Papers

Ecotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics on aquatic algae: Facts, challenges, and future opportunities

This review provides a comprehensive assessment of how micro- and nanoplastics harm aquatic algae, which form the base of ocean and freshwater food chains. The toxic effects include reduced growth, oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthesis, with nanoplastics generally causing more damage than larger particles. Since algae support the entire aquatic food web, their decline from plastic pollution could reduce the quality and safety of fish and shellfish consumed by people.

Implications of solid waste dumps on the microplastic abundance in groundwater in Kollam, India

Groundwater wells near waste dump sites in Kollam, India contained an average of 12 microplastic particles per liter, with fibers being the most common type. Larger dump sites were associated with higher microplastic levels, and the groundwater near heavy dumping sites was also more acidic, suggesting leachate from waste dumps is contaminating the water supply. This is a direct human health concern because many communities depend on well water for drinking, and microplastics in groundwater are difficult to remove.

Detection and Treatment of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater

This book provides a comprehensive overview of how to detect and treat emerging contaminants in wastewater, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and antibiotic-resistant genes. It covers how microplastics behave in different treatment plants and accumulate in sewage sludge, highlighting gaps in current cleanup methods. The work is important because wastewater treatment is a key point where microplastics can either be captured or released into the environment and eventually into drinking water.

Ecological and Microbial Processes in Green Waste Co-composting for Pathogen Control and Evaluation of Compost Quality Index (CQI) Toward Agricultural Biosafety

Researchers studied the process of co-composting green garden waste with sheep manure under semi-arid conditions in Morocco. They found that the composting process effectively eliminated pathogens, including harmful bacteria and parasite eggs, while producing quality compost. The study demonstrates that properly managed composting can turn organic waste into a safe soil amendment for agriculture.

Influence of anthropogenic pressures on the microplastic distribution in the riverine-estuarine environment: A source-apportioning approach

Researchers traced the sources and distribution of microplastic pollution in the Kallada River and Ashtamudi Estuary system in India. Using a source-tracking approach, they identified fishing activities, wastewater discharge, and solid waste dumping as major contributors, with cage farming zones showing the highest contamination levels. The study demonstrates how different human activities create distinct patterns of microplastic pollution in connected river and estuary environments.

Disposal Behavior of Used Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Moroccan Community: Potential Environmental Impact

Researchers surveyed face mask disposal behavior in two major Moroccan regions during the COVID-19 pandemic and estimated the volume of mask waste generated. They found that over five million masks per day, equivalent to roughly 40,000 kg, were being discarded in the studied regions alone. The study highlights the significant environmental risk posed by pandemic-related plastic waste, which can break down into microplastics in both land and marine environments.

Youth and the Environment: Assessing Awareness, Attitudes, and Action

This study assessed environmental awareness, attitudes, and pro-environmental action among university students, investigating the gap between knowing about environmental issues and actually taking action. The research found that while students generally showed awareness of environmental problems including pollution, a significant disconnect persists between awareness and consistent environmentally responsible behavior.

Aligning ESG Ratings and SDGs in the MENA Region: Challenges and Insights Through a Fuzzy Delphi Multi-Criteria Approach

Researchers examined the alignment between ESG ratings and sustainable development goals across the Middle East and North Africa region using a multi-criteria analytical approach. While the study primarily addresses corporate sustainability governance rather than microplastics directly, it relates to broader environmental management frameworks. The findings identify key challenges in integrating environmental and social metrics into government debt assessment in the region.

Microplastics in Surface Waters and Sediments in the Sebou Estuary and Atlantic Coast, Morocco

Researchers measured microplastic abundance and characteristics in water and sediment samples along the Sebou Estuary and Atlantic Coast of Morocco, finding MPs at all sites with higher concentrations near urban centers and rivers, and identifying fibers from fishing and domestic wastewater as dominant sources.

Otters as bioindicators of estuarine health: Scientific gaps, field-based insights, and a framework for future research

This review evaluates otters as bioindicators of estuarine health, examining their potential to signal ecosystem degradation from pollution including microplastics. Researchers identified scientific gaps in current monitoring approaches and proposed a framework for using semi-aquatic mammals as sentinel species for tracking environmental contamination in estuary ecosystems.

Analytical Review of Microplastics Occurrence in Bottled Water, Tap Water, and Wastewater Treatment Plants

This review analyzes microplastic contamination across bottled water, tap water, and wastewater treatment plants using data from studies worldwide. Researchers found that microplastic levels in drinking water are closely tied to the water source and that packaging type significantly influences contamination, with glass bottles recommended over plastic. The study emphasizes the need for improved water treatment technologies and greater public awareness about microplastic exposure through drinking water.

Novel approaches for removing emerging contaminants from sludge using fungal-mediated processes

Researchers reviewed fungal-mediated processes for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater sludge, including pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. The study suggests that fungi offer unique biodegradation capabilities through biosorption, enzymatic degradation, and combined treatment methods, presenting a promising bioremediation approach for persistent pollutants.

Microplastics: Transfer Pathways, Radiotracing and Challenges for Coastal Environments

Sediment Transport Modeling in the Pasig River, Philippines Post Taal Volcano Eruption

This study modeled sediment transport in the Pasig River, Philippines following the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption, using historical total suspended solids and arsenic data to characterize how volcanic activity altered sediment dynamics. The model revealed a notable increase in sediment and contaminant loading after the eruption.

Fate, transport and degradation pathway of microplastics in aquatic environment — A critical review

Evolution of Macrofauna Structure during the Composting Process of Household Waste

Despite its title referencing waste and composting, this paper studies the invertebrate communities (insects, earthworms, mites, etc.) that colonize household waste compost heaps in Morocco, tracking how populations change through different composting phases — not microplastic pollution. It examines composting ecology and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

Water Treatment Technologies: Development of a Test Bench for Optimizing Flocculation-Thickening Processes in Laboratory Applications

Despite its title referencing water treatment, this paper describes the engineering design of an automated laboratory test bench for optimizing industrial flocculation and thickening processes in wastewater treatment plants — not microplastic pollution. It examines process control engineering and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Literature on Coastal Sediment Pollution

Suitability Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Sidi Allal Tazi Region Using Water Quality Index

This paper is not about microplastics; it is a geological study characterizing quartz grain microtextures and trapped diatoms from Acapulco beach sediments to reconstruct past depositional environments.

A case study on the environmental and economic impact of photovoltaic systems in wastewater treatment plants

Researchers evaluated a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar photovoltaic and wind turbines to power a membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant at a Moroccan university, finding it could cover approximately 72% of the plant's energy needs while reducing electricity costs.

Nuclear-Based Approaches for Marine Pollution Assessment: A Bibliometric Analysis

Assessing dissolved oxygen dynamics in Pasig River, Philippines: A HEC-RAS modeling approach during the COVID-19 pandemic

This is not about microplastics — it is a water quality study modeling dissolved oxygen levels in the Pasig River, Philippines, using HEC-RAS hydraulic modeling to compare conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Characterization and Quantification of Surficial Sediment Microplastics and Its Correlation with Heavy Metals, Soil Texture, and Flow Velocity

This study analyzed microplastics in bottom sediments along eight stations of the highly polluted Pasig River in the Philippines, finding that fragment-shaped particles under 500 μm were dominant and that microplastic counts correlated positively with sand and clay content but negatively with silt. Downstream stations near dense urban and industrial areas showed the highest concentrations, pointing to informal settlements and manufacturing industries as major contributors. The results highlight a heavily plastic-impacted river system and underline the need for stronger plastic waste governance in the Philippines.

The Study of Peri-Urban Soil Contamination in the Kenitra Region, Morocco – Characterization and Assessment Using a Statistical Approach

Researchers characterized peri-urban soil contamination in the Kenitra region of Morocco, analyzing inorganic and organic pollutant concentrations in solid waste-impacted soils and assessing associated environmental risks. The study documented significant pollution levels and highlighted the growing threat of unmanaged solid waste to peri-urban soil quality.