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Ecotoxicity and interactions of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: advancing towards standardized mitigation approaches
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Tiny plastic bits called micro- and nano-plastics are building up in our rivers, lakes, and oceans—and eventually in the food we eat—so scientists are testing ways to clean them up. This review rounds up existing cleanup methods, from filters and chemical breakdown to plastic-eating bacteria, finding that each has tradeoffs: some work well but are expensive or create new pollution, while eco-friendly options like bacteria are promising but still need more testing. The takeaway: no single fix is ready yet, and researchers say combining multiple approaches will likely be needed to actually reduce the plastic pollution
Abstract This study reviews the various micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) pollution, which demands immediate mitigation strategies in aquatic ecosystems to ensure an effective, scalable, and sustainable solution. The focus is summarising the physical, chemical, and biological processes to remediate MNP contamination. Physical techniques such as adsorption, flotation, and filtration are also considered representative strategies. Pollutants like biochar and carbon nanotubes can be removed by adsorption in plants. However, there is a risk of secondary pollution from this. Advanced filtration methods, such as sand filtration and membrane bioreactor, can achieve very high removal efficiency, but problems with membrane fouling limit scalability. Flotation holds tremendous potential if the right conditions are implemented. It also includes the chemical degradation methods (polar media like hydrogen peroxide and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and thermal degradation. Some AOPs rely on reactive species to degrade plastics, but they typically follow an energy-intensive route, whereas thermal degradation can decompose plastics with its own environmental cost. A molecular approach involving biological remediation, involving microbial and enzymatic degradation, is perceived as an environmentally friendly solution. Organisms with promising plastic-degrading abilities include Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus , genetically engineered microorganisms, and fungal treatments. Moreover, the degradation of MNPs plays a substantial role in microbial biofilms. Nanotechnology is a potential supplement to MNP remediation processes, especially engineered nanoparticles. However, the study highlights the need for further research to optimise these methods, improve scalability, and ensure environmental safety, recommending a multi-faceted approach to ensure the effective and sustainable mitigation of MNP pollution.
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This review examines the environmental fate, ecological impacts, and remediation strategies for microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems. Researchers highlight that microbial remediation shows particular promise for breaking down these pollutants, while many nations are adopting regulations to limit plastic contamination of waterways. The study suggests that integrating approaches from nanoscience, microbial ecology, and remediation technologies is needed to address this growing environmental challenge.
Micro/nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems: Analytical challenges, ecological impacts, and mitigation strategies
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This review provides a comprehensive assessment of micro- and nanoplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems, covering detection methods, toxic effects across the food chain, and emerging cleanup strategies. Researchers highlight the limitations of current analytical techniques and the challenges of accurately measuring these tiny particles in water and living organisms. The study identifies key research priorities needed to better understand and mitigate the growing threat of plastic particle pollution in waterways.
Microbial Bioremediation of Microplastics
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Tiny plastic bits called microplastics are now everywhere in our environment—and even in our bodies—raising concerns about long-term health effects. This review paper rounds up what scientists currently know about using bacteria and other microbes to break down these plastic particles, a promising cleanup strategy, while also pointing out the challenges researchers still need to solve before it works at scale. The takeaway: nature may offer tools to help tackle plastic pollution, but we're not there yet, so reducing microplastic use in the first place still matters for protecting our health.
Strategies for the Remediation of Micro- and Nanoplastics from Contaminated Food and Water: Advancements and Challenges
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This review summarizes existing research on methods for removing micro- and nanoplastics from contaminated food and water, including filtration, chemical treatment, and biological approaches using microorganisms. While several promising techniques exist, the complexity of real-world plastic pollution makes it difficult to scale these solutions, and more cross-disciplinary research is needed to protect food and water safety.
Limitations of Current Remediation Technologies for Aquatic Microplastics and the Case for Integrated Treatment Systems
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Tiny plastic particles have already built up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans—and eventually in our drinking water and food chain—so just making less plastic won't undo the damage already there. This review looked at existing cleanup methods (like filtering, chemical treatments, and using microbes to break plastic down) and found that none of them alone can fully remove or destroy these particles. The takeaway: cleaning up water supplies will likely require combining several methods together, which matters because reducing microplastics in our water is a key step toward reducing our own exposure to them.
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