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Advancements in microplastics detection techniques and their multidimensional impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health
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Tiny plastic bits called microplastics are showing up in our water, and this review rounds up the latest tools scientists use to find them, from lab tests to new sensors that can spot them in real time. It also breaks down what we know so far about how microplastics build up in fish and other animals we eat, sometimes teaming up with toxic metals to cause even more harm, and stresses that better, more consistent detection methods are needed to protect drinking water and public health going forward.
Microplastic pollution is an escalating global issue, with significant ecological, environmental, and health consequences. These particles, typically less than 5 mm in size, originate from the degradation of larger plastics or are manufactured for industrial purposes, and have been detected in diverse aquatic environments. This review presents an in-depth examination of current and emerging detection techniques, including traditional spectroscopic methods, AI-powered imaging, and biosensor-based approaches. Special emphasis is placed on biosensor technologies for their potential in real-time, high-sensitivity monitoring. The impacts of microplastics on water quality, ecosystems, human health, and their synergistic interactions with toxic metals are critically assessed, highlighting their role in bioaccumulation and trophic transfer. The context of microplastic contamination in Saudi Arabia is discussed, identifying regional sources and prevalence patterns. The review aims to bridge knowledge gaps, promote standardized detection methodologies, and guide future research towards sustainable water management and public health protection.
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Microplastics menace: the new emerging lurking environmental issue, a review on sampling and quantification in aquatic environments
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Researchers reviewed current methods for detecting and measuring microplastics in water, finding that inconsistent sampling and analysis techniques make it difficult to compare data across studies, and calling for standardized, automated methods to enable reliable monitoring of this growing contaminant.
The environmental effects of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems
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Researchers reviewed the growing body of evidence on how microplastics harm aquatic ecosystems, finding that long-term exposure damages organisms at multiple levels — from delivering toxic chemicals to disrupting reproduction — and calling for urgent action to reduce plastic leakage into waterways.
Advancement and Challenges of Microplastic Pollution in the Aquatic Environment: a Review
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Microplastics are now found throughout freshwater and marine environments worldwide, from surface waters to deep-sea sediments, carrying toxic chemicals and posing biotoxicity risks to aquatic organisms, yet sampling and identification methods remain inconsistent across studies. Standardizing detection protocols is urgently needed to accurately assess the full scope of microplastic contamination and its threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health via food and water.
Analytical approaches for quantifying and characterizing microplastics: Environmental impacts and bioaccumulation in aquatic Systems
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This review pulls together current science on how researchers detect and measure microplastics in water, soil, air, and living creatures, comparing tools like infrared light scanning and mass spectrometry to see what works best. The takeaway: microplastics build up in aquatic animals and are linked to hormone disruption and cell damage, which matters since these same particles can end up in the seafood we eat. The authors also point to newer, more eco-friendly testing methods that could help scientists track and manage this pollution more effectively going forward.
Introduction to Microplastics: A Global Perspective of an Alarming Contaminant in the Aquatic Ecosystem
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Researchers introduced the history, formation pathways, global distribution, and toxicological effects of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, framing the contamination as an urgent public health concern and reviewing mitigation strategies to reduce the growing burden of plastic pollution on marine and freshwater environments.
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