Disrupted intestinal mucosal barrier mediated by alcohol consumption aggravates systemic microplastic accumulation

SummaryBackgroundThere is widespread concern regarding the effect of microplastics (MPs) on human reproductive health. The accumulation of MPs and their potential effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes must be determined, particularly from the perspective of the maternal–foetal interface during early gestation, because abnormal composition and metabolism of chorionic villi are closely related to early embryonic development. This study aimed to identify and quantify the mean mass concentrations and polymer types of MPs in human chorionic villi, and investigate the potential association between the abundance of MPs and spontaneous miscarriage.MethodsChorionic villi were collected from 31 participants in their first trimester, including normal carriage terminated for social factors (NC, n = 13) and unexplained spontaneous miscarriage (SM, n = 18). Qualitative and quantitative detection of 11 types of MPs was performed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Differences in the abundance of specific MPs between the two groups were analysed by t-tests. Individual clinical characteristics and lifestyle information were collected to identify the primary sources and factors that may impact MPs in chorionic villi. Statistical analyses, including a correlation analysis and the binary logistic regression model, were used to assess the effect of MP accumulation on early pregnancy outcomes.FindingsMPs were detected in all samples and four main types were identified, namely polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP). PVC was the most abundant. The total abundance of MPs in patients with SM was significantly higher than that in controls (273.08 ± 50.89 μg/g vs 226.37 ± 42.35 μg/g, p = 0.011). The accumulation of total MPs (r = 0.5947, p < 0.01) and PVC (r = 0.5649, p < 0.05) in patients with SM was positively correlated with age but not body mass index. Participants who regularly consumed bottled water generally showed significantly elevated levels of PE and total MPs in their villi, while frequent seafood consumption had a significant effect on PE, PVC, PS, and PP concentrations.InterpretationWe identified the presence of MPs in chorionic villi during the first trimester and established an association between the abundance of MPs and unexplained SM. These findings suggest that accumulation of MPs at the maternal–foetal interface during the first trimester are related to an increased risk of miscarriage and that these cross-generational effects during early gestation represent potential reproductive toxicity of MPs. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, and larger sample sizes are required to validate the observed trends.FundingThis study was supported by grants from the “Pioneer” and “Leading Goose” R&D Program of Zhejiang (2024C03242) and the Medical Science Projects of Zhejiang Province (No. 2023KY013).

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive contaminants, yet understanding their pathways and fate in the marine environment remains unclear. A key challenge is the lack of in-situ, complementary measurements linking MP quantification with oceanographic parameters, particularly concerning submesoscale processes and density fronts. Submesoscale dynamics, including filaments, eddies, and fronts, significantly influence the transport and accumulation of MPs by creating convergence zones and sharp density gradients. Density fronts serve as critical hotspots for MP aggregation, concentrating particles through upwelling and downwelling processes. Despite their importance, these interactions remain poorly studied, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to directly measure the interplay between MPs and the physical processes that drive their distribution.This study addresses this gap by utilizing in-situ measurements collected with an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) in the southern North Sea, simultaneously collecting water samples for MP analysis and key oceanographic data. The ASV simultaneously sampled air, sea surface microlayer, and underlying water for MP analysis. A weather station and conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) sensors were deployed on the ASV to further contextualize the distribution of MPs. Additionally, CTD profiles were obtained by an accompanying research vessel to investigate the influence of stratification and temporal dynamics on MP distribution. An acoustic Doppler current profiler measured water current velocities and flow direction.The measurements underscore the pivotal role of submesoscale fronts and filaments in shaping the accumulation and distribution of MP. Upwelling and downwelling processes at these fronts and filaments concentrated MP up to 30.48 &amp;#181;g MP L&amp;#8315;&amp;#185;, and distributed MPs vertically across depth profiles and horizontally across fronts. Wind direction was found to influence the presence of MP in the atmosphere, while wind speeds appeared to enhance heterogeneity in MP composition and concentration within the water.Submesoscale fronts and filaments are highlighted as key zones for MP accumulation, driven by the interplay of horizontal and vertical water flow linked to ageostrophic circulation. The data provide novel insights into their transport mechanisms in the marine environment.

Migration and accumulation of microplastics in soil-plant systems mediated by symbiotic microorganisms and their ecological effects

A review on microplastics pollution in coastal wetlands

Dynamic fate of polystyrene microplastics in terrestrial snails through dietary exposure: accumulation, excretion, and molecular impacts.

Environmental microplastics accumulate in gonads in a sex-dependent manner and alter reproductive success in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Effects of long-term plastic film mulching on microplastic and phthalate esters pollution in salt-affected soils: Microbial community shifts and enrichment of putative degraders.

Microplastic bioaccumulation in estuary-caught fishery resource

Time-dependent metabolic disorders induced by short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

In freshwater ecosystems, particularly in riverine sediments, high levels of microplastics (MPs) (<5 mm) have been reported, potentially putting sediment-dwelling macroinvertebrates at risk. However, the effects of MPs on macroinvertebrates remain unclear, despite their critical roles in freshwater food webs. This study investigated whether exposure to three types of MPs (6 µm and 45 µm polystyrene microbeads, 100 µm polyethylene terephthalate (polyester) microfibers) causes adverse effects in the freshwater oligochaete, Tubifex tubifex. Worms were exposed across five environmentally relevant concentrations of each type of MP in sediment (negative control, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 MPs per gram dry weight sediment). The exposures were also conducted using either pristine MPs or MPs that had first been colonized with biofilms. Survival of adult worms along with production of cocoons and juvenile worms were assessed following exposure to MPs for 28 days. Changes in the microbiota of whole oligochaetes and sediments were assessed using the V3-V4 regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Accumulation of MPs was examined after a gut clearance period to assess the ability of the worms to retain MPs. There were no statistically significant effects to survival or reproduction across all exposure concentrations and scenarios for the three types of MPs, along with no evidence of significant MPs accumulation. However, MPs exposure significantly altered host and sediment microbial communities, with effects varying by polymer type, particle size, and condition. In Tubifex tubifex, pristine 45 µm PS microbeads at the highest concentration increased Shannon diversity, while the highest concentration of biofouled 100 µm PET microfibers significantly altered beta diversity. In exposures using biofouled MPs, more differentially abundant bacterial genera were identified compared to pristine MPs, and included taxa linked to nutrient cycling and plastics degradation. In sediments, both alpha and beta diversity were significantly affected by 45 µm PS microbeads, and more differentially abundant bacteria were identified in these exposures compared to 100 µm PET microfibers. While chronic exposure to environmentally realistic MPs did not cause adverse effects to survival or reproduction in Tubifex tubifex, the consequences of alterations to the host microbiome due to MPs exposure requires further investigation.

At the moment, microplastics are a common pollution that is found in nearly every area of the environment. Microplastics (MPs) are regarded as a potentially harmful ecological contaminant and growing concern. The food chain, human wellness, and the health of animals are all at risk due to this kind of pollution. Research on the presence of MPs in aquatic creatures and the marine environment, their transfer of trophic levels across the food chain, and the recognition of seafood animals as appropriate biomarkers have taken precedence. It is necessary to conduct more research to determine the presence of plastic particles in the ocean’s food web, their long-lasting effects on humans and animals, and the potential health consequences. Further study is needed to understand plastic particles' dispersion and environmental impacts in agricultural soil, even though their buildup and demise in aquatic environments have been extensively investigated. There needs to be more knowledge on the forms, transport, breakdown, and accumulation of MPs in soil, animal, and plant systems, as well as the hazards they pose to the setting, food chain, and public health. As a result, the study also made the case for the significance of studying soil MP contamination and treatment to reduce environmental and food chain hazards.

Microplastics (MP) are new pollutants that threaten the ecological environment and, therefore, human and animal health. Given the extensive utilization of plastics across various domains, MPs are commonly detected in the atmosphere, water bodies, terrestrial regions, and living organisms. Important accumulation points of MPs are air, soil, and water ecosystems. This study aims to summarize how animals are exposed to environmental MPs, identify the specific organs where these MPs accumulate, and assess the risks associated with different foods. The urrent research on MP pollution in ecosystems generally focuses on organisms living in water and soil, but unfortunately, there are significant deficiencies in the transmission routes of MPs in the food chain from soil to table. MPs build up in animals across the food chain, and their presence in animal- derived food products intensifies during processing and packaging. The transfer of MPs to food-producing animals has been understudied, particularly with regard to the important role of livestock in converting plant nutrients into proteins required for human consumption. It is understood that more research is needed, especially for contamination in animal foods. Conducting comprehensive risk assessments of MPs throughout the entire food chain is extremely important for food safety.

Microplastic research has reached a point where microplastics (MPs) have been found in virtually every environment studied. However, MP studies of freshwater ice are scarce, and the winter dynamics of MPs are less understood. Measuring MPs from one-year freshwater ice samples can aid understanding seasonal MP fluxes in freshwater systems. In this study we explored the same four sites close to urban/suburban areas over four subsequent years. We collected a total of 48 ice samples across all the years and sites with an average sample volume of 2.9 to 5.0 L of liquid water. In addition, we sampled an annually laminated section of bottom sediments representing these four years in seasonal resolution. MP concentrations varied considerably between years and samples, being 1–44 MPs/L in all the ice samples. The MPs found in ice were small with a mean (± average) size of 142 ± 177 μm. In total, 9 different polymer types were identified: the most common types being polypropylene, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. We found that MPs accumulate to one-year freshwater ice, because the MP concentrations found from ice are one to two orders of magnitude higher than concentrations from surfaces waters in the same area. This further confirms that ice acts as a temporal repository for MPs in the aquatic freshwater systems. Our study also indicates that the properties of MPs were relatively similar in all sites around the city. The accumulation of MPs in sediments was highest during the spring flood periods, when MPs were released from the ice and snow at the catchment area of the sediment samples. We highlight the importance of monitoring to collect representative MP data from various environmental compartments.

Blue carbon sediments as effective sinks for microplastics: A global meta-analysis.

Biodegradable microplastics adsorb more Cd than conventional microplastic and biofilms enhance their adsorption.