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Aging of Microplastics and Nanoplastics Induced by Advanced Oxidation Processes in Wastewater Treatment and Their Biological Toxicity: A Systematic Review
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This research evaluated filtration systems for removing microplastics from laundry wastewater, testing different filter materials and configurations to reduce fiber emissions during washing. The study found that point-of-source filtration can significantly reduce the quantity of microfibers released to wastewater treatment systems.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), as emerging contaminants, have garnered growing interest for their persistence and biological toxicity. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are significant convergence points for MNPs, where they undergo complex aging, particularly during advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), leading to different environmental fate and behavior. This study aims to discuss the aging of MNPs in wastewater treatment induced by AOPs and evaluate their biological risks. This review was conducted in accordance with the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. We searched three electronic databases—Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science—for relevant articles published between the year 2000 and March 2026. A total of 39 studies met the inclusion criteria and a narrative synthesis was conducted to summarize the findings. Risk of bias assessment was not performed, as this is a narrative systematic review without quantitative synthesis. The review protocol was registered in the OSF (registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/FTQHN). First, aging pathways and the alterations in the physicochemical properties of MNPs caused by aging are summarized, mainly including changes in surface morphology, crystallinity, and chemical composition, etc. Second, the aging mechanism of MNPs and the factors affecting the aging were discussed. Third, the biotoxicity of aged MNPs on both microorganisms and humans was reviewed, which is mainly due to three sources: plastic particles themselves, released chemicals, and the combination of plastics with coexisting pollutants. Furthermore, this review also criticized the limitations in current studies, the lack of comprehensive evaluation of multiple environmental factors and the identification of specific toxicity; it also provides suggestions for future research. This overview is meaningful for better understanding the environmental fate and risks of MNPs.
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Formation and Transformation of Micro(nano)plastics: Mechanisms and Environmental Health Implications.
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This review pulls together existing research showing that most microplastics we encounter in the environment aren't fresh, pristine particles—they've been broken down and chemically altered by sunlight, heat, weathering, and even bacteria, which changes how easily they can enter our bodies and how harmful they might be. This matters because the tiniest fragments (nanoplastics) created through this breakdown process may be more reactive and easier for our bodies to absorb, yet we still lack good tools to detect and study them. The authors argue that understanding how plastics degrade and transform—not just where they come from—is essential for accurately assessing health risks and developing better
Aging Process of Microplastics in the Aquatic Environments: Aging Pathway, Characteristic Change, Compound Effect, and Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Formation
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This review summarizes how microplastics age and transform in aquatic environments through oxidation, weathering, and fragmentation. Researchers documented changes in particle size, crystallinity, and surface chemistry during the aging process, and found that aged microplastics may interact synergistically with other environmental pollutants. The study also describes how photoaging generates environmentally persistent free radicals that could pose additional toxicity concerns.
Characteristics and behaviors of microplastics undergoing photoaging and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) initiated aging
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This review examines how microplastics change as they age in the environment through sunlight exposure and chemical processes. Aging alters the surface properties of microplastics, making them better at absorbing toxic chemicals and heavy metals from the surrounding environment. Since nearly all microplastics found in nature have undergone some degree of aging, understanding these changes is essential for accurately assessing how dangerous real-world microplastic pollution is to human health.
Microplastics aging in wastewater treatment plants: Focusing on physicochemical characteristics changes and corresponding environmental risks
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This review examines how microplastics undergo physical and chemical changes during wastewater treatment, including alterations to their shape, size, density, and surface properties. These changes affect how microplastics behave once released into the environment, influencing their ability to carry pollutants and interact with living organisms. The study highlights that understanding these transformations is just as important as measuring how many microplastics are removed during treatment.
Mechanistic insights into non-negligible toxicity evolution of microplastics under different aging processes
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This review examines how different environmental aging processes, such as UV exposure, mechanical wear, and chemical weathering, change the physical and chemical properties of microplastics and alter their toxicity. Researchers found that aged microplastics and the chemicals they leach tend to be more harmful to organisms than fresh particles, causing growth inhibition and genetic damage. The findings suggest that the environmental risks of microplastics may increase significantly as they degrade over time.
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