We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics Dynamics: Unveiling Sources, Sinks, and Removal Strategies for Mitigating Environmental Contamination
Summary
This book chapter reviewed microplastic sources, sinks, and removal strategies in freshwater and wetland systems, emphasizing the unique role of constructed wetlands in trapping and partially degrading microplastics. The authors argued that local government agencies should prioritize improving microplastic removal efficiency at source.
As a pervasive environmental threat, microplastics have emerged as a major concern for aquatic biota, impacting their health and causing entanglement due to the persistence and bioaccumulation of these extremely small plastic particles. Their ubiquity (lakes, rivers, oceans, and wetlands) and diverse forms (fibers, pellets, fragments, granules, and films) demand effective removal strategies. This chapter tackles this challenge by exploring microplastic sources, sinks, and the unique role of wetlands in their mitigation. Assessing microplastic sources, sinks, and best ways to increase removal efficiency should be a top priority among local government agencies. Moreover, this chapter provides insights into the status of microplastic pollution and ways to improve the removal efficiency of plastics at main sources. While various techniques show promise for microplastic removal, current limitations include energy requirements, secondary pollution, and lack of scalability. Additionally, research and regulatory gaps remain regarding the establishment of environmental concentration thresholds and contamination source reduction targets. Addressing these gaps alongside the advancement of mitigation capabilities is critical to assess and reduce the acute, chronic, and system-level impact microplastics have on aquatic environments. This chapter provides key insights to support further multidisciplinary research efforts aimed at responsibly managing plastic waste to preserve the ecosystem and human health amidst this rapidly emerging pollutant threat.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Source, fate, toxicity, and remediation of micro-plastic in wetlands: A critical review
Researchers reviewed how microplastics enter, accumulate in, and damage natural wetlands — ecosystems that filter water and support biodiversity — finding that while wetlands may actually trap plastic particles like a sink, the resulting contamination poses serious ecological risks that are still poorly understood.
From source to sink: Review and prospects of microplastics in wetland ecosystems
This review synthesizes sources, distribution pathways, migration, and fate of microplastics in wetland ecosystems, which occupy the boundary zone between aquatic and terrestrial environments. It identifies wetlands as both important sinks and potential secondary sources of microplastics and calls for more research on microplastic dynamics in these transitional habitats.
Microplastics profile in constructed wetlands: Distribution, retention and implications
This study assessed microplastic distribution, retention, and implications within constructed wetlands used for wastewater treatment, finding that wetlands trap substantial quantities of MPs but that retention efficiency varies by plant species and wetland design. The results suggest constructed wetlands both remove and potentially accumulate MPs as a secondary pollution source.
Microplastics occurrence and fate in full-scale treatment wetlands
Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence and fate across full-scale treatment wetlands, finding that constructed wetlands effectively remove a significant proportion of MPs from wastewater but that removal efficiency varies with wetland design and MP characteristics.
Migration characteristics of microplastics based on source-sink investigation in a typical urban wetland
Researchers investigated microplastic migration in a typical urban wetland by examining sources and sinks including surface water, sediment, and agricultural waste, revealing how wetlands serve as transitional systems channeling urban microplastic pollution into freshwater environments.