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Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Analytical Approaches, Environmental Fate, Life Cycle, and Remediation Strategies—A Scoping Review
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This review pulls together existing research on tiny plastic particles (microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics) that are now found almost everywhere, in water, soil, air, and even our food. The big takeaway: scientists still lack standardized methods to detect and measure these particles, especially the smallest ones, which makes it hard to fully understand how much we're exposed to and what health risks they carry, including their ability to carry other harmful chemicals into our bodies. This matters because better detection tools and cleanup strategies are needed before we can accurately assess how these ubiquitous particles affect human health.
Microplastics have emerged as one of the most widespread and significant environmental pollutants, occurring in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, the atmosphere, food, and living organisms. Given the rapid expansion of research in this field, a comprehensive synthesis of the current state of knowledge is warranted. The aim of this study was to map the available literature on microplastics, with particular emphasis on advanced identification and characterisation techniques, environmental transport and transformation processes, life cycle assessment, and remediation strategies. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines using publications retrieved from the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The analysis demonstrated substantial advances in analytical methodologies, particularly spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, enabling the accurate characterisation of micro- and nanoplastic particles. It also highlighted the complex mechanisms governing the transport and transformation of microplastics across environmental compartments, as well as their important role as vectors of chemical contaminants. From a systems perspective, life cycle assessment of plastics was identified as an essential tool for evaluating their environmental impacts. Current mitigation approaches, including filtration technologies, wastewater treatment processes, and biological remediation strategies, were also reviewed, along with their limitations and potential for future development. This review identifies the lack of standardised analytical methodologies and the limited capability for nanoplastics detection as two major challenges hindering the global harmonisation of microplastics research. The findings emphasise the need for further interdisciplinary studies and the implementation of integrated strategies encompassing the entire life cycle of plastics to effectively reduce microplastics emissions and mitigate their environmental impacts.
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This review provides a broad overview of micro- and nanoplastic pollution, covering where these particles come from, how they spread through the environment, and the damage they cause to living things including humans. The authors also compare different methods for removing microplastics from the environment, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The paper calls for more research and global cooperation to develop better tools for measuring the health risks of plastic pollution.
Micro and nanoplastics pollution: Scientific progress, persistent gaps, and regulatory challenges
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This review analyzed over 16,000 studies to take stock of what scientists know about tiny plastic particles (micro and nanoplastics) found throughout our environment, food, and even our bodies. The big takeaway: while we know these particles can build up in humans and affect various organs, researchers still don't fully understand how long they stay in our bodies, how they interact with other pollutants, or their long-term health effects, partly because there's no standard way to test for them yet. This matters because it means official safety guidelines are still catching up to the science, so more rigorous, consistent research is needed before we can fully understand the real risk these particles pose to human health.
Sampling and Sample Preparation Techniques for Micro- and Nanoplastics
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Scientists don't have a standard way to find and measure tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in our environment, making it hard to compare research results. This review paper examines different methods researchers use to detect these plastic particles in air, water, soil, food, and living things. Having better, consistent testing methods is important because microplastics are found throughout our environment and food chain, but we can't properly track their health effects without reliable measurement techniques.
Micro(nano)plastics in the total environment – A holistic review
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This comprehensive review examined how micro- and nanoplastics are distributed across soil, water, air, sediments, and living organisms worldwide. Researchers highlighted that while plastic particles accumulate extensively throughout the environment, the long-term transport, fate, and health impacts of this pollution remain poorly understood. The study calls for more standardized research methods and coordinated global efforts to address the growing challenge of plastic particle contamination.
Micro/nanoplastics: from synthesis to assimilation, global environmental impacts, challenges, consequences, and advanced remediation strategies.
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This review summarizes existing research on tiny plastic particles found in water, soil, and air, and how they affect plants, animals, and microorganisms. It also covers methods being developed to remove these particles from the environment, including filtering, chemical treatments, and recycling, while noting that removal methods are still being developed.
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