Journal of Hazardous Materials

By quantitatively analyzing 100 soil samples collected across Fukushima Prefecture in 2011, researchers found that cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) were distributed over a wide area, with abundances ranging from 0 to 52.3 particles g⁻¹ and accounting for up to 61.9% of the total radioactivity in some samples. Their results further revealed that most CsMPs originated from a single radioactive plume released on 15 March 2011, whereas later emissions contained mainly water-soluble cesium rather than particulate CsMPs.

A National Taiwan University study shows that traffic particles can create sharply localized exposure hotspots near busy roads, intersections and elevated corridors. The findings suggest that targeted street-level planning may better protect children and other vulnerable groups than citywide averages alone.

Researchers at National Taiwan University reveal that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and the preservative butylparaben, at a level considered safe on their own, can cause heritable harm, disrupting reproduction across generations through epigenetic changes.

A common soil fungus (Purpureocillium lilacinum BA1S), when combined with calcium and mild alkalinity, speeds up the breakdown of biodegradable plastic (PBAT), offering a greener path for managing agricultural and packaging waste.

A new real-time monitoring system captures minute-by-minute changes in toxic metals resulting from traffic pollution. Research indicates that non-exhaust sources, including brake wear, significantly contribute to urban health risks.

Distribution characteristics and transport processes of biodegradable microplastics in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Naturally formed iron oxides on the surface of plastic tubes offer an inexpensive and sustainable method to reduce arsenic contamination in crops.