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Tracing the Sources of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments: Current Knowledge of Sources Emission, Migration, and Traceability Models
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics enter aquatic environments from terrestrial and atmospheric sources, and how traceability models have evolved from subjective analysis to data-driven machine learning approaches that can identify pollution sources by learning relationships between microplastic characteristics and environmental variables.
Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles ≤ 5 mm in size, are pervasive in aquatic environments and pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health. Accurately tracing the sources of MPs is essential for effective pollution control. This review summarizes the potential sources, migration routes and distribution characteristics of MPs, focusing on the current progress in traceability models of MPs in aquatic environments. MPs in terrestrial and atmospheric environments, either primary or secondary emissions, migrate and finally enter aquatic environments through various pathways. Traceability research on MPs has evolved from subjective speculative analyses to data-driven statistical and machine learning models. Great improvements in the accuracy and interpretability of source apportionment have been made by learning from datasets. Statistical analyses help reveal potential associations between MPs and environmental variables, whereas machine learning methods can autonomously learn relationships between MP characteristics and potential sources. Additionally, the combination of MP diversity indices and environmental source indices with modeling framework has further enhanced model performance. However, the accuracy and applicability of these models require further enhancement. Establishing a global MP database, incorporating more MP characterization indicators and sample data are essential for improving model performance. Future research should also focus on developing an integrated tracking methodology for MP whole life cycle management, strengthening the connection with regulatory governance. Through a critical evaluation and comparison of current MP traceability models, this work provides a basic reference for selecting and applying traceability frameworks, ultimately facilitating precise source tracking and supporting effective policy-making for MP pollution management.
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Researchers synthesized current knowledge on microplastic transport, degradation, and remediation in marine environments, examining how the high surface-area-to-volume ratio of these particles enables them to bind heavy metals, antibiotics, and persistent organic pollutants — amplifying their ecological impact across ocean systems.
Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Comparative Review of Sources, Impacts, and Management in Marine and Freshwater Habitats
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This comparative review synthesized research on microplastic sources, distribution, and impacts across marine and freshwater environments, highlighting microbeads and polymer fragmentation as primary contamination drivers. Establishing a unified understanding of microplastic behavior across aquatic habitats is essential for designing monitoring frameworks that track human exposure through drinking water and seafood.
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Researchers reviewed the sources, physical and chemical characteristics, and environmental distribution of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, covering both primary particles from industrial and personal care products and secondary particles generated through fragmentation of larger plastics. Understanding the diversity of particle sources and properties is foundational for modeling exposure pathways and predicting which ecosystems and human populations face the greatest contamination risk.
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