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The state of microplastic pollution in México: a review and evolving perspectives
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A PRISMA-based review of microplastic research in Mexico documented growing contamination across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments, characterized the dominant polymer types and particle shapes, and identified major knowledge gaps needing attention in the Mexican context.
Microplastic pollution has emerged as a significant global environmental concern. These small plastic fragments, originating from the degradation of larger plastics, infiltrate marine and terrestrial ecosystems. This article reviews the current state of research on microplastics in Mexico using the PRISMA method. The information collected focused on the distribution, characterization and abundances of microplastics across different environmental matrices. A literature search was conducted in high-quality databases from 2014 to 2024, resulting in 80 scientific articles documenting studies in environmental matrices such as sediments/soil, biota, water and atmosphere across 20 states of Mexico. The most extensively studied environmental matrix is sediment -particularly beach sand-, followed by biota, water and atmosphere. The most reported microplastic shapes and color are transparent and blue fibers, primarily made of polypropylene and polyethylene. It is imperative to standardize the methods for studying microplastics to serve as a monitoring tool for assessing and comparing microplastic abundances both nationally and globally. The standardization of sampling, laboratory analysis, and abundance reporting units will facilitate the comparison of studies. Establishing a national microplastics database would support long term monitoring and inform mitigation strategies. While this initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 14 -Life Below Water- specifically target 14.1.1.b aimed at reducing marine pollution, the widespread presence of microplastics in freshwater, soil and air underscores the need to integrate SDGs 6, SDG 12 and SDG 15 to address plastic pollution holistically.
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This comprehensive review maps the distribution, sources, identification methods, toxicity, and biodegradation of microplastics across oceanic, freshwater, and soil environments. The synthesis underscores that microplastics are persistent global pollutants with broad ecological and health impacts, while microbial biodegradation offers a promising avenue for remediation.
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A systematic analysis of 143 global studies (2011–2025) found that polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET fibers and fragments dominate microplastic contamination across treated, bottled, groundwater, and surface water, with PVC and polystyrene posing the highest toxicological risk due to additive leaching. The review projects escalating water microplastic pollution driven by growing plastic production and climate change, with the greatest impacts falling on developing nations.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.