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Aquatic microplastics research in the ASEAN region: Analysis of challenges and priorities
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This systematic review analyzes the state of microplastic research across Southeast Asian countries and identifies gaps in how studies are conducted. The researchers found inconsistent methods being used across the region, making it hard to compare results or understand the true scale of contamination. Standardizing how microplastics are measured is important because it will give us a clearer picture of how much plastic pollution people in the region are exposed to.
Research on microplastics must be harmonized. Therefore, we thoroughly evaluated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, addressing challenges and priorities in protocol harmonization and microplastics research promotion. Of the 615 papers searched by the Web of Science, 164 were used for this systematic review. The number of ASEAN research articles has increased over time. Examination of research protocols in various sampling environments revealed several challenges: 1) Disparities in access to sampling locations affect the research extent; 2) Outdated protocols and limited access to technologies such as FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy result in less harmonized and potentially lower-quality data; and 3) Insufficiently detailed methods and QA/QC information hampers comparability. We offer procedure updates to overcome these limitations and cover environmental microplastic study gaps. Other countries in the Global South may encounter similar challenges, making this review a valuable contribution to advancing global microplastics research and fostering international collaboration.
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Researchers reviewed 17 studies on microplastic pollution in freshwater sediments across Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries, finding concentrations ranging from 4 to over 66,000 particles per kilogram, with plastic fibers and polyethylene or polypropylene being the most common types. The review highlights the urgent need for standardized testing methods so that pollution levels across countries can be meaningfully compared and monitored.
Development of Microplastic Research in ASEAN
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This systematic review summarizes the development of microplastic research across Southeast Asian countries, mapping where studies have been conducted and what types of environments have been examined. The findings reveal significant gaps in our understanding of microplastic pollution in the region, which is home to several of the world's largest plastic-polluting countries and major seafood-exporting nations.
Microplastics in ASEAN region countries: A review on current status and perspectives
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This review assessed microplastic research across ASEAN countries, finding that despite contributing heavily to ocean plastic waste, the region accounts for only about 5% of global microplastic studies, with major gaps in human health research.
Marine microplastics in the ASEAN region: A review of the current state of knowledge
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This review synthesized available data on marine microplastic pollution across the ten ASEAN member nations, finding widespread contamination in coastal and open-water environments with significant knowledge gaps in several countries due to limited monitoring capacity.
Are research methods shaping our understanding of microplastic pollution? A literature review on the seawater and sediment bodies of the Mediterranean Sea
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This systematic review examines microplastic research methods used to study pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. The researchers found that inconsistent methods across studies make it difficult to compare results and understand the true scale of contamination. Standardizing how we measure microplastics is essential for accurately assessing the risks these particles pose to marine ecosystems and the humans who depend on them.
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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.