how changes in flow alter the exposure landscape of biota to plastic-potentially impacting effects. Here, we conducted a 28-day flow-through stream mesocosm experiment (length: 2 m, width: 0.4 m, depth: 0.3 m; N = 8, n = 2 replicate streams per treatment) to investigate the effects of plastic pollution and stream flow on the density, emergence, diversity, and function of benthic macroinvertebrates. We exposed a natural community of benthic macroinvertebrates to a single environmentally relevant mixture and concentration of microplastic (< 5 mm) and macroplastics (> 5 mm) under a high- and low-flow regime. To simulate storm-driven pulses of plastic common in urban rivers, we added additional microplastics and increased stream flow on Day 16. We deployed leaf litter bags within each mesocosm to measure macroinvertebrate density, diversity, and leaf litter decay. We also measured microplastic fate in three environmental compartments: the water column, sediment, and leaf litter. We observed significantly less benthic macroinvertebrates, a greater emergence of Ephemeroptera, and increased leaf litter decay within experimental streams exposed to plastic compared to controls, indicating both direct and indirect negative effects of plastic exposure. While high- and low-flow regimes and the simulated storm affected the fate of microplastic within streams, altering exposure, they did not lead to consistent effects. These findings suggest that mixture and concentrations of plastic pollution reported in urban rivers may be impacting resident macroinvertebrates.

PMID:41965245 | DOI:10.1093/etojnl/vgag092

Glob Chang Biol. 2026 Apr;32(4):e70861. doi: 10.1111/gcb.70861.

ABSTRACT

Priming effects (PE) on soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization depend strongly on the type of carbon substrates added. It is crucial to understand the PE induced by various carbon substrates for predicting SOM dynamics and soil-atmosphere carbon feedback. We conducted a meta-analysis of 8015 observations from 283 articles to evaluate how carbon substrates (plant residues, root exudates, biochar, and degradable microplastics) regulate the mineralization of SOM through PE. Results demonstrated that all these types of carbon substrates increased SOM mineralization, which induced a positive PE. Plant residues induced the highest average PE, followed by root exudates, biochar, and degradable microplastics. Compared to soils without carbon substrate inputs, the rate of SOM mineralization increased by 113% in soil with cellulose-rich non-woody residues, whereas it increased by only 25% in soil with lignin-rich woody residues. The mineralization of SOM increased by organic acids (151%) was greatest in root exudates, followed by monosaccharides (60%) and polysaccharides (12%). The strong mineralization induced by organic acids was probably related to the release of more mineral nutrients by reducing soil pH. The PE on SOM mineralization by woody biochar with high aromatic carbon content (48%) was greater than that of non-woody biochar with high alkyl carbon content (43%). Microplastics with rapidly degradable polyhydroxyalkanoates induced more SOM mineralization (258%) than polybutylene succinate (61%) and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (21%). The SOM priming was positively correlated with soil clay and incubation moisture, and negatively correlated with soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, soil C:N ratio, dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, carbon input rate, incubation temperature, and soil depth. These results show that the positive PE is ubiquitous in soil ecosystems; its magnitude is linked intrinsically to the physicochemical characteristics and source of exogenous carbon substrate.

PMID:41964211 | PMC:PMC13069200 | DOI:10.1111/gcb.70861

Liver Int. 2026 May;46(5):e70635. doi: 10.1111/liv.70635.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging environmental pollutants, but current studies predominantly focus on the hepatotoxicity of high-dose MPs, whereas the health effects of low-dose MPs under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the hepatotoxicity induced by combined exposure to high-fat diet and low-dose microplastics.

METHODS: Male Wistar rats were administered a high-fat diet (HFD) without (HFD) or with polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) (HFD-NP) for consecutive 90 days. In vitro experiments were conducted using primary hepatocytes treated with PS-NPs and palmitic acid (PA) in the presence or absence of AMPK or an autophagy inhibitor for 24 h.

RESULTS: H&E staining revealed significant lipid accumulation, inflammation, and hepatic fibrosis in livers from HFD group, whereas no obvious pathological changes were observed in NP group. Notably, these effects were greatly diminished in HFD-NP group, compared with HFD group. In vitro experiments also showed that PS-NPs displayed no apparent effect on the viability of primary hepatocytes, while significantly alleviated palmitic acid (PA)-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and lipid droplet accumulation. These observations indicate that low-dose PS-NPs mitigate hepatotoxicity induced by HFD. Furthermore, hepatic lipid oxidation and utilization were enhanced in HFD-NP rats, suggesting that PS-NPs may modulate lipid metabolism upon HFD. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the mechanism might involve the activated AMPK signalling pathway and inhibited mTOR signalling pathway, important regulators for autophagy, implying the involvement of lipophagy in this process. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed the inhibition of lipid droplet autophagy exacerbated HFD-induced hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate low-dose PS-NPs can activate the AMPK pathway and lipophagy, thereby alleviating liver injury through a stress adaptation response under high-fat diet conditions. Our findings elucidate the context-dependent interaction between microplastics and dietary patterns in liver diseases development and provide novel insights into the health effects of microplastics.

PMID:41964238 | DOI:10.1111/liv.70635

Anal Chem. 2026 Apr 11. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c08138. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics present significant risks to human health and ecosystem stability, creating an urgent need for analytical methods that are simple, rapid, sensitive, and field-deployable. Herein, we report a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based colorimetric aptasensor for the detection of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics. This platform leverages the high specificity of PVC and PS aptamers integrated into a Fe₃O₄@Au-DNA magnetic complex, which facilitates capture, separation, and detection. Upon microplastic binding, a competitive reaction releases an activator DNA, initiating a dual CRISPR-Cas12a system for signal amplification. The activated Cas12a trans-cleavage activity is then linked to a hemin-aptamer DNAzyme colorimetric reaction, converting the signal into a visible color change. This colorimetric output is captured by smartphone imaging and processed in real time. Furthermore, a deep-learning-based regression model was developed to enable the quantitative prediction of PVC and PS micro/nanoplastics in diverse environmental matrices. The method exhibited high selectivity and a broad dynamic range from 10^-2 to 10³ μg/mL. In smartphone detection mode, the limits of detection for PVC and PS reached 3.1 ng/mL and 3.7 ng/mL, respectively. This approach significantly enhances detection performance and stability, enabling visual monitoring of microplastics in complex real samples. Collectively, this work provides a rapid and effective strategy for the extraction and real-time quantification of small molecules.

PMID:41964558 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.5c08138

Sci Total Environ. 2026 Apr 9;1030:181778. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181778. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Plastics and microplastics are pervasive in agricultural systems, underscoring the need for effective mitigation strategies. Here, we explored microbial treatments to accelerate the degradation of plastic mulch films composed of commercial (LDPE-m) and additive-free (LDPE-p) low-density polyethylene and a blend containing polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate and polylactic acid (PBAT-PLA). We tested four microbial treatments: a compost-derived microbial community (m1), a multi-strain Aspergillus consortium with Peribacillus simplex (B. simplex) (m2), an Aspergillus-only fungal consortium (m3), and an Aspergillus fumigatus-Pseudomonas aeruginosa co-culture (m4). These were incubated under carbon-free (CF), low-carbon (LC), autoclaved compost (AC), and raw compost (C) conditions (at 30 °C for 180 days), with and without abiotic pre-treatments (UV-aging and mineral oil amendment (MO)) to accelerate microorganisms association with plastics. Our results show that the Aspergillus-only consortium (m3) accelerated LDPE-m degradation (3.71 ± 0.86 WL, Mw = -17.2 kDa and OH and CO formation) while the fungal-bacterial co-culture (m4) quickened LDPE-m weight loss (2.79 ± 0.95%) and CO formation in CF media. Multi-strain Aspergillus consortium with B. simplex (m2) colonized the UV-aged LDPE-m plastisphere in AC, and the m1-dwelling Brucella combined with Aspergillus sp. optimized UV-aged LDPE-m degradation patterns. The co-occurrence of compost-dwellers Gordonia, Thermomyces, and Mycobacterium with inoculated Aspergillus sp. enhanced LDPE-p weight loss (4.91 ± 2.28%) and surface changes (CO formation) in compost under MO. Most Aspergillus treatments dominated the plastisphere in autoclaved compost and were eclipsed by Thermomyces in compost. Slower-than-expected degradation occurred for PBAT-PLA mulch films. This study sheds light on possible microbial treatments for accelerating the degradation of plastic mulches.

PMID:41962302 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181778

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Apr 5;509:141994. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141994. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Plant absorption is critical for the introduction and transfer of numerous contaminants into food chains. Although microplastics (MPs) could be absorbed by plant leaves, direct evidence for their accumulation in edible fruit tissues remains limited. Here, the uptake and internalization of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) with different particle sizes in strawberry fruit was investigated by fluorescence labelling and in-situ imaging. Micron (2 μm) and nano-sized (80 nm and 200 nm) fluorescently labelled plastic particles can be taken up by the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruit epidermis. The uptake pathways of PS-MPs are size-dependent: micron-sized MPs (2 μm) primarily enter through stomatal openings, whereas nano-sized particles (80 nm and 200 nm) can be internalized via both stomatal entry and endocytosis. The potential impacts of PS-MPs exposure on strawberry fruit quality were evaluated. Fruit-surface exposure to PS-MPs was associated with reduced fruit weight and increased acidity, indicating potential adverse effects on yield and flavor quality. Moreover, alterations in antioxidant composition were observed, indicating possible impacts on the nutritional characteristics of the fruit. Overall, these findings suggest that atmospheric MPs in agro-environments may represent an overlooked source of MP accumulation in fruit-bearing crops. This study offers new insights into the interactions between MPs and fruit-bearing crops and highlights the need to consider fruit tissues in assessments of dietary exposure to environmental MPs.

PMID:41962370 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141994

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 8:128096. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128096. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that act as carriers for persistent organic contaminants such as 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (F-53B). This study investigated the biodistribution of orally administered 20 nm NPs and 2 μm MPs, their interaction with F-53B, and the intestinal toxicity of combined exposure. NPs showed higher bioavailability than MPs, with the intestine as the major accumulation site. In vitro, co-exposure to NPs and F-53B exerted synergistic cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells, whereas MPs showed no such effect, likely due to higher cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of NPs, along with their capacity to adsorb F-53B, thereby enhancing its intracellular levels. In vivo, NPs elevated F-53B levels in mouse plasma and colon, exacerbating colonic injury by increasing intestinal permeability, reducing mucin secretion, and upregulating IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression. Single-cell RNA sequencing and in-vitro validation revealed that NPs and F-53B co-exposure may activate BCR signaling pathway, increase intracellular Ca²⁺, and promote pro-inflammatory cytokines release via the NF-κB signaling pathway in intestinal B cells, promoting inflammatory-related damage. These findings indicate that NPs enhance F-53B internal exposure and synergistically exacerbate intestinal injury, providing a foundation for assessing the health risks of NPs and co-existing environmental pollutants.

PMID:41962818 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128096

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 8;398:128084. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128084. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as emerging contaminants with potential respiratory risks. Although cigarette filters are known contributors to environmental MP pollution, the tobacco portion has not been investigated as a direct source of inhaled plastic-derived particles during smoking. This study investigates the occurrence and characteristics of MPs in the unburned tobacco component of commercially available cigarettes, providing evidence of a previously overlooked source of potential exposure during smoking. A global sample of cigarette packs was obtained from retail sources in 18 countries. Tobacco from each pack was processed using a modified alkaline oxidation and oxidative cleanup procedure to isolate plastic particles. MPs were identified in 83 of 88 samples. Concentrations ranged from 1.58 to 29.9 particles per gram of tobacco, with a mean of 7.20 (±0.97). Fragments were most common, followed by fibers. Polymer analysis revealed that polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate dominated, while polyamide, polycarbonate, and other polymers were also detected. Significant differences in MP abundance were observed among countries and among major producers. MPs are present in the tobacco of most commercially sold cigarettes, indicating an overlooked source of plastic-derived particle exposure during smoking. The identification of polymers known to release harmful combustion byproducts highlights a potential additional inhalation hazard for smokers. These findings support the need to include MP contamination in the evaluation and regulation of tobacco product safety.

PMID:41962825 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128084

Can J Cardiol. 2026 Apr 8:S0828-282X(26)00300-4. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2026.03.050. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Exposure to environmental pollutants and toxicants is increasingly recognized as a major determinant of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Beyond direct toxic effects, these agents profoundly alter immune homeostasis, thereby contributing to endothelial dysfunction, atherogenesis, arrhythmogenesis, and impaired myocardial repair. Among emerging pollutants, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have recently gained attention due to their ubiquity and potential cardiovascular impact. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic, translational, and clinical evidence on pollutant-induced cardiovascular injury mediated by immune dysfunction. We integrate data from experimental models, human tissue studies, and clinical observations to delineate shared and pollutant-specific immunoinflammatory pathways, with a particular focus on MNPs. Environmental toxicants, including particulate matter, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, and MNPs, promote chronic innate immune activation, mitochondrial stress responses, NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, and maladaptive epigenetic reprogramming of myeloid cells. MNPs have been detected in human cardiovascular tissues and are associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Experimental evidence indicates that MNPs accumulate within vascular and cardiac compartments, disrupt endothelial barrier integrity, enhance macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization, and amplify oxidative and nitrosative stress. These converging mechanisms foster plaque vulnerability, microvascular instability, and increased susceptibility to ischemic and arrhythmic complications. Environmental cardiopathogenesis represents a rapidly expanding frontier in cardioimmunology. Elucidating the immune-mediated mechanisms linking pollutant exposure-particularly MNPs-to cardiovascular injury may improve risk stratification and inform targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies in increasingly polluted environments.

PMID:41962839 | DOI:10.1016/j.cjca.2026.03.050

Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Apr 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c09751. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biofilms occur on all microplastics and are therefore increasingly being included in freshwater numerical microplastic transport models. However, parametrizations of biofilm growth in these models lack experimental validation. Here, we provide empirically supported guidelines and advice for the implementation of biofouling in freshwater numerical microplastic transport models. For a diverse set of microplastics the influence of polymer type, size, and shape on biofilm development was measured in a lab experiment using both mass-based and image-based approaches. We demonstrate how different analytical techniques provide distinct yet complementary insights into biofilm development. Our key finding is that for a model run duration of less than four months which uses pristine microplastics as the input, biofouling only significantly (change of >50%) affects the microplastic vertical velocity for particles less than 10 μm or with a density close (±50 kg/m³) to the fluid density. Biofouling can be ignored for simulations that run for several days and microplastic diameters of over 400 μm. For the first four months, biofilm growth can be simplified by using either a linear model or an exponential model. For the case of linear biofilm growth, we measured a net growth rate of 0.061-0.170 μm per week.

PMID:41962924 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c09751

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 9;229:119661. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119661. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The settling process of microplastics plays a key role in their fate in marine environments. However, the settling characteristics of microplastics in turbulent environments have not been fully elucidated. In response to this problem, the settling characteristics of microplastics (50-5000 μm) under turbulence were analyzed using an oscillating grid and a total of approximately 6000 samples. The results show that the average settling velocity of microplastics under identical turbulence is not deterministic and varies within a range because of the randomness of the occurrence of turbulent mechanisms. The fluctuation range of the settling velocities of the microplastics increases with increasing turbulent shear rate and decreases with increasing diameter. Microplastics' settling velocity follows a skewed distribution under relatively strong turbulence, leading to the proposal of median settling velocity. Turbulence reduces microplastics' median settling velocity, with the minimum occurring at relatively moderate turbulence. Turbulence mechanism occurrence depends on microplastic-turbulence coupling; relative turbulence intensity is an effective indicator. A new explicit formula for predicting median settling velocities was proposed whose R² was 0.998. This study can improve the accuracy of predicting microplastic fate, thereby providing reference data for the assessment and efficient treatment of microplastic pollution.

PMID:41962297 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119661

Water Res. 2026 Mar 26;299:125833. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125833. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurate quantification of microplastic (MP) abundance in aquatic environments is critical for understanding their ecological and health impacts. However, the reliability and comparability of reported MP concentrations are frequently undermined by methodological inconsistencies between studies, particularly differences in sampling mesh size and protocols. Conventional correction approaches, such as empirical or power-law based models, often fail to adequately capture the complex effects of mesh aperture, particle size, shape variability, and deformability on sampling outcomes, leading to persistent systematic underestimation and limiting cross-study integration. In this work, we develop a physically-based mesh selectivity correction model that mechanistically accounts for the probabilistic retention of MPs as a function of sampling setting, particle size, morphological heterogeneity, and deformation behavior in the effective size range of 10-5000 μm. By simulating the detailed capture process across a range of mesh sizes and particle properties, our model establishes a direct, physically interpretable link between environmental MP characteristics and their observed field abundances, thereby enabling reliable adjustment and standardization of MP abundance data obtained from diverse sampling protocols. Model validation against multiple published datasets demonstrates that our approach can increase the mean estimation accuracy by up to 70.6% and decrease the mean logarithmic error by 83.7%, which substantially reduces systematic underestimation compared to existing empirical and power-law corrections. By enabling rigorous correction and unification of MP data across studies, this framework advances the standardization and comparability of global MP monitoring efforts, supporting more accurate quantitative assessments and risk evaluations across diverse aquatic systems.

PMID:41962238 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125833

Water Res. 2026 Apr 3;299:125877. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125877. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Concern persists that pathogens attaching to microplastics (MPs) may spread farther in rivers and elevate public health risks. Yet whether pathogen flux carried on riverine MP substantially augments transport via river water is unknown. We quantified, under global river conditions, the fraction of pathogen transport attributable to MP attachment. Riverine MP concentrations were simulated with the MARINA-Plastics model and pathogen concentrations with the GloWPa model at a global sub-basin resolution. We assessed Cryptosporidium worldwide and Escherichia coli (E. coli) for China at the same sub-basin resolution. For the first time, outputs from MP and pathogen models were integrated to estimate MP-pathogen binding probabilistically across rivers. Attachment was represented with an empirical Freundlich sorption formulation parameterized from literature data. Predicted MP-bound E. coli concentrations exceeded those of Cryptosporidium, reflecting stronger sorption and higher bacterial abundances. Despite this, under the current modeling framework and parameterization, the contribution of MP to the total pathogen transport flux is minimal and, based on available evidence, does not warrant prioritization as an independent public health risk source. The framework can be extended to evaluate risks from hazardous particles and co-transported contaminants, including other pathogens, metals, and organic chemicals, to inform evidence-based policy and monitoring priorities.

PMID:41962232 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125877

Can J Cardiol. 2026 Apr 8:S0828-282X(26)00300-4. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2026.03.050. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Exposure to environmental pollutants and toxicants is increasingly recognized as a major determinant of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Beyond direct toxic effects, these agents profoundly alter immune homeostasis, thereby contributing to endothelial dysfunction, atherogenesis, arrhythmogenesis, and impaired myocardial repair. Among emerging pollutants, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have recently gained attention due to their ubiquity and potential cardiovascular impact. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic, translational, and clinical evidence on pollutant-induced cardiovascular injury mediated by immune dysfunction. We integrate data from experimental models, human tissue studies, and clinical observations to delineate shared and pollutant-specific immunoinflammatory pathways, with a particular focus on MNPs. Environmental toxicants, including particulate matter, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, and MNPs, promote chronic innate immune activation, mitochondrial stress responses, NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, and maladaptive epigenetic reprogramming of myeloid cells. MNPs have been detected in human cardiovascular tissues and are associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Experimental evidence indicates that MNPs accumulate within vascular and cardiac compartments, disrupt endothelial barrier integrity, enhance macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization, and amplify oxidative and nitrosative stress. These converging mechanisms foster plaque vulnerability, microvascular instability, and increased susceptibility to ischemic and arrhythmic complications. Environmental cardiopathogenesis represents a rapidly expanding frontier in cardioimmunology. Elucidating the immune-mediated mechanisms linking pollutant exposure-particularly MNPs-to cardiovascular injury may improve risk stratification and inform targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies in increasingly polluted environments.

PMID:41962839 | DOI:10.1016/j.cjca.2026.03.050

Front Physiol. 2026 Mar 25;17:1747210. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2026.1747210. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Multiple point and nonpoint sources add complex mixtures of pollutants that may pose detrimental impacts on freshwater fish. These pollutants include metallic and nonmetallic inorganic ions and an array of organic compounds. Climate-related scenarios and a mixture of contaminants entering riverine ecosystems have impacted many endemic freshwater fish species in Sri Lanka. The present research aims to identify morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes upon exposure to xenobiotics and to predict the influence of climate on these fishes. We discussed the biomarker responses of feral fish, combined with their physicochemical characterization. Moreover, the discussion emphasized empirical evidence from controlled laboratory experiments. Together, these elements were used to interpret the possible future impacts of climate change on the fish in lotic ecosystems. The effects of nanoparticles, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine disruptors, and their interplay with climate-related physicochemical variation, have been identified as a research gap. The primary research directions for the future include establishing multi-stressor experimental frameworks that integrate a mixture of xenobiotic exposures of indigenous fishes. The development of standardized biological monitoring protocols that simulate real-world conditions in lotic ecosystems is crucial. Introduction of scientific, evidence-based, robust, and urgent legislative reforms to regulate cumulative pollution may provide a strong legal framework to prevent devastating impacts on freshwater fishes in lotic ecosystems in Sri Lanka.

PMID:41958527 | PMC:PMC13056829 | DOI:10.3389/fphys.2026.1747210

Front Toxicol. 2026 Mar 26;8:1723092. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2026.1723092. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Neuroinflammatory contributions play a critical role in Parkinson's disease onset and progression. Key drivers of neuroinflammation include glial cell reactivity, cytokine signaling, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Although animal models have been extensively used to investigate the mechanisms, their translational relevance is limited because neuroinflammation in humans is typically chronic, heterogeneous, and sustained over years, whereas in rodents is often acute, transient, and resolves within days to weeks. This paper highlights the utility of human stem cell-derived models in studying Parkinson's disease by recapitulating patient-specific genetic mutations, neuroinflammatory microglia-neuron interactions, α-synuclein aggregation, and dopaminergic dysfunction, thereby enabling mechanistic studies in the human-relevant models. In addition, we examine how micro- and nanoplastics may exacerbate neuroinflammation in PD. This review concludes by highlighting how human-relevant stem cell-based approaches advance mechanistic understanding of Parkinson's disease.

PMID:41960285 | PMC:PMC13061382 | DOI:10.3389/ftox.2026.1723092

bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Apr 1:2026.03.30.715295. doi: 10.64898/2026.03.30.715295.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MP) pollution, which is present in the ecosystem in vast quantities, adversely affects human health and the environment, making it imperative to develop methods for its mitigation. The challenge of detecting or capturing MPs could potentially be addressed using plastic-binding peptides (PBPs). The ideal PBP for MP remediation would not only bind strongly to plastic, but also have other properties such as high solubility in water or great binding specificity to a certain plastic. However, the scarcity or absence of known PBPs for common plastics along with the lack of methods that can discover PBPs with all of the desired properties precludes the development of peptide-based MP remediation strategies. In this study, we discovered short linear PBPs with high predicted water solubility and binding specificity by employing an in-silico discovery pipeline that combines deep learning and biophysical modeling. First, a long short-term memory (LSTM) network was trained on biophysical modeling data to predict peptide affinity to plastic. High affinity peptides were generated by pairing the trained LSTM with a Monte Carlo tree search (MCTS) algorithm. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that the PBPs discovered for polyethylene, the most common plastic, had 15% lower binding free energy than PBPs obtained using biophysical modeling alone. PBPs with both high affinity and high predicted solubility in water were found by including the CamSol solubility score in the MCTS peptide scoring function, increasing the average solubility score from 0.2 to 0.9, while only minimally decreasing affinity for polyethylene. The framework also discovered peptides with high binding specificity between polystyrene and polyethylene, two major constituents of MP pollution, using a competitive MCTS approach that optimized the difference in affinity between the two plastics. MD simulations showed that competitive MCTS increased the binding specificity of PBPs for polystyrene and identified peptides with relatively great preference for either of the two plastics. The framework can readily be applied to design PBPs for other types of plastic. Overall, the high-affinity PBPs with desirable properties discovered by marrying artificial intelligence and biophysics can be valuable for remediating MP pollution and protecting the health of humans and the environment.

PMID:41959355 | PMC:PMC13060325 | DOI:10.64898/2026.03.30.715295

Front Public Health. 2026 Mar 25;14:1755497. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1755497. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs), as emerging environmental pollutants, found from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, and crucially, within the human body, have attracted increasing attention due to their widespread presence and potential health impacts. This review addresses the multifaceted influence of MP exposure on endocrine regulation, gut microecology, the potential transgenerational effects, and child growth and development. Firstly, the sources and environmental distribution characteristics of MPs were outlined, their persistence and bioaccumulation potential were highlighted. How MPs act as carriers of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, interfering with hormonal systems and potentially disrupting children's physiological development was elucidated subsequently. Special emphasis is placed on the mechanisms by which MPs alter gut microbial communities, leading to dysbiosis that may compromise immune function and metabolic processes in children. By synthesizing recent advances in toxicology, microbiology, and pediatric research, present review amalgamates insights from contemporary studies, elaborates the comprehensive health risks posed by MP exposure during critical developmental periods, underscoring the urgent need for targeted preventive and regulatory measures to mitigate MP-related health hazards and promote child health. We aim to provide a scientific foundation for future research directions of MPs exposure and the development of effective intervention strategies.

PMID:41960410 | PMC:PMC13057501 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1755497

Thyroid. 2026 Apr 10:10507256261442506. doi: 10.1177/10507256261442506. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microplastics (MPs) have been identified in multiple human tissues and are increasingly implicated in systemic health risks. Their presence in the thyroid gland, however, remains unexamined. Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is the most frequent autoimmune thyroid disorder and the leading cause of hypothyroidism. This study aims to detect the presence of MPs in the thyroid and their potential relevance to AIT.

METHODS: In this case-control study, thyroid tissues were obtained from 29 patients with histologically confirmed AIT and 29 age- and sex-matched non-AIT controls who underwent thyroidectomy due to thyroid nodules. MP burden was quantified by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Particle-level polymer identity and particle characteristics, including size, shape, and color, were assessed using micro-Raman spectroscopy, whereas scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for morphological observation.

RESULTS: MPs were detected in thyroid tissues from both groups. Py-GC/MS revealed significantly higher total MP concentrations in the AIT group compared to controls (median: 19.9 vs. 1.9 μg/g; p=0.012). This elevation was primarily driven by polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which was significantly higher in AIT patients. Micro-Raman spectroscopy identified particles ranging from 33.9 to 1467 µm. The AIT group contained significantly increased MPs abundance compared with the non-AIT control group (172 vs. 50.2 items/g, p=0.037). Morphological profiling revealed no significant differences in the size, shape and color of MPs between groups.

CONCLUSION: An increased MPs burden with the particular enrichment of PVC was observed in patients with AIT, suggesting a potential association between environmental MPs exposure and thyroid autoimmunity. Further mechanistic and epidemiological studies to clarify the impacts of chronic MPs exposure are needed.

PMID:41961540 | DOI:10.1177/10507256261442506

Thyroid. 2026 Apr 10:10507256261442506. doi: 10.1177/10507256261442506. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microplastics (MPs) have been identified in multiple human tissues and are increasingly implicated in systemic health risks. Their presence in the thyroid gland, however, remains unexamined. Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is the most frequent autoimmune thyroid disorder and the leading cause of hypothyroidism. This study aims to detect the presence of MPs in the thyroid and their potential relevance to AIT.

METHODS: In this case-control study, thyroid tissues were obtained from 29 patients with histologically confirmed AIT and 29 age- and sex-matched non-AIT controls who underwent thyroidectomy due to thyroid nodules. MP burden was quantified by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Particle-level polymer identity and particle characteristics, including size, shape, and color, were assessed using micro-Raman spectroscopy, whereas scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for morphological observation.

RESULTS: MPs were detected in thyroid tissues from both groups. Py-GC/MS revealed significantly higher total MP concentrations in the AIT group compared to controls (median: 19.9 vs. 1.9 μg/g; p=0.012). This elevation was primarily driven by polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which was significantly higher in AIT patients. Micro-Raman spectroscopy identified particles ranging from 33.9 to 1467 µm. The AIT group contained significantly increased MPs abundance compared with the non-AIT control group (172 vs. 50.2 items/g, p=0.037). Morphological profiling revealed no significant differences in the size, shape and color of MPs between groups.

CONCLUSION: An increased MPs burden with the particular enrichment of PVC was observed in patients with AIT, suggesting a potential association between environmental MPs exposure and thyroid autoimmunity. Further mechanistic and epidemiological studies to clarify the impacts of chronic MPs exposure are needed.

PMID:41961540 | DOI:10.1177/10507256261442506

Front Public Health. 2026 Mar 25;14:1755497. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1755497. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs), as emerging environmental pollutants, found from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, and crucially, within the human body, have attracted increasing attention due to their widespread presence and potential health impacts. This review addresses the multifaceted influence of MP exposure on endocrine regulation, gut microecology, the potential transgenerational effects, and child growth and development. Firstly, the sources and environmental distribution characteristics of MPs were outlined, their persistence and bioaccumulation potential were highlighted. How MPs act as carriers of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, interfering with hormonal systems and potentially disrupting children's physiological development was elucidated subsequently. Special emphasis is placed on the mechanisms by which MPs alter gut microbial communities, leading to dysbiosis that may compromise immune function and metabolic processes in children. By synthesizing recent advances in toxicology, microbiology, and pediatric research, present review amalgamates insights from contemporary studies, elaborates the comprehensive health risks posed by MP exposure during critical developmental periods, underscoring the urgent need for targeted preventive and regulatory measures to mitigate MP-related health hazards and promote child health. We aim to provide a scientific foundation for future research directions of MPs exposure and the development of effective intervention strategies.

PMID:41960410 | PMC:PMC13057501 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1755497

Front Toxicol. 2026 Mar 26;8:1768236. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2026.1768236. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Recent reports from worldwide reveal that micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive pollutants affecting all ecosystems and a wide range of organisms, including animals, plants, fish, humans, and microorganisms. MNPs have been detected in food items, mother milk, vegetables, and other consumable products, indicating their potential to impact organisms across all life stages. These particles can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. Due to their small size, micro/nanoplastics can be readily absorbed by animals and plants, leading to adverse effects on human health and ecological integrity. The present review addresses recent concerns related to MNPs pollution in aquatic animals and crops, with a particular focus on fish and rice. Exposure to MNPs has been reported to impair fish growth performance, immune responses, antioxidant status, digestive functions, reproduction, transgenerational effects, endocrine regulation, vitellogenin induction, neurotransmitter activity, and blood biochemical profiles. Similarly, MNPs adversely affect rice production by influencing various stages of the cropping system, including seed germination, vegetative growth, root and shoot development, tillering, and grain yield. Notably, both fish and rice are staple food sources for humans, highlighting the significance of this issue for food safety and public health. This review emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive studies on the impacts of micro/nanoplastics on aquatic animals and major food crops. It integrates systematic knowledge on the effects of MNPs on fish growth patterns, immunity, endocrine disruption, reproduction, and key physiological indices, as well as on rice growth and productivity. The synthesized information will be highly valuable for policymakers, government agencies, pollution control authorities, and other stakeholders in policy formulation and decision-making processes.

PMID:41960282 | PMC:PMC13061387 | DOI:10.3389/ftox.2026.1768236

Front Physiol. 2026 Mar 25;17:1747210. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2026.1747210. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Multiple point and nonpoint sources add complex mixtures of pollutants that may pose detrimental impacts on freshwater fish. These pollutants include metallic and nonmetallic inorganic ions and an array of organic compounds. Climate-related scenarios and a mixture of contaminants entering riverine ecosystems have impacted many endemic freshwater fish species in Sri Lanka. The present research aims to identify morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes upon exposure to xenobiotics and to predict the influence of climate on these fishes. We discussed the biomarker responses of feral fish, combined with their physicochemical characterization. Moreover, the discussion emphasized empirical evidence from controlled laboratory experiments. Together, these elements were used to interpret the possible future impacts of climate change on the fish in lotic ecosystems. The effects of nanoparticles, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine disruptors, and their interplay with climate-related physicochemical variation, have been identified as a research gap. The primary research directions for the future include establishing multi-stressor experimental frameworks that integrate a mixture of xenobiotic exposures of indigenous fishes. The development of standardized biological monitoring protocols that simulate real-world conditions in lotic ecosystems is crucial. Introduction of scientific, evidence-based, robust, and urgent legislative reforms to regulate cumulative pollution may provide a strong legal framework to prevent devastating impacts on freshwater fishes in lotic ecosystems in Sri Lanka.

PMID:41958527 | PMC:PMC13056829 | DOI:10.3389/fphys.2026.1747210

Environ Sci Technol. 2026 Apr 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c15273. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mounting evidence confirms that microplastics (MPs) pose ecological risks. Despite the environmental relevance of aged MPs under warming, little is known about their particle versus leachate toxicity. Here, we mechanistically quantify these contributions in the duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza at concentrations of 10-500 mg L^-1. Our results reveal polymer- and end point-specific effects, indicating distinct modes of action. While particle effects dominated the toxicity of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 55.2-86.2%) and polystyrene (PS, 50.5-67.1%), the toxicity of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA) was primarily driven by their leachates (51.1-78.5% and 54.0-91.7%, respectively). High-risk chemical candidates, including docosanamide, pyrene, hexadecanamide, nonanoic acid, stearic acid, oxepanone, and adipic acid, were further identified and prioritized within the leachates from PLA and PBAT through nontarget screening via HPLC-MS and integration with the Toxicological Priority Index (ToxPi) framework. Although elevated temperatures enhanced chemical leaching, the resulting toxicity did not increase proportionally. By elucidating how particles and leachates differentially drive MP toxicity in a polymer-specific manner under warming, this work provides critical insights for developing mechanism-driven risk assessment frameworks.

PMID:41962004 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c15273

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 8;398:128089. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128089. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) pollution threatens marine biogeochemical cycles, but its impact on the sediment sulfur cycle remains unclear. A 112-day microcosm incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of three common MPs, polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS), on sulfur speciation, microbial communities, and functional genes in seagrass bed sediments using integrated amplicon sequencing and metagenomics. MPs significantly altered sediment sulfur speciation, with PLA inducing the strongest shifts, including 111.2% accumulation of total inorganic sulfate (TIS) and a 163.3% increase in TIS/Sulfide ratios, indicative of enhanced sulfur oxidation, while PE and PS promoted sustained sulfide accumulation. Distinct polymer-specific changes in sulfur-cycling bacteria communities were observed, with PLA suppressing the dominant Bradymonas (31.3% decrease) while enriching heterotrophic Sulfitobacter (26.5% increase), PE driving a transition towards autotrophic pathways with Thiohalomonas increasing by 272.8%, and PS selectively enriching generalist sulfur-oxidizing genera such as Roseovarius and Methyloceanibacter. Metagenomic analysis highlighted a shift from assimilatory biosynthetic pathways to dissimilatory energy-generating processes. These findings suggest that MPs intensify sulfide stress and disrupt sulfur metabolism, thereby reducing sediment biogeochemical stability and potentially impairing carbon burial and ecosystem resilience. These results provide critical insights into the ecological consequences of MP exposure on biogeochemical cycles in seagrass bed sediments.

PMID:41955854 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128089

Water Res. 2026 Apr 2;299:125851. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125851. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Valorizing water treatment residual (WTR) aligns with circular-economy objectives by transforming water treatment sludge waste into value-added products. For the first time, we evaluated the performance and mechanisms of aluminum-based WTR as a cost-effective and environmentally benign filtration medium for MP removal. Our column experiments removed up to 97.47% of 10-µm carboxylated polypropylene microplastics (PP-COOH MPs) from synthetic water. MP removal increased with ionic strength and the presence of mono/multivalent cations (Na⁺, Ca²⁺), primarily through charge neutralization, double-layer compression, and pore straining. WTR-based filtration also effectively removed MPs from the primary influent (95.6%) and final effluent (86.9%) of a full-scale wastewater treatment plant, as well as from the influent of a full-scale water treatment plant (97.1%). In addition, dissolved Al leached from WTR enhanced electrostatic attraction and MP aggregation, thereby promoting MP deposition on WTR surfaces. Overall, these findings demonstrate that WTR can be repurposed as a valuable material to control MP pollution, offering attractive opportunities to turn this waste into a beneficial resource. Given its potential to remove MP and other pollutants, WTR can be used as a filter medium to polish WWTP effluent, improve stormwater quality, or serve as a functional layer in landfill sites to mitigate leachate pollution.

PMID:41955985 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125851

Water Res. 2026 Apr 1;299:125860. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125860. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major global environmental concern, with rivers serving as a key pathway transporting land-based MPs to the ocean. However, river-to-ocean MP fluxes and their sources in tropical island river systems remain poorly understood due to limited hydrological observations and heterogeneous human activities. To address this gap, this study applied two complementary approaches for flux estimation, including a runoff-based model and a socioeconomic-driven model, and constructed a composite-feature source library integrating multiple MP characteristics from representative land-based sources, with the results verified using an optimized Positive Matrix Factorization model. A total of 144 sampling sites were established, including 39 riverine sites along 10 coastal rivers for flux assessment and 104 land-based sites for source library construction representing domestic, industrial, and agricultural sources. Riverine MP abundances ranged from 0.27 to 6.00 n/L, with rayon, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate dominating and occurring mainly as fibers and fragments. Estimated annual MP fluxes ranged from 6.30 × 10¹¹ to 1.61 × 10¹³ n/a using the runoff-based model and 1.31 × 10¹⁰ to 1.32 × 10¹¹ n/a using the socioeconomic-driven model, with a significant positive correlation between the two model estimates. Both source apportionment methods consistently indicated that domestic (e.g., sewage discharge) and industrial sources (e.g., industrial discharge outlets) are the primary contributors to MP inputs, while agricultural contributions are negligible. Overall, this study offers new insights into MP transport and sources in tropical island river systems and provides a practical framework for riverine MP flux estimation and source apportionment.

PMID:41955987 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125860

Food Chem. 2026 Apr 7;514:149161. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149161. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated wheat bran insoluble dietary fiber (WBIDF) as an edible adsorbent to mitigate intestinal microplastic (MPs) pollution. Combining in vitro simulations with in vivo mouse models, it elucidated WBIDF's adsorption mechanisms for MPs. Adsorption in simulated intestinal fluid was concentration-dependent and more effective for 1 μm versus 5 μm MPs (1.01 ± 0.05 and 0.83 ± 0.09 mg/g at a concentration of 50 mg/L, respectively), primarily via pore-filling and surface deposition. Spectral and computational analyses confirmed van der Waals interactions as dominant, with hemicellulose showing the highest affinity, with key sites involving ether bonds and hydroxyl groups in cellulose/hemicellulose, and aromatic rings in lignin via π-π stacking. In vivo intervention dose-dependently reduced intestinal MPs burden, alleviated systemic inflammation, and protected the colonic mucosal barrier in mice. The synergistic porous structure and components of WBIDF enable efficient MPs adsorption, establishing a foundation for edible strategies against gut MPs accumulation.

PMID:41956043 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149161

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 7;398:128085. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128085. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics have attracted considerable attention due to their impact on the potential risk in health. Humans can ingest microplastics through ingestion, breathing, and/or drinking. Medical procedures involving plastic devices, such as hemodialysis, may lead to microplastic entry into the bloodstream. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of hemodialysis on microplastic abundances in patients' blood. Laser direct infrared (LDIR) imaging spectrometry was employed to measure microplastics in ultrapure water samples (5 groups) before and after dialysis and blood samples (9 patients) pre- and post-hemodialysis. We detected the microplastics in the four water samples after dialysis, with no microplastics in pre-dialysis. Most of microplastics had diameters ranging between 20 and 50 μm. Compared to pre-hemodialysis blood samples, the number of microplastics in the post-hemodialysis blood samples was significantly increased (46.11 [56.22] vs. 96.11 [68.32], p = 0.027). We found chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyurethane (PU) in post-hemodialysis blood samples, with no trace in pre-hemodialysis blood samples. No significant correlation was observed between the number of total microplastics (or individual microplastic types) and the total dialyzed blood volume (all p values > 0.05). The results indicated that dialysis is associated with increased levels microplastics to enter the blood. However, the relationship between microplastic numbers and single dialysis-duration was not a single linear "contact time-dose".

PMID:41956311 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128085

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 7;398:128008. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The combined ecological risks of microplastics and antibiotics in aquatic systems remain poorly understood, particularly regarding how functionalized polystyrene microplastics influence macrolide antibiotic toxicity. This study investigates the toxic effects and mechanisms of carboxyl-modified and amino-modified polystyrene microplastics (PS-COOH, PS-NH₂) combined with macrolide antibiotics (Erythromycin, Roxithromycin, Azithromycin) to support ecological risk assessment of co-exposure. Results show that PS-NH₂ was more toxic than plain PS or PS-COOH. At environmental concentrations (0.01 mg/L), binary mixtures showed negligible toxicity, whereas at high concentrations (10 mg/L), algal inhibition exceeded 60%. PS-COOH combinations generally exhibited higher toxicity (pEC₅₀ = -0.574 to -2.038) than PS/PS-NH₂ combinations (pEC₅₀ = -0.322 to -2.476). PS-NH₂ formed heterogeneous aggregates on algal surfaces and attenuated antibiotic effects. Under identical conditions, algal growth inhibition was highest with PS-NH₂ (95.33%/85.28%) compared to PS (81.81%/67.02%) and PS-COOH (88.28%/80.91%). The independent influence model outperformed the concentration addition model in predicting mixture toxicity, indicating synergistic/additive or antagonistic effects. Mechanistically, the pollutants inhibited synthesis of photosynthetic pigments (Chla, Chlb, Car), disrupted TP metabolism, and induced oxidative stress-evidenced by increased MDA levels and a "low-promotion, high-inhibition" pattern in SOD and CAT activities. This study underscores the importance of microplastic surface functionality in modulating combined toxicity with antibiotics, offering a theoretical basis for risk control of co-pollution in aquatic environments.

PMID:41956313 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128008

Environ Pollut. 2026 Apr 7:128083. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128083. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The vertical transport of microplastics (MPs) in porous media poses a significant threat of deep aquifer contamination, yet predicting their spatial distribution remains challenging due to complex particle-media interactions. This study integrates column experiments with numerical modeling to elucidate the vertical retention dynamics of MPs in saturated porous media. The results demonstrate that MP retention profiles are shaped by a dynamic competition between physicochemical attachment and mechanical straining. Contrary to the exponential decay typically observed in clean-bed filtration, higher influent particle concentrations shifted the retention profile toward deeper layers, driven by the blocking effect following the rapid saturation of surface deposition sites. Elevated flow rates diminished surface accumulation and facilitated deeper infiltration by reducing residence time and generating strong hydrodynamic shear forces that continuously opposed stable deposition, driving ongoing particle re-migration. Regarding physical properties, particle size dictated the vertical distribution mode: nano-sized MPs exhibited high mobility with uniform retention profiles, whereas micron-sized MPs were confined to shallow layers via mechanical straining. While polymer density acted as a gravitational filter, the enhanced settling of denser PVC-MPs subtly shifted their center of mass toward shallower layers. Crucially, a unified predictive framework based on the Damköhler number (Da) was established, which successfully categorizes MP transport into retention-limited or transport-limited regimes. This study provides a scalable theoretical tool for assessing the depth-dependent vulnerability of groundwater systems to MP contamination.

PMID:41956315 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128083

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 8;229:119720. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119720. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MPs) pollution poses an emerging threat to global food security and aquatic health. Comparative studies on the feeding behavior and physiological responses on aquaculture species remain limited. Therefore, the present study investigates the behavioral and physiological responses of two economically important cyprinids fishes, Catla, Common Carp, surface and bottom feeder respectively, under the exposure of polystyrene (PS-MPs, 0.6-0.8 mm) resembling natural prey zooplankton. Juveniles of both the species were subjected to three experimental conditions, Control (natural prey), T₁ (MPs only) and T₂ (Mixed Prey: MPs + Daphnia). The results of the behavioral assay in the current study revealed a distinct species-specific divergence where Catla exhibit complete avoidance of MPs in T₁ while Common Carp indiscriminately ingested MPs resulting in significantly reduced predatory performance and efficiency due to false satiety. Physiologically MPs ingestion in Common Carp triggered severe oxidative stress evidenced by significantly elevated Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase activities alongside neurotoxicity indicated by the inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase activity whereas Catla showed no such physiological alterations. The principal component analysis explained >92% of the total variances identifying oxidative stress and neuro-inhibition as the primary drivers distinguishing the sensitive Carp clusters from the resilient Catla groups. Integrated Biomarker Response analysis quantified a 13.5-fold higher sensitivity in Common carp to that of Catla in MP-only treatments. The present findings conclude that feeding strategy is a critical determinant of microplastic toxicity. It put a light on how indiscriminate bottom/column feeders face significantly higher bioaccumulation and health risks in contaminated aquaculture systems.

PMID:41955776 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119720

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Apr 6;509:142007. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The widespread use of agricultural plastic films has transformed farmland soil into a major microplastic (MP) reservoir. While biodegradable MPs are promoted as environmentally friendly alternatives, their fragmentation behavior and interactions with coexisting contaminants, such as pesticides, remain poorly understood-particularly in comparison with conventional MPs. To address this knowledge gap, we systematically compared the composite pollution behavior and phytotoxicity of conventional polyethylene (PE-MPs) and biodegradable polybutylene succinate (PBS-MPs) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in pesticide-contaminated soil, with a focus on elucidating the underlying mechanisms through physiological and transcriptomic analyses. Our results demonstrated that both MPs induced phytotoxicity, but PBS-MPs caused significantly more severe effects than PE-MPs. Mechanistically, PBS-MPs exhibited stronger pesticide adsorption capacity, leading to greater pesticide accumulation in roots. Importantly, we uncovered a dual role of MPs: they acted as "carriers" facilitating pesticide uptake into roots, while simultaneously functioning as "immobilizers" that retained pesticide-MP complexes in root tissues, thereby limiting translocation to leaves. This "carrier-immobilization" effect resulted in a shift of pesticide distribution from a "leaf-accumulation pattern" (in controls) to a "root-retention pattern" (in MP treatments). The enhanced root retention of pesticides in PBS-MP treatments exacerbated oxidative damage in both roots and leaves, disrupted osmotic homeostasis, and induced photosynthetic inhibition characterized by impaired light harvesting, electron transport, and photophosphorylation, which triggered photoprotective responses. At the molecular level, alfalfa activated starch/sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways to cope with the combined stress. Collectively, this study provides novel mechanistic insights into how biodegradable MPs, due to their intrinsic physicochemical properties, may pose higher ecological risks than conventional MPs by acting as more efficient contaminant carriers while simultaneously altering pollutant fate in plants. These findings challenge the prevailing perception of biodegradable plastics as inherently environmentally.

PMID:41955807 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142007

J Hazard Mater. 2026 Mar 21;509:141837. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141837. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The growing ecological concerns regarding microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater ecosystems have highlighted the need to understand its associations with aquatic community structure, particularly in the Wei River Basin where such relationships remain poorly characterized. This study systematically investigates the distribution patterns and ecological correlations of MPs in this critical watershed system, revealing contamination levels of 1500-5167 items/m³ in water and 480-2670 items/kg in sediments. Compositional analysis identified a predominance of small (<1 mm), white/transparent fibrous particles, reflecting distinct source characteristics. Statistical analysis indicated that MP size emerged as the strongest statistical predictor of community variation in our dataset, with the < 50 μm and 50-100 μm fractions showing the most pronounced associations, while morphological and color characteristics exhibited minimal statistical influence. The partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) illustrated potential transfer pathways between aquatic compartments, with MPs in water showing stronger correlations with zooplankton communities, whereas MPs in sediment were more closely associated with zoobenthos communities. These findings provide insight into the size-dependent correlations and compartment-specific statistical relationships of MPs in riverine ecosystems.

PMID:41955797 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141837

Water Res. 2026 Apr 2;299:125851. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125851. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Valorizing water treatment residual (WTR) aligns with circular-economy objectives by transforming water treatment sludge waste into value-added products. For the first time, we evaluated the performance and mechanisms of aluminum-based WTR as a cost-effective and environmentally benign filtration medium for MP removal. Our column experiments removed up to 97.47% of 10-µm carboxylated polypropylene microplastics (PP-COOH MPs) from synthetic water. MP removal increased with ionic strength and the presence of mono/multivalent cations (Na⁺, Ca²⁺), primarily through charge neutralization, double-layer compression, and pore straining. WTR-based filtration also effectively removed MPs from the primary influent (95.6%) and final effluent (86.9%) of a full-scale wastewater treatment plant, as well as from the influent of a full-scale water treatment plant (97.1%). In addition, dissolved Al leached from WTR enhanced electrostatic attraction and MP aggregation, thereby promoting MP deposition on WTR surfaces. Overall, these findings demonstrate that WTR can be repurposed as a valuable material to control MP pollution, offering attractive opportunities to turn this waste into a beneficial resource. Given its potential to remove MP and other pollutants, WTR can be used as a filter medium to polish WWTP effluent, improve stormwater quality, or serve as a functional layer in landfill sites to mitigate leachate pollution.

PMID:41955985 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125851

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 8;229:119705. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119705. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to bioaccumulation of microplastics due to their long life cycles, trophic diversity, and migratory behavior. However, standardized methodologies for processing complex biological samples remain limited. This study introduces a standardized, reproducible two-step digestion protocol for the extraction of microplastics from sea turtle tissues, including blood, yolk sac, liver, kidney, muscle, and gonadal tissues. Samples were obtained from two distinct biological contexts: (i) blood from reproductive females and yolk sacs from their respective eggs to evaluate potential maternal transfer, and (ii) liver, kidney, muscle, and gonadal tissues from stranded individuals along the Brazilian Northeast coast to assess environmental bioaccumulation. The digestion efficiency was initially tested in reproductive matrices, resulting in an optimized two-step protocol comprising 10% KOH digestion followed by 30% H₂O₂ oxidation, which was subsequently applied to tissues from stranded turtles. All post-digestion membranes exhibited minimal organic residues, allowing reliable visualization of microplastic particles. The optimized method achieved recovery rates of 83.5% for blood, 73.1% for yolk sac, 75.4% for liver, 70.9% for kidney, and 82.0% for muscle. In addition, a preliminary, illustrative physical characterization of microplastics recovered from real samples was conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the protocol. To our knowledge, this study represents the first standardized chemical digestion workflow systematically applied across multiple sea turtle tissues, including a validated protocol for blood. Overall, this methodological framework establishes a baseline for future studies investigating microplastic contamination and potential maternal transfer pathways in marine reptiles and other vertebrates.

PMID:41955774 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119705

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 8;229:119660. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119660. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Shipwreck incidents such as the M/V X-Press Pearl (Srilanka), and MSC ELSA 3 (Kerala) have released large quantities of plastic pellets, causing widespread coastal microplastic contamination. These events highlight ship-related spills as major sources of persistent marine microplastic pollution. The immediate ecological risk assessment during the critical golden hours after the shipwreck is vital for taking critical pollution mitigation measures. By quantifying plastic pellet abundance and identifying polymer composition across 11 coastal locations, the research applies the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) to transition from descriptive density metrics to a tiered risk assessment. The risk assessment identifies Varkala (PHI = 980.2; PLI = 11.8; PERI = 1354.2), Kovalam (PHI = 858.8; PLI = 12.5; PERI = 1331.6), and Perumathura (PHI = 910.6; PLI = 10.1; PERI = 920.6) as critical hotspots, reaching Hazard Category IV and "Extreme Danger" status due to the massive scale of the spill. While most other sites, such as Puthenthopp (PHI = 650, PLI = 1, PERI = 6.5), exhibit lower pollution load intensity and low ecological risk. The dominance of high PHI categories across the coast reflects significant potential for chemical toxicity from polymer additives and also may identified as persistent secondary sources for micro- and nanoplastics due to weathering. The study demonstrates that integrating PHI, PLI, and PERI provides a reliable preliminary framework for evaluating marine pollution during a shipwreck, where specific nurdle-risk tools are often lacking. The results emphasize that targeted cleanup, long-term monitoring, and integrated chemical-biological risk frameworks are essential to mitigate chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation, and sustained ecological impacts in tropical coastal systems.

PMID:41955771 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119660

Mar Pollut Bull. 2026 Apr 8;229:119701. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119701. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a critical global issue, yet its oceanic concentrations are far lower than predicted riverine inputs due to temporary estuarine retention. Currently, the vertical behaviour of MP in weakly mixed systems remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the Oyabe River estuary in Toyama Bay, a microtidal salt-wedge estuary where haloclines frequently develop. Fine-interval vertical sampling using a land-based pumping system captured the thin halocline layer, revealing a mean MP abundance of 2.0 ± 2.5 items m^-3, peaking at 3.0 ± 2.6 items m^-3 in the halocline. This vertical pattern (halocline > freshwater > seawater) exhibited the highest polymer diversity, mainly dominated by PE and PP, including PA6 and PU; this indicates that halocline retention acts as a sink buffer. Film-like fragments predominated, likely remaining suspended longer and more readily trapped within stratified layers. MP accumulation intensified when the halocline was thin and sharply defined. Strong stratification developed when river discharge exceeded 40-45 m³ s^-1, values typical of the Oyabe River under normal flow. These findings identify weakly mixed estuaries as dynamic filters of MPs. In systems such as the Oyabe River, halocline-associated retention promotes prolonged accumulation and enhances MP deposition in coastal and benthic environments.

PMID:41955770 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119701

Environ Res. 2026 May 15;297:124090. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124090. Epub 2026 Feb 23.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as dynamic microbial interfaces that reshape pathogen ecology, antibiotic resistance evolution, and disease transmission. This review examines how MPs function as reservoirs and vectors for Salmonella enterica, highlighting the plastisphere as a stable biofilm microhabitat that enhances bacterial adhesion, environmental persistence, stress tolerance, and virulence expression. We summarize evidence that MP surfaces especially weathered, hydrophobic polymers, promote dense biofilms that protect Salmonella from desiccation, UV exposure, sanitization, and antimicrobial agents. Within these structured communities, co-localization of Salmonella with antibiotic residues, heavy metals, and diverse microbial taxa accelerates horizontal gene transfer and co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence determinants. MPs thereby act as mobile genetic "incubators" that disseminate multidrug-resistant Salmonella across soil, aquatic systems, wastewater networks, food production environments, and host microbiomes. These interactions link environmental contamination with zoonotic and foodborne transmission pathways, constituting a critical One Health concern. We identify current methodological gaps and propose research priorities for mechanistic risk assessment, monitoring frameworks, and intervention strategies. Recognizing MPs as active ecological players rather than inert pollutants is essential for mitigating their role in the global spread of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella.

PMID:41740706 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2026.124090