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Microplastics: An Overview of Sources, Distribution, and Removal Methods
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This review identifies primary and secondary sources of microplastics, outlines their distribution pathways across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and evaluates physical, chemical, and biological removal methods, noting that their small size, persistence, and ability to transport endocrine-disrupting chemicals and heavy metals amplify their ecological impact.
Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are persistent pollutants increasingly detected in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems due to widespread anthropogenic activity. Their small size and non-biodegradable nature allow them to accumulate and exert complex effects on biotic systems not only through physical presence but also by transporting harmful substances such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and heavy metals. This review identifies primary and secondary sources of MPs, outlines their environmental distribution pathways, and evaluates their behavior in different ecosystems. Furthermore, it critically examines current microplastic removal technologies, highlighting limitations in spectroscopic and microscopic detection methods and comparing the effectiveness of traditional treatment systems with advanced approaches such as membrane filtration and nanomaterials. The study concludes with targeted recommendations for improving removal efficiency and monitoring strategies, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and policy support to address microplastic pollution sustainably.
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Microplastics In The Environment Pathways, Impacts, And Removal Technologies
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This review examines the sources, pathways, and environmental persistence of microplastics across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Researchers note that microplastics act as carriers for hazardous pollutants including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, and their ingestion has been linked to impaired growth and reproductive anomalies in aquatic organisms. The study emphasizes the need for improved monitoring frameworks and removal strategies to address this widespread contaminant.
Microplastic Pollution: Fate, Sources, Transport and Identification
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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 in aquatic environments: a review of recent advances
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This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding microplastic contamination in aquatic environments, covering sources, distribution, and physical, chemical, and biological removal methods, and highlighting that no standardized cost-effective removal solution currently exists. The review emphasizes that microplastics cycle through natural and engineered systems, requiring whole-system approaches to avoid unintended recontamination.
Microplastics Pollutants—Potential Impact on Ecosystems
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This book chapter reviews the origins, environmental distribution, and ecological impacts of microplastic pollutants across terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems, and discusses current methods for identifying and removing these persistent contaminants.
Microplastics as Environmental Pollutants: Biological and Health Consequences – A Comprehensive Review
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Researchers synthesized current knowledge on microplastic sources, environmental distribution, and biological effects across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems, documenting pathways by which both primary and secondary microplastics enter organisms and accumulate through food webs.
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.