We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics as Emerging Environmental Contaminants: Sources, Distribution and Ecological Implications
Summary
This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastics as globally distributed environmental contaminants, covering their sources, transport pathways, and ecological impacts. Researchers highlight that these plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm are now detected in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments and can enter food webs, while noting significant research gaps in monitoring and risk assessment.
Microplastics have emerged as globally distributed environmental contaminants receiving increasing scientific attention due to their persistence, widespread occurrence, and potential ecological and human health implications. These particles, generally defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, originate from both primary and secondary sources and are now detected in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Their small size facilitates transport across ecosystems and potential entry into food webs. This review summarizes current knowledge on the sources, environmental distribution, transport pathways, ecological impacts, and emerging concerns related to microplastic pollution. Furthermore, existing research gaps and future priorities for monitoring, risk assessment, and mitigation are discussed
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics as Emerging Environmental Contaminants: Sources, Distribution and Ecological Implications
This review examines the sources, environmental distribution, and ecological implications of microplastics, which are now found across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments worldwide. The study discusses how these persistent plastic fragments can enter food webs and highlights priorities for future monitoring, risk assessment, and pollution mitigation efforts.
Microplastic Pollution in the Environment
This review examines the ubiquitous presence of microplastics as emerging environmental pollutants across all major environmental compartments, synthesizing data on their sources, fates, and concentrations over time and space to characterize the scale of global contamination.
Microplastics in the environment: Recent developments in characteristic, occurrence, identification and ecological risk
This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution across oceans, freshwater, soil, and the atmosphere, examining their sources, movement patterns, and ecological risks. Researchers found that while coastal environments have been well studied, much less is known about microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. The study synthesizes data on microplastic toxicity, bioaccumulation in organisms, and environmental fate to support better risk assessment.
Microplastic Pollution: Fate, Sources, Transport and Identification
This review summarizes the sources, fate, transport, and identification methods for microplastics in aquatic and terrestrial environments, highlighting their global distribution across all ecosystems and the growing concern for their impacts on marine life, other organisms, and human health.
Microplastics: Current Status in the Environment and Human Health Risks: A Comprehensive Review
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.