We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics and their environmental effects
AI summary Read the abstract
This review provides a broad overview of microplastic pollution across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, from tropical to polar regions. Researchers note that while data on microplastic occurrence has grown significantly, there remains a shortage of experimental evidence on uptake, accumulation, and toxicological effects in organisms. The study calls for standardized methods and more research to better predict environmental exposure hotspots and health risks.
Microplastics (MPs) are acknowledged as emerging contaminants that pose a substantial threat to the environment. The adverse impacts of MP pollution extend across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, covering regions from the Tropics to the Poles. Although our comprehension of MP behavior has progressed in recent years, it is still difficult to predict exposure hotspots or exposure scenarios. Despite a noteworthy increase in data concerning MP occurrence in different environmental compartments and species, there is a noticeable scarcity of experimental data on MP uptake, accumulation, and effects. This Virtual Special Issue (VSI) received a total of 19 contributions from 11 countries, with a significant majority originating from Italy, India, Spain, and China. These contributions were categorized into three main themes: the occurrence and effects of MPs on aquatic and terrestrial organisms, the presence of chemical additives in plastics, and review articles summarizing previously published research on MPs.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in the environment: Recent developments in characteristic, occurrence, identification and ecological risk
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Unveiling the complex impact of microplastics on environmental health, ecosystems, and humans
AI summary Read the abstract
This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on microplastic pollution across marine, freshwater, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Researchers examined sources, transport pathways, impacts on living organisms, sampling techniques, and regulatory challenges, highlighting significant gaps in understanding the full scope of microplastic effects on ecosystems and human well-being.
Environmental source, fate, and toxicity of microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This comprehensive review covers the sources, environmental fate, and toxic effects of microplastics across both aquatic and terrestrial environments. The study highlights that microplastics are now found virtually everywhere on Earth and can harm organisms through physical damage, chemical leaching, and by acting as carriers for other pollutants.
Microplastic Pollution in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the ubiquitous presence of microplastics as emerging environmental pollutants across all major environmental compartments, synthesizing data on their sources, fates, and concentrations over time and space to characterize the scale of global contamination.
Microplastic pollution: Sources, fate, impacts and research gaps
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes the sources, environmental fate, and health impacts of microplastics across oceans, rivers, soils, and polar regions. It highlights that microplastics carry toxic chemicals into ecosystems and can enter the human body through food, water, and air.
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.