Pollution News and Research

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Plastisphere Microbes Display Unique Genetic Traits for Survival

Plastic pollution is a global problem. It damages ecosystems, endangers animals, and in the form of nanoplastic particles, can also have consequences for human health.

8 Apr 2026

Biodegradable Plastic Byproducts Impair Fetal Growth in Mouse Study

When the "eco-friendly" bioplastic, polylactic acid (PLA), biodegrades, the resulting nanoplastics can accumulate in the fetuses of pregnant mice and interfere with fetal growth. Yichao Huang and De-Xiang Xu of Anhui Medical University, China, and Mingliang Fang of Fudan University, China, report these findings in a new study published March 26th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

28 Mar 2026

Turning Plastic Bottles into Levodopa, a Key Parkinson’s Treatment

This study demonstrates the conversion of plastic bottles into levodopa using engineered bacteria, highlighting a novel approach to sustainable drug production.

25 Mar 2026

Scientists Map Gene Sharing Networks in Wastewater Treatment Biofilms

Wastewater treatment systems are hotspots for mobile genetic elements proliferation and exchange, where dense biofilms create ideal conditions for horizontal gene transfer.

24 Mar 2026

Cooperative Microbes Enable Efficient Breakdown of Harmful Plasticizers

Plastic trash has reached the world's most remote locations, from the bottom of the Mariana Trench to the summit of Everest.

19 Mar 2026

Phenolic Contaminants Drive Selective Radical Pathways for Antibiotic Degradation

Emerging contaminants such as antibiotics and persistent organic pollutants increasingly threaten global water security and public health.

13 Mar 2026

Microplastics Reshape Soil Microbial Genes and Ecosystem Functions

Microplastics are now widely recognized as pollutants in oceans and waterways, but a growing body of research suggests they may pose equally serious risks on land.

24 Feb 2026

Hutton Scientists Develop New Test for Fecal Contamination Which Cuts Time for Results From 24 Hours to Four

Scientists at The James Hutton Institute, Scotland’s pre-eminent interdisciplinary scientific research institute for the sustainable management of land, crop and nature resources, have developed a new test that reduces the time required to analyze water samples for indicators of fecal contamination from 24 hours to four.

24 Feb 2026

Controlled Oxidative Burst Promotes Brain Repair

Oxidative stress is a direct consequence of an excess in the body of so-called "free radicals" – reactive, unstable molecules that contain oxygen.

12 Feb 2026

Global floating algae are rapidly expanding across Earth’s oceans

Recent AI-driven satellite studies show a significant increase in floating algae, highlighting shifts in ocean ecosystems and implications for climate change.

22 Jan 2026

New Study Finds Higher Levels of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Surface Water During Winter

A new study from The James Hutton Institute, Scotland’s pre-eminent interdisciplinary scientific research institute for the sustainable management of land, crop and nature resources, has found that the levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) present in surface water increase during winter.

21 Nov 2025

Climate Change Could Push The Great Barrier Reef To Near Total Collapse

The survival of coral reefs depends on keeping global temperatures below 2 °C, with rising heat stress threatening biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

13 Nov 2025

‘Forever chemicals’ build up in British Columbia sea otters

PFAS contamination in British Columbia sea otters underscores urban pollution's effects on marine life and the importance of long-term ecological monitoring.

12 Nov 2025

Tiny DNA ‘Flowers’ Pave the Way for Smart Medical and Environmental Tools

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have created microscopic soft robots shaped like flowers that can change shape and behavior in response to their surroundings, just like living organisms do.

21 Oct 2025

Masks Attenuate Exposure of Traffic Pollutants’ Adherence to Red Blood Cells

Inhaled traffic pollutants attach to red blood cells, facilitating systemic transport. Wearing FFP" masks lessens this exposure, emphasizing the protective role of masks against air pollution.

10 Oct 2025

Living Biofilms Act as Natural Batteries to Degrade Antibiotics at Night

Researchers have unveiled a surprising new way that soil microbes can use sunlight energy - even after the lights go out.

8 Oct 2025

Scientists Discover New Microbial Metabolism That Breathes Iron Minerals

An international team of scientists led by microbiologists Marc Mussmann and Alexander Loy from the University of Vienna has discovered a new microbial metabolism: so-called MISO bacteria "breathe" iron minerals by oxidizing toxic sulfide.

28 Aug 2025

Customizable, Fast-degrading Food Wrap to Cut Landfill

Research on chitosan-PCL films reveals enhanced durability and biodegradability, offering sustainable solutions for food packaging and pollution reduction.

23 Jul 2025

Global Effort to Preserve Microbial Diversity Enters New Phase

A global effort to create a "microbial Noah's Ark" to preserve the world's diverse collection of healthy microbes before they disappear is now entering an active growth phase.

30 Jun 2025

Green roofs reduce urban microplastic pollution by billions

Green roofs serve as effective pollution barriers, capturing billions of microplastics annually and enhancing urban air quality and stormwater management.

13 Jun 2025