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Microplastic in the environment: identification, occurrence, and mitigation measures
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Tiny plastic bits called microplastics have turned up in our oceans, soil, and even the air we breathe, and this review pulls together what scientists currently know about where they come from and how harmful they might be. The catch: researchers still don't have standardized, reliable ways to detect and measure these particles, especially the even tinier "nanoplastics", which makes it hard to fully understand the health risks. The takeaway for consumers is that microplastic exposure is likely widespread, but scientists need better tools before we can say exactly how dangerous it is.
ABSTRACT Microplastic is an emerging pollutant causing trouble worldwide due to its extensive distribution and potential hazards to the ecological system. Some fundamental questions about micro-plastics, such as their presence, source, and possible hazards, remain unanswered. These issues develop because of a lack of systematic and comprehensive microplastic analysis. As a result, we thoroughly evaluated current knowledge on microplastics, including detection, characterization, occurrence, source, and potential harm. Microplastics are found in seawater, soil, wetlands, and air matrices worldwide based on findings. Visual classification, which can be enhanced by combining it with additional tools, is one of the most used methods for identifying microplastics. As soon as is practicable, microplastics analytical methods ought to be standardized. New techniques for analyzing nano-plastics are urgently needed in the meantime. Numerous studies have shown that microplastics’ impacts on people and soil are significantly influenced by their size, shape, and surface physicochemical characteristics. Finally, this study suggests areas for future research based on the knowledge gaps in the area of microplastics.
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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.