Environments,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
11(11), P. 238 - 238
Published: Oct. 29, 2024
In
this
study,
a
systematic
review
of
the
scientific
literature
was
carried
out
to
summarize
emerging
evidence
on
microplastic
pollution
in
natural
caves.
After
screening
655
papers
topic
from
combined
search
Web
Knowledge
and
Scopus
databases,
we
found
only
14
studies
reporting
quantitative
data
microplastics
total
27
Most
assessments
focused
water
sediment,
with
very
limited
investigations
concerning
cave
biota.
Overall,
most
common
types
particles
caves
were
small
(<1
mm)
fibers
(~70–90%
items),
transparent
or
light-colored,
mostly
made
polyethylene
terephthalate.
Anthropogenic
cellulosic
materials,
however,
represented
non-negligible
portion
(i.e.,
~20–30%).
Microplastic
concentrations
varied
between
0.017
911
items/L
for
7.9
4777
items/kg
thus
falling
within
levels
other
terrestrial,
freshwater,
marine
environments.
Levels
appear
largely
variable
among
caves,
stressing
need
extend
geographic
environmental
ranges
assessments,
which
are
currently
concentrated
Italian
land,
few
case
regions
world
Despite
their
putative
isolation,
have
high
vulnerability
contamination,
requiring
much
more
research
effort
understand
potential
risk
that
plastics
pose
these
fragile
ecosystems.
Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 6, 2025
Abstract
The
amount
of
plastic
waste
is
increasing
exponentially
worldwide,
and
the
environmental
impact
microplastics
(MPs)
correspondingly
significant.
Developing
photocatalysts
capable
degrading
MPs
a
critical
area
research.
However,
wide
variation
in
experimental
conditions
for
photocatalytic
degradation
poses
challenges
conducting
comparative
studies
advancing
efficient
photocatalyst
design.
Since
polyethylene
(PE)
TiO
2
are
among
most
extensively
studied
materials
photocatalysts,
respectively,
this
review
focuses
on
recent
advances
PE
using
‐based
photocatalysts.
examines
mechanisms
summarizes
protocols
preparation
MPs,
assessment
systems.
Additionally,
it
introduces
methods
quantifying
degraded
compares
recently
reported
efficiencies,
accounting
variations
parameters.
This
aims
to
contribute
establishment
standardized
laboratory‐scale
protocol
International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
25(17), P. 9716 - 9716
Published: Sept. 8, 2024
Microplastics
(MPs)
and
nanoplastics
(NPs)
have
emerged
as
significant
environmental
pollutants
with
potential
detrimental
effects
on
ecosystems
human
health.
Several
studies
indicate
their
interaction
enzymes;
this
topic
represents
a
multifaceted
research
field
encompassing
several
areas
of
interest
from
the
toxicological
ecotoxicological
impact
MPs
NPs
humans
wildlife
to
biodegradation
plastics
by
microbial
enzymes.
This
review
aims
provide
critical
analysis
state-of-the-art
knowledge
enzyme
carbonic
anhydrase
(CA),
providing
recent
insights,
analyzing
gaps
in
field,
drawing
future
perspectives
its
application.
CA
is
widespread
crucial
various
organisms;
it
for
physiological
processes
animals,
plants,
bacteria.
It
catalyzes
reversible
hydration
CO2,
which
essential
respiration,
acid–base
balance,
pH
homeostasis,
ion
transport,
calcification,
photosynthesis.
Studies
demonstrate
that
can
inhibit
activity
mechanisms
including
adsorption
surface
subsequent
conformational
changes.
In
vitro
silico
highlight
role
electrostatic
hydrophobic
interactions
these
processes.
vivo
present
mixed
results,
are
influenced
factors
like
particle
type,
size,
concentration,
organism
type.
Moreover,
potentiality
esterase
plastic
degradation
discussed.
The
complexity
between
MPs/NPs
underscores
need
further
fully
understand
ecological
health
impacts
expression
glimpses
field.
