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Challenges of Microplastic Characterization and Mitigation
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This review addresses the challenges of characterizing and mitigating microplastics in aquatic environments, discussing limitations in current detection methods, gaps in standardization, and the technical and logistical barriers to removing MPs from water at scale.
Microplastics are ubiquitous in the aquatic environments and pose a threat to marine life, ecosystems, and human health. Characterizing and mitigating microplastics present multifaceted challenges, especially for the detection and quantification in aquatic systems. This chapter explores analytical techniques developed and currently used to determine the presence of microplastics and future directions in the field. Characterization and identification of size, shape, color, and polymer composition of microplastics using the traditional techniques including microscopy, spectroscopy, and chromatography are commonly used. However, classical analytical methods have limitations in detecting smaller size microplastic particles and distinguishing between polymer and natural particles. Recently, application of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms (especially, machine learning) and automation are effectively used in analytical techniques to enhance efficiency and accuracy of identification and characterization of microplastics. Overall, the integration of AI and analytical techniques will be useful to address the challenges of microplastic characterization and inform evidence-based strategies for mitigation and conservation efforts.
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Microplastics in Freshwater Biota: A Critical Review of Isolation, Characterization, and Assessment Methods
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This critical review examined methodological challenges in isolating, characterizing, and assessing microplastics in freshwater biota, identifying key gaps in standardization that limit comparability across studies and impede understanding of microplastic ingestion, translocation, and trophic transfer in freshwater ecosystems.
A critical review of microplastics characterisation in aquatic environments: recent trends in the last 10 years
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This critical review assessed current approaches to characterizing microplastics in aquatic environments, evaluating sampling methods, extraction protocols, and analytical techniques. It identified persistent inconsistencies in methodology and recommended standardization practices to improve data comparability.
Research Progress of Microplastics Removal Technology in Water Environment
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This review examined recent advances in microplastic removal technologies for water environments, addressing the significant risks posed by MPs' widespread origins, inadequate control, and resistance to degradation. Various treatment technologies were assessed for their efficiency in eliminating microplastic pollution from water systems.
Microplastics in aquatic environments: a review of recent advances
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This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding microplastic contamination in aquatic environments, covering sources, distribution, and physical, chemical, and biological removal methods, and highlighting that no standardized cost-effective removal solution currently exists. The review emphasizes that microplastics cycle through natural and engineered systems, requiring whole-system approaches to avoid unintended recontamination.
Are We Underestimating Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Environments?
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This review argues that current microplastic monitoring methods likely underestimate the true extent of contamination in aquatic environments, especially for small particles and fibers. The authors call for standardized, more sensitive detection methods to better inform regulation and risk assessment.
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