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Floating filters of nature: exploring the potential of aquatic plants in phytoremediation of microplastic-polluted water
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This research assessed plastic pollution threats to coral reef ecosystems, documenting the types and densities of plastic debris in reef environments and their potential biological impacts. The findings underscore the compounding pressures facing coral reefs from both climate change and plastic contamination.
In recent years, a substantial upsurge in the environmental contamination caused by microplastics (MPs) has raised global concern. They are non-biodegradable compounds that can stay in water bodies for a long time and are a major cause of pollution in aquatic ecosystems. MPs can act as carriers by transferring and adsorbing hydrophilic substances and can be mistakenly ingested by fish as food source which can have a potential impact on human health and ecological systems. MPs can enter aquatic systems from a variety of anthropogenic sources. The review paper has addressed the distribution, source, transport, and type of MP that impacts aquatic river systems and upcoming solutions to combat microplastic pollution. Stagnant water bodies have a high concentration of accumulated floating MPs. The studies on MP distribution and transport are well documented by current research but sustainable remediation techniques are urgently required. Phytoremediation uses the aquatic plant’s natural morphology and physiological characteristics to capture MP particles, in contrast to conventional mechanical filtration. Our review paper therefore addresses how aquatic plants can naturally offer a great opportunity to remove MPs by adsorption to their plant parts. Our analysis suggests that adsorption of particles onto plant surfaces and physical entrapment within dense root structures are the main mechanisms driving MP removal. Aquatic plants’ inherent adherence qualities offer a scalable and economical method for the in situ phytoremediation of microplastic pollution. Such mechanisms offer a sustainable way of ecosystem management to remove and mitigate MP pollution from aquatic ecosystems.
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This French PhD thesis quantified microplastic release during the use phase of consumer products, with particular focus on salt shakers and other food contact items. The study found that use-phase wear and abrasion of plastic surfaces generated measurable microplastic particles that could contaminate food, representing a direct human dietary exposure route.
A Review on Aquatic Impacts of Microplastics and Its Bioremediation Aspects
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Microplastics enter aquatic ecosystems through improper disposal, causing reduced feeding, lower fecundity, inflammation, and gene-level changes in aquatic organisms. Bacterial biodegradation shows promise as an eco-friendly remediation approach, as microbes can enzymatically break down plastic particles into carbon dioxide, methane, and water.
Bioremediation Strategies for Microplastic Removal in Impacted Aquatic Environments
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This review examined bioremediation strategies — using microorganisms, algae, and other biological agents — to remove microplastic contamination from urban aquatic environments including drinking water treatment plants. Bioremediation offers a potentially scalable, low-cost pathway to reducing the microplastic load in water systems before plastics reach tap water and human consumers.
Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Environment: Ecotoxicological Effects and Bioremediation Prospects
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A comprehensive review examined the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms and assessed the potential of bioremediation strategies—including microorganisms and plants—to remove microplastics from contaminated water. As chemical and physical removal methods remain costly and incomplete, biological approaches offer promising complementary tools for reducing the aquatic microplastic burden that threatens both ecosystems and human health through contaminated seafood.
Toxicity of Microplastics on the Flora and Fauna of the Freshwater Ecosystem: An Overview
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Researchers reviewed the toxicity of microplastics ranging from 1 micrometer to 5 mm on flora and fauna in freshwater ecosystems, summarizing evidence of physical harm, chemical stress, and bioaccumulation across aquatic organisms from algae and invertebrates to fish.
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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.