Monitoring, control and assessment of microplastics in bioenvironmental systems

TLDR

Microplastics are increasingly recognized for their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health, with significant concentrations found in wastewater effluent worldwide, underscoring the need for a life‑cycle approach to sustainable plastic management. The review aims to critically examine the sources, sinks, monitoring, control, and assessment of microplastics in bioenvironmental systems and outline future research priorities. It evaluates microplastic occurrence, fate, and pathways across freshwater, atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine environments, compares pretreatment, sampling, and analytical methods, and reviews policies, technological advances, and risk assessments for controlling microplastics.

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their potential detrimental effects on both bioenvironmental systems and human health. Numerous studies have documented the presence of notable concentrations of MPs in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants worldwide. Consequently, adopting a life-cycle approach is crucial for the sustainable management of plastics. This article presents a critical review focusing on the sources, sinks, monitoring, control, and assessment of MPs in bioenvironmental systems. Initially, we analyze the occurrence, fate, and pathways of MPs, comparing different sources and sinks across various bioenvironments, including freshwater, atmosphere, terrestrial, and oceans. Additionally, we compare various methods for pretreatment, sampling, and analysis of MPs. Furthermore, we illustrate recent policies aimed at controlling and limiting the use of plastics, and discuss the technological advancements and risk assessments associated with controlling MPs. Finally, we provide several perspectives and prospects regarding the priority research directions for MPs monitoring, control and assessment.