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Policy Implementation and Management of Microplastics in Freshwater and Soil
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This review examines policy failures in managing plastic waste entering freshwater and soil environments, linking inadequate waste collection infrastructure and littering behavior to direct dumping of plastics and their subsequent fragmentation into microplastics in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Mismanagement of plastic waste associated with the lack of or inefficient waste collection schemes contributes to the direct dumping of plastic waste in freshwater bodies or in the proximity around the globe besides the littering behavior in cities and tourist destinations. Terrestrial environments are polluted by plastics via unsound landfills, illegal dumpsites, and agricultural activities (e.g., plastic mulching). Therefore, the degradation of macroplastics is a key source of microplastics (MPs) for both freshwater and soil environments threatening the specific biodiversity. Therefore, this work examines the role of policies in reducing and preventing MP contamination of freshwater and soil compartments including several sectors such as basic public utilities (solid waste management, sanitation, wastewater and sludge management), transportation, agricultural activities, and other significant sources of MP releases. Current barriers, best practices, and future prospects are further examined in line with the circular economy framework. Such policies require a multi-stakeholder approach and to be adjusted to regional and local geographies gaining community support. Furthermore, international cooperation is crucial to reducing the plastic waste trade in countries with low plastic waste management capabilities.
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Microplastics in soil and freshwater: Understanding sources, distribution, potential impacts, and regulations for management
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This review synthesizes knowledge on microplastics in soil and freshwater systems, covering their sources, transport mechanisms, ecological and health impacts, and current regulatory frameworks for managing plastic pollution in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities
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This review evaluates the current understanding of microplastic pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, which have received far less research attention than marine systems despite being major sources and accumulation zones. Researchers highlight that agricultural areas, urban centers, and wastewater treatment processes are key pathways for microplastic contamination on land. The paper identifies critical knowledge gaps and calls for more research into how microplastics behave and persist in soils and freshwater systems.
The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations
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This review examines the growing global burden of microplastic pollution and the policies being developed to address it. Researchers found that inadequate waste management systems allow massive amounts of plastic to contaminate terrestrial and aquatic environments, threatening ecosystems and the billions of people who depend on them. The study evaluates existing regulations and suggests that stronger, more coordinated policy frameworks are needed to curb microplastic pollution.
Microplastics in the environment: An urgent need for coordinated waste management policies and strategies
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This review highlights that microplastic pollution affects marine ecosystems, farmland, and human health, but current waste management policies are fragmented and insufficient. The authors evaluate existing strategies and propose practical solutions including better recycling programs, product redesign to reduce plastic use, and coordinated international policy. Addressing the microplastic problem requires not just cleanup technology but systemic changes in how we produce, use, and dispose of plastics.
Microplastics in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments
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This review synthesized emerging research on microplastic contamination in terrestrial and freshwater environments, highlighting that land-based sources dominate plastic inputs to the ocean and that soil and freshwater ecosystems may harbor higher microplastic loads than marine environments.
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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.