An aqueous leaf extract of Egeria densa was used to green-synthesize iron (II) and iron (III) oxide nanoparticles from ferrous sulphate and ferric chloride, respectively. The successful green synthesis of the nanoparticles was confirmed through UV–visible spectroscopy, and the colour of the mixtures changed from light-yellow to green-black and reddish-brown for FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs, respectively. The morphological characteristics of the nanoparticles were determined using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The UV–Vis spectrum of the FeO–NPs showed a sharp peak at 290 nm due to the surface plasmon resonance, while that of the Fe₂O₃–NPs showed a sharp peak at 300 nm. TEM analysis revealed that the FeO–NPs were oval to hexagonal in shape and were clustered together with an average size of 18.49 nm, while the Fe₂O₃-NPs were also oval to hexagonal in shape, but some were irregularly shaped, and they clustered together with an average size of 27.96 nm. EDX analysis showed the presence of elemental iron and oxygen in both types of nanoparticles, indicating that these nanoparticles were essentially present in oxide form. The XRD patterns of both the FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs depicted that the nanoparticles produced were crystalline in nature and exhibited the rhombohedral crystal structure of hematite. The FT-IR spectra revealed that phenolic compounds were present on the surface of the nanoparticles and were responsible for reducing the iron salts into FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs. Conclusively, this work demonstrated for the first time the ability of Elodea aqueous extract to synthesize iron-based nanoparticles from both iron (II) and iron (III) salts, highlighting its versatility as a green reducing and stabilizing agent. The dual-path synthesis approach provides new insights into the influence of the precursor oxidation state on nanoparticle formation, thereby expanding our understanding of plant-mediated nanoparticle production and offering a sustainable route for the fabrication of diverse iron oxide nanostructures. Furthermore, it provides a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of the FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs using Egeria densa.

Microplastics are tangible particles of less than 0.2 inches in diameter that are ubiquitously distributed in the biosphere and accumulate in water bodies. During the east-coast hot summers (23–29 °C) of 2021 and 2022, June through September, we captured copious amounts of the jellyfish Chrysaora chesapeakei, a predominant species found in the Patuxent River of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland on the United States East Coast. We determined that their gelatinous bodies trapped many microplastics through fluorescent microscopy studies using Rhodamine B staining and Raman Spectroscopy. The chemical nature of the microplastics was detected using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy headspace (SPME-GC-MS) and solvent extraction (GC-MS) methods through a professional commercial materials evaluation laboratory. Numerous plastic-affiliated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from diverse chemical origins and their functional groups (alkanes, alkenes, acids, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, esters, and alcohols) along with other non-microplastic volatile organic compounds were observed. Our findings corroborate data in the available scientific literature, distinguishing our finding’s suitability.

Anoplophora glabripennis (ALB) is an invasive wood-boring cerambycid that causes extensive damage to hardwood host trees through sequential tissue penetration from the bark to the sapwood. Developmental biology of ALB is well established. However, interactions among its life cycle, environmental contaminants, and fungal associates remain poorly understood. In particular, the ecological relationships among microplastics, entomopathogenic fungi, and the fungal symbiont Fusarium solani (FSSC) within ALB-associated woody tissues remain largely uncharacterized. This review develops a conceptual anatomical framework integrating ALB developmental biology, fungal associations, frass deposition pathways, and potential microplastic interactions within woody host tissues. The framework was constructed through ecological literature synthesis and anatomical reconstruction. To our knowledge, this represents the first conceptual framework integrating ALB developmental anatomy, fungal symbiosis, and potential microplastic interactions within host tree gallery systems. A longitudinal cross-sectional model was developed to illustrate oviposition, larval gallery formation, pupation, and adult emergence in relation to the outer bark, cambium/phloem, sapwood, and heartwood. FSSC isolates previously documented on ALB egg surfaces following oviposition and within ALB frass were examined, thereby positioning the fungal symbiont both within and outside galleries produced by ALB throughout its life cycle. Previous studies have demonstrated that microplastics can be taken up by plant stem tissues and accumulate on the forest floor through atmospheric deposition. This widespread presence suggests that micro- and nanoplastics may penetrate sapwood and heartwood galleries through xylem and phloem flow. These transport pathways may overlap with regions where late-instar larvae actively forage. The integrative framework presented here highlights potential ecological interactions within the gallery microhabitat and provides a foundation for future experimental investigations into contaminant–pathogen–host dynamics in xylophagous insects. While we refrain from proposing specific management strategies, we present a conceptual framework to elucidate how microplastics may serve as incidental contact points for cerambycid anatomy and fungal propagules. We hypothesize that these interactions link microplastic pollution to invertebrate ecology. Microplastics may function as substrates for fungal spores within forest canopies and gallery systems, potentially influencing fungal persistence, contaminant transport, and ecological dynamics within infested forest habitats.

Microplastics (MPs) have been classified as an extremely harmful environmental pollutant. Agricultural systems are among the ecosystems most heavily impacted by microplastics. Therefore, this paper discusses the sources and mechanisms of uptake, the physiological effects of microplastic contamination on plants, and food safety, all of which are linked. Microplastics, or plastics that are < 5 mm in size or less, have now been found in soils across the globe and are being considered as important factors in plant physiology. The paper not only reveals the various pathways of microplastics into plant tissues but also investigates their overall impacts on plant growth, metabolism, and oxidative stress responses as well. This study indicates that the use of plastics can lead to interference with nutrient uptake, lower photosynthetic rates, and excessive reductions in plant stress conditioning, culminating in edible plant species and thus, the human consumption of plastics through food. The paper also discusses the possible strategies for reclamation as well as the areas needing further research that are highlighted by the review.

Previously, we reported that microplastic volatile organic compounds are present within the Chrysaora chesapeakei of Chesapeake Bay, MD. In this study, we report the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the hydrophobic surface of microplastic (MP) particles extracted from the C. chesapeakei, detected by Raman spectroscopy and identified by Wiley’s KnowItAll Software with IR & Raman Spectral Libraries. C. chesapeakei encounters various microplastics and emerging contaminants as it floats through the depths of the Patuxent River water column. This study identifies subsuming CECs found directly on microplastics from within C. chesapeakei in the wild using Raman spectroscopy. Among the extracted microplastics, some of the emerging contaminants found on the different microplastics were pesticides, pharmaceuticals, minerals, food derivatives, wastewater treatment chemicals, hormones, and recreational drugs. Our results represent the first of such findings in C. chesapeakei, obtained directly from the field, and indicate C. chesapeakei’s relationship with microplastics, with this species serving as a vector of emerging contaminants through the marine food web. This paper further illustrates a relationship between different types of plastics that attract dissimilar types of emerging pollutants in the same surrounding environmental conditions, underscoring the urgent need for further research to fully understand and mitigate the risks that MPs coexist with contaminants.

Elodea species, including Egeria densa, are globally recognized as invasive aquatic macrophytes that significantly disrupt aquatic ecosystems through the formation of dense floating mats thereby inducing anoxic conditions. However, their potential as a source of high-value bioactive compounds remains mostly under-explored. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity of Elodea methanolic extract to assess its potential for industrial application. Total soluble protein was quantified via the Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) assay, while total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined using colorimetric methods. The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays, supplemented by qualitative screening for secondary metabolites. Results revealed that the extract possessed a mean soluble protein content of 4.5 ± 0.19 mg BSA eq./g FW, a TPC content of 4.015 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g FW, and a 1.86 ± 0.12 mg QE/g FW. Qualitative screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. The extract displayed high reducing power (FRAP: 196.6 ± 0.5 µmol Fe²⁺ g⁻¹ FW) and significant radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 65.5 µg/mL, comparable to the commercial standard, ascorbic acid (IC50 of 61.98 µg/mL). These findings showed that E. densa is rich in pharmacologically active bioactive components; alkaloids, proteins, phenolics, and flavonoids, thereby highlighting its potential as a reservoir of natural antioxidants. It also suggests that the biochemical synergy between soluble proteins and phenolics drives the high antioxidant efficacy of the extract. The results also suggest that E. densa biomass, often overlooked as an invasive species may serve as a sustainable source of bioactive metabolites in the pharmaceutical or food preservative industries.