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A comprehensive risk assessment of microplastics in soil, water, and atmosphere: Implications for human health and environmental safety
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This comprehensive study analyzed microplastic contamination across soil, water, and air in China, finding that polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene were the most common types. While current risk assessments rate the direct ecological danger as low, the study warns that microplastics interact with other pollutants in ways that amplify their combined health and environmental risks, and that existing assessment models may underestimate the true danger.
Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive across ecosystems, likely posing significant environmental and health risks based on more and more evidence. In this study, we searched through the Web of Science Core Collection and obtained 1039 papers for visualization and analysis. In order to discuss the chemical composition, migration, transformation and potential risk of MPs, 135 sets of relevant data in soil, water, and atmosphere were collected in China as a typical region, which is a hotspot region for investigation of MPs. The results showed that the primary polymer categories of MPs in the environment to be polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. The soil contains a significant quantity of MPs, averaging at 12,107.42 items·kgdw-1, while water contains averaging at 97,271.18 items m-3. The total pollution load indexes for all three environments are at risk level I. Based on current risk assessment methods, the potential ecological risk of MPs is low. However, based on the polymer components, migration and transformation patterns, and especially the complexes with other pollutants, it indicates an increasing indirect risk. Interactions with some other pollutants are likely amplify the ecological and health risks associated with MPs. Aggregative results showed that the present risk assessment models could not assess the risks of MPs well. Thus, we suggested develop a risk assessment methodology for MPs based on relevant research progress. Some factors such as the size and form of MPs, sources and distribution, bioaccumulation, social acceptance and economic costs could be considered adding in the present risk assessment models. Finally, promotion of development and application of green chemically synthesized bioplastics such as using synthetic biology to help degrade plastics would be an alternative and sustainable option to relieve the adverse environmental and health concerns of MPs.
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Spatial distribution, source apportionment and potential ecological risk assessment of suspended atmosphere microplastics in different underlying surfaces in Harbin
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Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and sources of airborne microplastics suspended in the atmosphere across six different land-use types in Harbin, China. They found microplastics present above all surfaces, with polypropylene, PET, and polyethylene being the most common types. The study used source analysis to trace the contamination to local activities and assessed the potential ecological risk of breathing in these suspended particles.
Considering microplastic characteristics in ecological risk assessment: A case study for China
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Scientists measured microplastic contamination in agricultural soils in Northeast China and found concentrations ranging from 300 to 12,800 particles per kilogram. Most particles came from textiles and packaging, with rayon and PET fibers being the most common types. Risk assessment models showed varying levels of ecological concern, and the study emphasizes that multiple characteristics of microplastics, not just their quantity, need to be considered when evaluating environmental risk.
Research on Ecological Effects of Microplastics and Removal Methods
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This Chinese-language review systematically examines how microplastics contaminate water, soil, and air, damage ecosystems by disrupting water cycles and enriching heavy metals in soil, and surveys available removal technologies. It highlights both the breadth of ecological harm microplastics cause and the practical options for removing them from different environmental compartments.
The contamination of microplastics in China's aquatic environment: Occurrence, detection and implications for ecological risk
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This review summarized microplastic contamination across marine environments, freshwater systems, and wastewater treatment plants in China, one of the world's top plastic-producing countries. The study highlights that research on how microplastics transfer between connected water environments remains lacking, and the microscale toxicity of microplastics is still poorly understood.
Microplastics in the environment: Recent developments in characteristic, occurrence, identification and ecological risk
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This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution across oceans, freshwater, soil, and the atmosphere, examining their sources, movement patterns, and ecological risks. Researchers found that while coastal environments have been well studied, much less is known about microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. The study synthesizes data on microplastic toxicity, bioaccumulation in organisms, and environmental fate to support better risk assessment.
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.