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Potential effects of plastic waste: microplastics, a global concern
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This review examined how the degradation of plastics into microplastics smaller than 5 mm affects aquatic organisms and human health, discussing sources, affected environmental compartments—soil, air, and water—and alternative approaches to mitigate plastic pollution.
The degradation of plastic materials has led to the emergence of new forms of reduced size (≤ 5 mm); know as microplastics (MPs). The presence of microplastics is a growing concern due to their persistence and, consequently, their ability to disseminate environmental pollutants. This review, in addition to providing an overview of the accumulation of plastic waste, which poses a risk to aquatic organisms and human health, seeks alternatives to mitigate this problem. To this end, we sought to address the main causes, sources, affected sites (soil, air, water), as well as the possible harmful effects caused by the presence of MPs on aquatic organisms and humans. The circular economy system has become an alternative for effectively reducing MPs in nature. In this context, we also presented an overview of trends in MP recycling, pollution control, and how proposed legislation on single-use plastic production is being discussed. Finally, an overview of scientific publications on the subject over the last ten years was presented.
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Microplastics in the environment: Occurrence, perils, and eradication
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This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution in various environmental compartments including water, soil, and air. Researchers summarize the sources, transport mechanisms, and potential harmful effects of microplastics on ecosystems and human health. The study also evaluates current eradication and remediation strategies, noting that while several promising approaches exist, no single method can fully address the scale of global microplastic contamination.
Research progress on the sources and toxicology of micro (nano) plastics in environment
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This review covers sources, distribution, and toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics across soil, water, and air, including effects on organisms and human health. It provides a comprehensive overview of the state of knowledge on environmental microplastic contamination and its consequences.
Microplastics in Ecosystem – an Overview
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This overview reviews how microplastics—particles smaller than 5 mm—originate from plastic degradation, are found globally in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, can be ingested by animals at multiple trophic levels, and pose risks to human health through chemical leaching and endocrine disruption. It highlights the need for further research on pollution control and mitigation strategies.
Environmental distribution, transport and ecotoxicity of microplastics: A review
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This review covers the environmental distribution and transport of microplastics across marine, freshwater, soil, and atmospheric compartments, and analyzes their toxicity to organisms at different trophic levels including potential effects on human health.
Sources, Types, and Occurrences of Microplastics in Soil, Water, and Air
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This review summarizes the sources, types, and distribution of microplastics found in water bodies, sediments, soil, and air worldwide. Researchers found that microplastic pollution is widespread across all environmental compartments, with significant variation by region and source. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive waste management strategies to reduce plastic consumption and improve recycling and disposal systems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.