0
Article Tier 2 Detection Methods Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

Mini review of microplastic pollutions and its impact on the environment and human health

Waste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 2023 11 citations

AI summary Read the abstract

This mini review summarizes the sources, distribution, and environmental impacts of microplastic pollution, highlighting the health risks posed by chemical leaching from microplastics and the need for better reduction strategies.

Study Type Environmental

In recent years, the environmental pollution of microplastics (MPs) has increasingly drawn our attention. MPs are small fragments of plastics that are commonly dispersed in the environment. The accumulation of environmental MPs is due to population growth and urbanization, while natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding and human activity may influence their distribution. The leaching of chemicals from MPs raises a significant safety problem and environmental approaches aimed at reducing the use and recycling of plastics, with the replacement by bioplastics and wastewater treatment developments are called for. This summary also helps in demonstrating the connection between terrestrial and freshwater MPs and wastewater treatment plants as the major contributors to environmental MPs by discharges of sludge and effluent. More research on the classification, detection, characterization and toxicity of MPs are essential to enable greater options and solutions. Control initiatives need to intensify the comprehensive study of MP waste control and management information programmes in the fields of institutional engagement, technological research and development, legislation and regulation. A comprehensive quantitative analysis approach for MPs should be created in the future, and more reliable traceability analysis methods should be built to examine further its environmental activity and existence, where this should be done to improve scientific research on MP pollution in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments and hence, develop more scientific and rational control policies.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

The impact of microplastic pollution on human health - current issues

AI summary Read the abstract

This review covers the sources, distribution, and ecological implications of microplastics in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments, synthesizing existing knowledge and research gaps. It finds that MPs are a global contaminant threatening biodiversity and human health through chemical leaching, endocrine disruption, and physical harm to organisms at multiple trophic levels.

Article Tier 2

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.

Article Tier 2

Microplastics: Current Status in the Environment and Human Health Risks: A Comprehensive Review

AI summary Read the abstract

This comprehensive review covers the sources, environmental distribution, food chain entry, and human health risks of microplastics, with particular attention to their role as vectors for chemical pollutants and pathogens. It highlights regulatory gaps and emerging mitigation approaches across terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric systems.

Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution, a threat to marine ecosystem and human health: a short review

AI summary Read the abstract

This review summarizes the growing problem of microplastic pollution in marine and freshwater environments, covering sources ranging from cosmetics to industrial processes. Researchers highlight that microplastics accumulate in marine organisms and can transfer through food webs, with potential chronic effects on both wildlife and humans. The paper emphasizes the urgent need for policies to reduce plastic use and improve waste management to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Review Tier 2

Occurrence, distribution, characteristics, toxicity, human health effects and removal techniques of Microplastic: A Review

AI summary Read the abstract

This review surveys the occurrence, distribution, toxicity, and health effects of microplastics across environmental compartments, examining how these particles enter ecosystems and food chains and evaluating available removal and mitigation techniques.

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.

Email me about

Share this paper