Microplastic contamination refers to the presence and distribution of synthetic polymer particles typically <5 mm in environmental matrices, including marine, freshwater, terrestrial, atmospheric, and biological systems. As a research topic, it encompasses sources (primary and secondary microplastics), transport pathways (e.g., hydrodynamic and atmospheric dispersion), physicochemical properties (size, shape, polymer type, surface chemistry), and interactions with co-contaminants such as persistent organic pollutants and metals. Studies investigate bioavailability, trophic transfer, organismal and cellular responses, and potential human exposure via inhalation and ingestion, as well as methodological challenges in sampling, analytical detection, quantification, and risk assessment frameworks.
Once essential for curbing the spread of COVID-19, disposable face masks have become a major contributor to environmental pollution and human health concerns.
Nanomaterials
Jun 17, 2025
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Mealworms need a minimum level of protein to grow and become a sustainable food source, according to a new study that challenges the myth that insects have superpowers of taking plastic waste and converting it to a nutritionally ...
Agriculture
Jun 17, 2025
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24
Nanoplastics can compromise intestinal integrity in mice by altering the interactions between the gut microbiome and the host, according to a paper in Nature Communications. The study explores the complex interactions of ...
Bio & Medicine
Jun 10, 2025
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78
Milk protein and cellulose derived from plants may be the next big thing in sustainability, thanks to a first-of-its-kind advancement made by researchers at Penn State.
Bio & Medicine
Jun 9, 2025
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99
The accumulation of microplastics in the environment, and within our bodies, is an increasingly worrisome issue. But predicting where these ubiquitous particles will accumulate, and therefore where remediation efforts should ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 4, 2025
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18
For many people, "plastic pollution" calls to mind pictures of turtles and other marine life drowning in single-use plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets. My own research looks at how the same story is playing out on ...
Environment
May 28, 2025
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Plastic pollution is among the most pressing environmental crises, and new research suggests that solutions may lie not only in scientific labs or policy rooms but within communities themselves.
Environment
May 27, 2025
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Birds on a remote Australian island are so full of plastic they crunch, British researchers report.
Environment
May 26, 2025
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38
Despite being considered sanctuaries for biodiversity, Brazil's marine protected areas (MPAs) are not immune to microplastic contamination.
Environment
May 22, 2025
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24
Washing household plastic containers in a dishwasher releases nanoplastic and microplastic pollution into wastewater, University of Queensland researchers have found.
Environment
May 20, 2025
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