Research Keyword: microplastics

Effects of defined organic layers on the fluorescence lifetime of plastic materials

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Researchers developed a fast, non-destructive method using fluorescence lifetime imaging to identify different types of plastic particles, even when covered with bacteria, fungi, and proteins. This technique could help scientists quickly detect and study microplastics in the environment without needing extensive cleaning procedures. The study found that biological coatings on plastics don’t prevent accurate identification using this fluorescence method. This advancement could make monitoring plastic pollution easier and more efficient in real environmental samples.

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Microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes as rising threats: Their interaction represents an urgent environmental concern

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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are spreading through our environment and creating a dangerous partnership with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When these plastics accumulate in soil, water, and even food, they carry bacteria with genes that resist antibiotics, making infections harder to treat. This combined threat to human health can spread through wind, water, and the food chain, requiring urgent action to reduce plastic pollution and antibiotic overuse.

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Editorial: Effects of microplastics on soil ecosystems

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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are accumulating in soil worldwide and causing problems for the microorganisms that keep soil healthy. This editorial reviews research showing that while newer biodegradable plastic mulches used in farming are better than traditional plastics, both types can weaken the complex networks of beneficial soil microbes. Scientists found bacteria that can break down some plastic chemicals, but long-term solutions require better monitoring and ways to manage plastic residues in agricultural soils.

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Using Fungi in Artificial Microbial Consortia to Solve Bioremediation Problems

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This review explores how combinations of fungi and other microorganisms can clean up polluted soil and water more effectively than using individual microbes alone. Fungi are particularly valuable because they produce powerful enzymes that can break down toxic substances like heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, and plastics. By carefully designing microbial teams and sometimes immobilizing them in gels or on materials, scientists can achieve much higher removal rates of pollutants while maintaining environmental safety.

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Fruit-Based Fermented Beverages: Contamination Sources and Emerging Technologies Applied to Assure Their Safety

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This review examines safety concerns in popular fermented fruit drinks like wine and cider. It identifies major contamination risks including toxic compounds produced by molds (mycotoxins), harmful byproducts from fermentation (biogenic amines), pesticide residues, heavy metals, and plastic particles. The authors recommend combining traditional safety practices with modern technologies like electric fields and high-pressure treatments to ensure these beverages remain safe to drink while maintaining their health benefits.

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Microplastic impacts archaeal abundance, microbial communities, and their network connectivity in a Sub-Saharan soil environment

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This study examined how plastic waste that has broken down into tiny microplastics affects soil microorganisms in Kenya. Researchers found that microplastics reduce the number and diversity of helpful archaea (ancient microorganisms important for nitrogen cycling) and disrupt how different microbes interact with each other in soil. While microplastics carried slightly more potentially harmful bacteria, they were much better at spreading dangerous fungi, suggesting plastic waste poses a significant threat to soil health in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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