Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics current status: legislation, gaps, limitations and socio-economic prospects for future

This review analyzes existing legislation on micro- and nanoplastic pollution across multiple countries and regions including Europe, North America, China, India, and Brazil. The study highlights significant regulatory gaps and recommends additional measures such as developing technologies for separating or degrading these particles in drinking water and wastewater.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: Occurrences, treatment methods, regulations and foreseen environmental impacts

This review provides a broad overview of microplastic pollution, covering where these particles are found, how they are treated and regulated, and what environmental impacts are anticipated. Researchers found that current wastewater treatment methods are often insufficient to fully remove microplastics, and regulatory frameworks remain inconsistent across countries. The study emphasizes the urgent need for improved treatment technologies and coordinated global policies to address this growing environmental challenge.

2022 Environmental Research 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancements and Regulatory Situation in Microplastics Removal from Wastewater and Drinking Water: A Comprehensive Review

This review examines current methods for detecting and removing microplastics from wastewater and drinking water treatment plants. Researchers found that while existing treatment processes remove many microplastics, some particles still pass through to discharge into natural water bodies. The study also provides an overview of regulations and policies in the United States addressing microplastic contamination in water systems.

2024 Microplastics 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano/microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes – Origin, impact and potential solutions

This review examined the origin, fate, and impacts of nano- and microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes, finding that small particle sizes and diverse polymer compositions make complete removal challenging across conventional and advanced treatment stages. The authors identify detection limitations and process instability as key barriers to effective water treatment for nanoplastics.

2019 Water Research 624 citations
Article Tier 2

State of the Art of Microplastic and Nanoplastic Pollution: Origin and Removal Methods

This review traces the origins of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution, examining their sources, environmental pathways, and removal methods across water, soil, and air, as well as their instantaneous and long-term effects on living organisms. The study emphasizes that despite recognition as a contaminant since 2004, micro- and nanoplastics remain poorly regulated globally.

2023 Springer proceedings in physics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, Fate, and Treatment of Micro/Nano Plastics in Drinking Water Sources

This review examines the occurrence, fate, and treatment of micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water sources, covering how these particles enter water supplies and what treatment technologies exist to remove them. The authors note significant gaps in both detection methods and removal efficiency.

2024 Water and waste water management
Article Tier 2

Policy and Regulatory Approaches to Mitigating Micro- and Nano Plastic Pollution

This chapter reviews policy and regulatory approaches to addressing microplastic and nanoplastic pollution globally. The study examines existing regulations, treatment technologies, and prevention strategies including product design modifications and improved waste management. The authors emphasize that effective governance requires collaboration among stakeholders and continued research, particularly on nanoplastics and human health impacts.

2024 Advances in environmental engineering and green technologies book series 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and the Water Industry

Researchers reviewed the current understanding of microplastic contamination in freshwater and ocean environments and its implications for the water industry. The study highlights that microplastics can transfer harmful chemicals and adsorbed pollutants, and suggests that advanced filtration technologies like nanofiltration and reverse osmosis are more effective at removing microplastics than conventional methods.

2024 American Water Works Association 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and nanoplastics in drinking water and beverages: occurrence and human exposure

This review examines the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in drinking water and beverages across different countries and regions, finding significant variation in contamination levels. Differences in water treatment efficiency, pollution sources, and the amount of water people consume all influence human exposure estimates, which can vary by orders of magnitude between studies. The study highlights the need for standardized measurement methods and calls attention to the poorly understood risks posed by nanoplastics in what we drink.

2024 Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Review on impacts of micro- and nano-plastic on aquatic ecosystems and mitigation strategies

This review examines the environmental fate, ecological impacts, and remediation strategies for microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems. Researchers highlight that microbial remediation shows particular promise for breaking down these pollutants, while many nations are adopting regulations to limit plastic contamination of waterways. The study suggests that integrating approaches from nanoscience, microbial ecology, and remediation technologies is needed to address this growing environmental challenge.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Water Bodies and in the Environment

This review examines microplastics and nanoplastics as emerging pollutants of concern in water bodies and broader environments, synthesizing current knowledge on their sources, distribution, detection methods, and ecological and human health implications. It discusses the challenges of monitoring these contaminants across freshwater, marine, and terrestrial systems given the diversity of particle types, sizes, and polymer compositions involved.

2022 Water 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate and occurrence of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution in industrial wastewater

This review covers the sources, distribution, and health risks of micro- and nanoplastics in industrial wastewater, emphasizing that these particles are nonbiodegradable, persist in the environment, and can carry other contaminants into marine and freshwater ecosystems. The authors argue that industrial wastewater deserves more regulatory attention as a significant and growing entry point for plastic pollution into environments where it can ultimately reach humans.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Updated review on microplastics in water, their occurrence, detection, measurement, environmental pollution, and the need for regulatory standards

This review examines microplastic occurrence, detection methods, and measurement techniques in aquatic environments, highlighting the urgent need for explicit regulatory frameworks to address the growing threat of microplastic pollution in water systems.

2021 Environmental Pollution 130 citations
Review Tier 2

Removal of microplastics and nanoplastics in water treatment processes: A systematic literature review

Researchers systematically reviewed 103 studies across 26 water treatment plants in 12 countries to assess how well various technologies remove microplastics and nanoplastics from drinking water, finding that while coagulation, filtration, and advanced treatments help, significant gaps remain. The review identifies that no single process achieves complete removal, leaving microplastics as a persistent contaminant in treated water supplies.

2024 Journal of Water Process Engineering 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of Prevailing Directives Regarding Microplastic Pollution

This review examines prevailing regulations and directives governing microplastic pollution, which enters land and water environments through inadequate plastic waste management and urban wastewater discharge. The authors analyze gaps in current policy frameworks and assess the effectiveness of existing global and regional legislative approaches.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Freshwater – Regulatory Barriers for Better Water Protection

This review examines regulatory barriers to freshwater microplastic protection, analyzing the limitations of existing water quality frameworks in addressing microplastic pollution in rivers and lakes. The authors argue that jurisdictional fragmentation, lack of standardized monitoring methods, and absence of enforceable microplastic-specific limits prevent effective water protection.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Law = Agrár- és Környezetjog
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastic Pollution of Freshwater and Wastewater Treatment Systems

This review examined micro- and nanoplastic pollution in freshwater systems and wastewater treatment, summarizing sources, removal efficiency, and the fate of particles that pass through treatment processes into receiving waters.

2017 Springer Science Reviews 168 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental Policy and Governance of Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water: A Comparative Analysis of Global Regulations and Remediation Strategies

This review compares how different countries and international bodies regulate emerging contaminants in drinking water, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Researchers found significant gaps and inconsistencies between regulatory frameworks, with many countries lacking specific standards for these newer pollutants. The study calls for more harmonized global policies and investments in advanced water treatment technologies to address these growing threats to drinking water safety.

2025 Path of Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in water resources: Global pollution circle, possible technological solutions, legislations, and future horizon

This review summarizes the global scope of microplastic contamination in water and sediment, finding levels that vary enormously -- from near zero to thousands of particles per sample. Microplastics absorb other pollutants from their surroundings, potentially concentrating harmful chemicals, and they infiltrate food chains from the smallest organisms upward. The authors call for stronger legislation and a combination of technological innovation, recycling, and public awareness to address this widespread threat to ecosystems and human health.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Water and Wastewater

This book covers the topic of microplastics in water and wastewater, addressing their sources, occurrence, fate, treatment, and regulatory context across the human water cycle. It provides a comprehensive reference for researchers and practitioners working on monitoring and reducing microplastic contamination in drinking water and wastewater systems.

2019 IWA Publishing eBooks 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano- and Microplastics in Water

This review paper provides an overview of nano- and microplastics in water, covering how they form, where they are found, and why they are a concern. It summarizes current knowledge on plastic particle pollution in aquatic environments and the potential risks to ecosystems and human health.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: Environmental Ubiquity, Biological Fate, and Human Health Implications

This review summarizes the current understanding of microplastics as a growing global contaminant affecting both ecosystems and human health. Researchers note that microplastics can carry harmful compounds and have been found throughout the environment and in the human body, while global regulatory frameworks remain insufficient. The study calls for enhanced monitoring, stricter regulations, and source-reduction strategies to address the long-term risks of microplastic exposure.

2025 International Journal of Sciences and Innovation Engineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystem: A review of existing policies and regulations

This review examines existing government policies and regulations worldwide aimed at controlling microplastic pollution in water environments. While many countries have taken steps like banning microbeads in personal care products, the authors found that current efforts are insufficient to prevent microplastic release at scale. The study calls for stronger, more coordinated global regulations to protect both ecosystems and public health from microplastic contamination.

2024 Chemosphere 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations

This review examines the growing global burden of microplastic pollution and the policies being developed to address it. Researchers found that inadequate waste management systems allow massive amounts of plastic to contaminate terrestrial and aquatic environments, threatening ecosystems and the billions of people who depend on them. The study evaluates existing regulations and suggests that stronger, more coordinated policy frameworks are needed to curb microplastic pollution.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 140 citations