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Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Analytical Methods, Ecotoxicity and Mitigation Strategies
Summary
Researchers reviewed how microplastics and nanoplastics are detected, how they harm living things, and what strategies exist to reduce their spread. Key findings confirm these particles cause oxidative stress and inflammation across aquatic and land ecosystems, while also acting as carriers for other toxic chemicals — underscoring the need for standardized testing methods and stronger regulations.
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have emerged as persistent environmental pollutants of global concern due to their widespread occurrence, long-term stability, and potential biological impacts.Accurate detection and characterization of these particles are critical for understanding their environmental fate.Recent advancements in analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), have significantly improved the identification and quantification of MPs and NPs across diverse environmental matrices.Ecotoxicological studies indicate that these particles induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial organisms, with potential risks extending to human health through trophic transfer.Furthermore, their small size and large surface area enable adsorption of toxicants, exacerbating their environmental hazard.Mitigation strategies such as advanced wastewater treatment, biodegradable polymer development, and regulatory frameworks offer promising approaches to reduce plastic pollution.This review emphasizes the urgent need for standardized methodologies and integrated mitigation measures to address the multifaceted challenges of MPs and NPs.