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Research Progress of the Sources, Distribution Characteristics, and Potential Risks of Microplastics in the Global Marine Environment
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Researchers reviewed 43 studies across 13 Asian countries and found suspended airborne microplastics ranging from 0.017 to 18,880 particles/m³ outdoors and up to 8,865 particles/m³ indoors, predominantly as fibers and fragments of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET. The pervasiveness of airborne MPs across Asia—from megacities to ocean environments—demonstrates that inhalation is a significant and underappreciated human exposure route for these persistent pollutants.
Marine white pollution, i.e., plastic pollution, is currently a major challenge to the marine environment. Microplastics(MPs), as an emerging pollutant, are attracting widespread global attention. Due to the special properties of plastic, it is widely used, but the plastic waste generated during its use is difficult to recycle or utilize, so it gradually accumulates in the environment. Marine MPs mainly come from industrial discharge, domestic sewage discharge, and direct discharge during maritime transportation and operations. After MPs enter the marine environment, they will change the distribution status of MPs in the marine environment, thereby bringing varying degrees of impact to the marine environment and posing potential risks to the security of marine ecosystems. The article summarizes the sources, distribution characteristics, pollution status, and potential ecological risks of MPs in the marine environment, in order to provide scientific basis for solving and repairing marine microplastic pollution.
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Microplastics in the Marine Environment: Sources, Distribution, Biological Effects and Socio-Economic Impacts
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Researchers reviewed the sources, distribution, biological effects, and socioeconomic impacts of microplastic pollution in marine environments, finding that rivers and estuaries are the primary land-to-ocean transport pathways. The review emphasizes that microplastics transfer adsorbed pollutants and additives through food webs to top predators, and that reducing plastic production and improving waste management are essential long-term solutions.
Distribution of Microplastics in the Marine Environment
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Researchers reviewed the distribution of microplastics throughout the world's oceans, documenting their presence in surface water, deep sediments, and marine organisms from coastal zones to the open sea, underscoring how widespread and persistent plastic pollution has become.
Distribution of Microplastics in the Marine Environment
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Researchers reviewed the distribution of microplastics across all ocean environments — from surface waters to deep-sea sediments — showing that plastics have penetrated even the most remote marine ecosystems. The findings highlight that no part of the ocean is untouched by plastic pollution, threatening marine food chains that humans depend on.
Review on Microplastic Pollution in Marine Ecosystems: Sources, Distribution, Ecological Impacts, and Future Directions
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Researchers synthesize current knowledge on microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems, documenting sources ranging from plastic waste breakdown to industrial activities, widespread distribution from ocean surface to seafloor, ingestion by marine organisms across trophic levels, and significant knowledge gaps including long-term ecological consequences and nanoplastic effects requiring standardized research methodologies.
Occurrence, Fate, and Biodegradation of Microplastics in Marine Environments
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics — synthetic polymer fragments smaller than 5mm — spread through marine environments, persist over long periods, and undergo partial biodegradation. The widespread distribution of these particles in oceans raises ongoing concerns about their effects on marine life and the humans who eat seafood.
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.