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Factors influencing the migration and distribution of microplastics in the environment
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This review synthesizes how microplastic transport and accumulation across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments is governed by the interplay of particle properties, environmental physical and chemical conditions, and biological activity. Mapping these multifactorial migration pathways is essential for building predictive models that can guide targeted pollution mitigation and more accurate human and ecological exposure assessments.
Microplastics, as emerging environmental pollutants, are ubiquitously distributed across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems, where their heterogeneous spatiotemporal dynamics are governed by multifactorial interactions. The key drivers include the intrinsic properties of microplastics (size, shape, and aging state), environmental physical parameters (hydrological factors, soil structure, meteorological factors, lighting and temperature), chemical factors (pH, inorganic iron, and organic matter), and biological activities (microorganisms and root organisms). These interconnected factors collectively dictate MP transport pathways, retention hotspots, and long-term ecological trajectories. Despite the increasing recognition of the environmental prevalence of microplastics, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding the synergistic mechanisms underlying their cross-media migration and fate. This review synthesizes current insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing MP behavior, with a focus on bridging the mechanistic understanding and real-world scenarios. By establishing a unified framework for the environmental interactions of microplastics, this work advances predictive modeling capabilities and informs targeted strategies for pollution mitigation and ecosystem protection, ultimately supporting robust risk assessment protocols.
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Distribution of Microplastics in the Marine Environment
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Researchers reviewed the distribution of microplastics across all ocean environments — from surface waters to deep-sea sediments — showing that plastics have penetrated even the most remote marine ecosystems. The findings highlight that no part of the ocean is untouched by plastic pollution, threatening marine food chains that humans depend on.
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Microplastic pollution has been documented across virtually every ecosystem on Earth, from sea surfaces to deep sediments, polar regions to tropical rivers, and inside a wide range of organisms spanning multiple trophic levels. This comprehensive environmental presence confirms that microplastics pose systemic risks to biodiversity and human health through multiple exposure pathways.
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