Preparation of Block Copolymer-Stabilized Microspheres from Commercial Plastics and Their Use as Microplastic Proxies in Degradation Studies.

This study presents a novel one-pot procedure for preparing sub-10 μm poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG)-stabilized glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polycarbonate, and polycaprolactone (PCL) particles from commercial plastics. The prepared particles can be dried and directly resuspended in water, making them easy to handle and relevant mimics of microplastics. In addition, the method was extended to the preparation of unstabilized PET particles and somewhat larger polyethylene (PE)-based particles.

The time for ambitious action is now: Science-based recommendations for plastic chemicals to inform an effective global plastic treaty.

The ubiquitous and global ecological footprint arising from the rapidly increasing rates of plastic production, use, and release into the environment is an important modern environmental issue. Of increasing concern are the risks associated with at least 16,000 chemicals present in plastics, some of which are known to be toxic, and which may leach out both during use and once exposed to environmental conditions, leading to environmental and human exposure. In response, the United Nations member states agreed to establish an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, the global plastics treaty.

Time to integrate "One Health Approach" into nanoplastic research.

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Exposure protocol for ecotoxicity testing of microplastics and nanoplastics.

Despite the increasing concern about the harmful effects of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), there are no harmonized guidelines or protocols yet available for MNP ecotoxicity testing. Current ecotoxicity studies often use commercial spherical particles as models for MNPs, but in nature, MNPs occur in variable shapes, sizes and chemical compositions. Moreover, protocols developed for chemicals that dissolve or form stable dispersions are currently used for assessing the ecotoxicity of MNPs.

Assessing the Biodegradability of Tire Tread Particles and Influencing Factors.

Abrasion of tire tread, caused by friction between vehicle tires and road surfaces, causes release of tire wear particles (TWPs) into various environmental compartments. These TWPs contribute to chemical, microplastic, and particulate matter pollution. Their fate remains largely unknown, especially regarding the extent and form in which they persist in the environment.

Finding the tiny plastic needle in the haystack: how field flow fractionation can help to analyze nanoplastics in food.

While the exact health risks associated with nanoplastics are currently the focus of intense research, there is no doubt that humans are exposed to nanoplastics and that food could be a major source of exposure. Nanoplastics are released from plastic materials and articles used during food production, processing, storage, preparation, and serving. They are also likely to enter the food chain via contaminated water, air, and soil.

Separating toxicity and shading in algal growth inhibition tests of nanomaterials and colored substances.

Nanoparticles and colored substances can inhibit algal growth by light shading and chemical toxicity. This study presents two complementary approaches to account for shading in algal growth inhibition tests of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and colored substances. The first approach distinguishes between shading effects and toxicity by varying the light path in parallel algal growth inhibition tests.

Unpalatable Plastic: Efficient Taste Discrimination of Microplastics in Planktonic Copepods.

Planktonic copepods are the most abundant animals in the ocean and key players in global biochemical processes. Recent modeling suggests that zooplankton ingestion of microplastics (MPs) can disrupt the biological carbon pump and accelerate a global loss of oceanic oxygen. Here we investigate the behavioral responses and ingestion rates of a model feeding-current generating copepod when exposed to microplastics of different characteristics by small-scale video observations and bottle incubations.

Reuse of Water in Laundry Applications with Micro- and Ultrafiltration Ceramic Membrane.

This study compares the performance of a microfiltration membrane, made by silicon carbide (SiC) and an ultrafiltration membrane, made by zirconia (ZrO), in the treatment of wastewater from a washing machine designed to clean industrial tents. The filtration of deionized water, containing model microplastics (i.e.

How fast, how far: Diversification and adoption of novel methods in aquatic microplastic monitoring.

Since 2004, there has been a marked diversification in the methods used to determine aquatic microplastic (MP) concentrations. Despite calls for a unified approach to MP sampling, the proliferation of new methods has accelerated in recent years. Both minor method adaptations and entirely novel approaches have been introduced to overcome barriers to reliable MP sampling, extraction and quantification, resulting in a variety of complimentary but also competing approaches.

Accelerated Weathering Increases the Release of Toxic Leachates from Microplastic Particles as Demonstrated through Altered Toxicity to the Green Algae .

Studies that evaluate the impact of microplastic particles (MPs) often apply particles of pristine material. However, MPs are affected by various abiotic and biotic processes in the environment that possibly modify their physical and chemical characteristics, which might then result in their altered toxic effect. This study evaluated the consequence of weathering on the release of toxic leachates from microplastics.

Quality of nanoplastics and microplastics ecotoxicity studies: Refining quality criteria for nanomaterial studies.

It is becoming increasingly important to develop assessment criteria for the quality of nanoplastics studies. This study is an attempt to establish such criteria based on those developed for engineered nanomaterials, the GUIDEnano and DaNa criteria being two representatives. These criteria were applied to studies on polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs), which currently represent the majority of studies on nanoplastics.

Publisher Correction: On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Publisher Correction: On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

When Fluorescence Is not a Particle: The Tissue Translocation of Microplastics in Daphnia magna Seems an Artifact.

Previous research reported the translocation of nano- and microplastics from the gastrointestinal tract to tissues in Daphnia magna, most prominently of fluorescent polystyrene beads to lipid droplets. For particles >300 nm, such transfer is biologically implausible as the peritrophic membrane retains these in the daphnid gut. We used confocal laser scanning microscopy to study tissue transfer applying the setup from a previous study (neonates exposed to 20 and 1000 nm polystyrene beads at 2 µg L for 4 and 24 h), the same setup with a fructose-based clearing, and a setup with a 1000-fold higher concentration (2 mg L ).

Ingestion and effects of micro- and nanoplastics in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) larvae.

It is well known that mussels are exposed to microplastics but ingestion and potential effects on mussel larvae are not well understood. We quantified ingestion and egestion of 100 nm and 2 μm polystyrene beads in blue mussel larvae after 4 h exposure and 16 h depuration using different plastic-to-microalgae ratios. Effects on growth and development of mussel larvae were investigated at 0.

Are We Speaking the Same Language? Recommendations for a Definition and Categorization Framework for Plastic Debris.

The accumulation of plastic litter in natural environments is a global issue. Concerns over potential negative impacts on the economy, wildlife, and human health provide strong incentives for improving the sustainable use of plastics. Despite the many voices raised on the issue, we lack a consensus on how to define and categorize plastic debris.

The fate of microplastics during uptake and depuration phases in a blue mussel exposure system.

We present a blue mussel exposure system where the fate of microplastics (polystyrene beads) is tracked during exposure and depuration phases. This enabled the establishment of a complete mass balance. Quantification of beads in mussels was done with a novel enzymatic digestion protocol.

A critical perspective on early communications concerning human health aspects of microplastics.

Microplastic research in recent years has shown that small plastic particles are found almost everywhere we look. Besides aquatic and terrestrial environments, this also includes aquatic species intended for human consumption and several studies have reported their prevalence in other food products and beverages. The scientific as well as public debate has therefore increasingly focused on human health implications of microplastic exposure.

A call for action: Improve reporting of research studies to increase the scientific basis for regulatory decision-making.

This is a call for action to scientific journals to introduce reporting requirements for toxicity and ecotoxicity studies. Such reporting requirements will support the use of peer-reviewed research studies in regulatory decision-making. Moreover, this could improve the reliability and reproducibility of published studies in general and make better use of the resources spent in research.

Ingestion of micro- and nanoplastics in Daphnia magna - Quantification of body burdens and assessment of feeding rates and reproduction.

Evidence is increasing that micro- and nanoplastic particles can have adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Exposure studies have so far mainly been qualitative since quantitative measurements of particle ingestion are analytically challenging. The aim of this study was therefore to use a quantitative approach for determining ingestion and egestion of micro- and nanoplastics in Daphnia magna and to analyze the influence of particle size, exposure duration and the presence of food.

Microplastics as vectors for environmental contaminants: Exploring sorption, desorption, and transfer to biota.

The occurrence and effects of microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic environment are receiving increasing attention. In addition to their possible direct adverse effects on biota, the potential role of MPs as vectors for hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs), compared to natural pathways, is a topic of much debate. It is evident, however, that temporal and spatial variations of MP occurrence do (and will) occur.