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Future Perspectives of Microplastic towards Environmental Assessment
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This perspective paper reviewed the current state of microplastic research and outlined future priorities for environmental assessment, including standardized monitoring frameworks, better understanding of nanoplastics, and integration of microplastic data into regulatory risk assessment. It called for a more coordinated global research agenda.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is an outcome of the widespread use of non-biodegradable plastic and improper disposal. This leads to contamination of environmental resources, such as landfills, and all kinds of water reservoirs including but not limited to sea, fresh water, drinking water, and even wastewater. Recent reports have highlighted the presence of MPs in the human body, including blood, lungs, placentas, and breast milk, indicating the severity of the issue. It is thus crucial to eliminate these hazardous contaminants from the environment. One of the effective methods to address the concern while reducing the adverse effects is to remove the MPs at their discharge points. Nanomaterials with exceptional properties like high surface area, ease of functionalization, and high affinity toward various pollutants act as excellent adsorbents. In this chapter, we present an overview of emerging nanomaterial-based adsorbents, such as photocatalysts, metal-organic frameworks, carbon-based nanomaterials, and nanocomposites, for effective removal of MPs from aqueous media via adsorption, photo-catalysis, and membrane filtration. However, considering that the research in the area of MP pollution is still in its infant stage, we aim to provide a brief account of the strengths, weaknesses, and future research dimensions of nanomaterial-based adsorbents for removing MPs from aqueous media.
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This perspective paper identifies the most urgent research priorities for micro- and nanoplastics, including better standardized methods, more realistic environmental exposure studies, and greater focus on human health effects. The authors argue that current research is fragmented and needs better coordination to inform policy.
Microplastic Pollution: An Overview of Current Scenario, Challenges, and Research Gaps
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This review provides an overview of the current state of microplastic pollution globally, covering sources, environmental distribution, ecological impacts, and analytical challenges. The authors identify key research gaps — particularly in understanding long-term health effects — and call for standardized methods and stronger regulatory frameworks.
Micro and Nano-Plastics in the Environment: Research Priorities for the Near Future
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This perspectives paper identified the most important knowledge gaps in micro- and nanoplastic research, covering entry pathways into the environment, environmental fate, food web transfer, human health effects, and the role of associated chemicals and microorganisms.
Nanoplastics in focus: Exploring interdisciplinary approaches and future directions
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This perspective paper highlights major gaps in nanoplastic research, arguing that studying nanoplastics as if they behave the same as microplastics misses important differences. Nanoplastics have unique properties that affect how they move through ecosystems and interact with living organisms. The authors call for long-term studies on low-level nanoplastic exposure and better detection methods to understand the true risks to human health.
Moving forward in microplastic research: A Norwegian perspective
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This Norwegian perspective reviewed current knowledge gaps in microplastic research and argued that the field must move from contamination surveys toward risk-based assessments that can directly inform management decisions, calling for standardized methods, long-term monitoring programs, and closer collaboration between researchers and policymakers.
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