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Microplastic Pollution in Mexico: Occurrence, Ecological Risk, Removal Strategies from Water, and Emerging Mitigation Approaches
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This review pulls together Mexican research on microplastics—tiny plastic particles found in water, sediment, and animals—showing they pose a real risk to ecosystems and can enter the food chain we rely on. The good news: scientists are testing solutions like flocculation (a low-cost water treatment method) and bioremediation (using microorganisms to break down plastic) to tackle the problem. The bad news: there's currently no standardized way to track or regulate microplastics, so stronger monitoring and safety limits are needed to protect both the environment and human health.
Concerns have increased significantly in recent years due to the presence of microplastics in different environmental compartments given that this pollutant can cause adverse effects on the environment and human health. The present review integrates representative studies of Mexican researchers proposing solutions to these concerns, addressing ecological risk and the human food chain, microplastic ingestion by animals, water and sediment pollution, physical/chemical methods for microplastic removal from water, and chemical recycling as a research direction in plastic waste management. Several publications from Mexican institutions are limited to the occurrence and identification of polymers, and a smaller number of documents are focused on solutions to microplastic pollution. Fibers, fragments, spheres, films, and foams have been found in aquatic compartments, sediment, and animals. High ecological risk has been documented in some aquatic compartments. There is a lack of standardized protocols for sampling, extraction, identification, and reporting. Flocculation is a cost-effective approach and may be one of the most promising options for removing microplastics from fresh water. Bioremediation using microorganisms and chemical recycling appear to be the two most widely considered approaches to reverse plastic pollution. National databases, permissible limits, and mandatory monitoring programs should be developed, as these are essential components of an effective regulatory framework.
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Microplásticos en ecosistemas acuáticos: una revisión sobre su impacto y gestión
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This literature review analyzes the ecological impact of microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems and available management strategies. Researchers found that microplastics affect aquatic organisms through ingestion and bioaccumulation, altering physiological functions and acting as vectors for toxic pollutants and pathogens. While filtration technologies, bioremediation, and regulatory measures have been developed, their effectiveness remains limited and a comprehensive approach combining prevention, mitigation, and stricter policies is needed.
Microplastics research in Mexico (2015-2024) in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems: a summary of locations, media, characterization methods and findings
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Researchers reviewed 38 indexed studies on microplastic contamination in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems across Mexico published between 2015 and 2024, finding research distributed across soils/sediments (34%), fauna (34%), water (24%), flora (5%), and air (3%). The review highlights substantial methodological variability across studies and calls for standardised protocols to improve comparability of Mexican microplastics research.
Microplastics in aquatic systems, a comprehensive review: origination, accumulation, impact, and removal technologies
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This comprehensive review traced the sources of microplastics in aquatic environments, from industrial products and packaging to cosmetics and agricultural materials, and examined their toxic effects on living organisms. Researchers found that microplastics are remarkably stable and widespread, posing growing ecotoxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems. The study also evaluated current removal technologies, noting their advantages and limitations, and warns that without better strategies, microplastic pollution will become significantly worse in coming decades.
Review of Recent Advances in Microplastic Ecological Risk Assessment: From Problem Formulation to Risk Characterization
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This review of existing research shows that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are contaminating our environment and food chain, carrying harmful chemicals and pollutants that can end up in our bodies. Scientists still don't fully understand how dangerous these microplastics are to human health or how they move through the food we eat, from fish to drinking water. The researchers say we need better methods to study these risks so we can protect people and create policies to reduce plastic pollution.
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.
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