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Microplastic as an Emerging Environmental Threat: A Critical Review on Sampling and Identification Techniques Focusing on Aquactic Ecoystem
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Researchers reviewed sampling and identification techniques for microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that inconsistencies in methods — from collection to lab analysis — make it difficult to assess the true scale of contamination, and called for standardized protocols to generate reliable, comparable data.
Plastic is used in large quantities by humans. Most plastic waste ends up in landfills or water bodies through uncontrolled waste disposal. The larger plastics get fragmented into small pieces below 5 mm in size due to harsh environmental parameters, and such fragmented mall particles are called microplastic (microplastic, < 5 mm) or nanoplastic (< 1 µm) particles. Currently, microplastic particles are present all around us in significant quantities. Over the last few years, researchers have been exploring the impact of microplastic on the environment and living organisms. Due to a large number of variables such as the chemical nature of plastics, size, shape, lack of optical signatures, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, changes in environmental conditions, and lack of consensus on sampling and characterizations, it is hard to quantify and understand the role of microplastics on the environment. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the aquatic ecosystem’s sampling, purification process, and microplastic analysis. The future road map and challenges for such important parameters under microplastic research are also provided.
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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.
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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.
A Global Comparative Study on Microplastics Sampling, Identification and Quantification Techniques in Freshwater Environment: A Review
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This global review of freshwater microplastic research found the highest recorded concentration at 30,000 items/m3 in Lake Ziway, with fibers and polyethylene as dominant forms, and identified a major need for standardized sampling and measurement protocols. Inconsistent methodology across studies makes it difficult to assess true human exposure from drinking water and freshwater food sources, underscoring the need for harmonized measurement standards.
Microplastics Are Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Aquatic Environments: An Overview
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.