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Microplastics in the environment: The role of polymer science
The Science of The Total Environment2025
2 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 58
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Andrey A. Gurtovenko,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Sergey V. Lyulin,
Francesco Saliu,
Alexander A. Yaroslavov,
Andrey A. Gurtovenko,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Andrey A. Gurtovenko,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Paolo Galli
Alexander A. Yaroslavov,
J. M. Kenny,
J. M. Kenny,
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Alexander A. Yaroslavov,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Tatiana A. Kuznetsova,
Alexander A. Yaroslavov,
Sergey V. Lyulin,
J. M. Kenny,
J. M. Kenny,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Dinesh Surroop,
Tatiana A. Kuznetsova,
Francesco Saliu,
Alexander A. Yaroslavov,
Paolo Galli
Francesco Saliu,
С.Г. Радионова,
Paolo Galli
С.Г. Радионова,
Sergey V. Lyulin,
Alexander A. Yaroslavov,
Paolo Galli
Francesco Saliu,
С.Г. Радионова,
С.Г. Радионова,
Francesco Saliu,
Sergey V. Lyulin,
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Francesco Saliu,
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Tatiana A. Kuznetsova,
Francesco Saliu,
J. M. Kenny,
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Tatiana A. Kuznetsova,
Paolo Galli
J. M. Kenny,
Francesco Saliu,
Francesco Saliu,
Paolo Galli
Paolo Galli
Summary
This paper highlights why understanding polymer science is essential for addressing the microplastics problem. Researchers argue that microplastics behave differently from other microparticles because of their unique polymer-specific interactions with the environment and living organisms. The study calls for interdisciplinary collaboration between polymer scientists and environmental researchers to develop better identification methods, risk assessments, and remediation strategies.
In this paper we highlight some fundamental aspects regarding the role of polymer science in the behavior of microplastics (MP) and in understanding the effects of MP on the environment and on the health of humans and other living species. We stress that MP is not just another type of microparticle that affects our environment. Instead, MP has polymer-specific interactions with the environment and living species, which cannot be fully understood without polymer science. We emphasize here the most important areas (nomenclature and terminology; MP's identification and characterization; fragmentation mechanism; environmental fate and transport; risk assessment; remediation; and alternative solutions) for the plastic waste and microplastics problem, which can be solved only through the combined efforts of all experts, including polymer scientists.