A critical review on the migration, transformation, sampling, analysis and environmental effects of microplastics in the environment

As emerging pollutants, microplastics have recently received considerable attention owing to detection in various organisms and environments. Mass production and widespread use of plastic products increase their potential risks to humans owing to their persistent, mobile, and toxic properties. Numerous methods have been used to identify and quantify the various forms of microplastics, however, unified standards do not exist. In this review, we systematically summarize the sources, migration, transformation, and analytical methods for microplastics in diverse ecosystems, particularly the most recent sampling and identification techniques. Additionally, the environmental effects and health hazards of microplastics on aquatic and terrestrial systems, as well as human beings are discussed. We also present management strategies for reducing microplastics in a broader social and policy context. This review aims to provide an overview of the migration, transformation, sampling, analysis, and environmental effects of microplastics, which addresses knowledge gaps in microplastic pollution and provides proposals for key research gaps.