Microplastics in environment: global concern, challenges, and controlling measures.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Plastic pollution, particularly microplastics and nanoplastics, is a critical global environmental and public health issue.
• These small plastic particles originate from primary and secondary sources and have infiltrated ecosystems worldwide.
• Current analytical methods for microplastics are often complex, and efficient, straightforward techniques are still under development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status of microplastic pollution.
• To discuss established and novel techniques for microplastic identification.
• To explore strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of microplastics and propose solutions for pollution control.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on plastic pollution.
• Analysis of spectroscopic and other identification techniques for microplastics.
• Evaluation of current and emerging pollution control and mitigation strategies.

Main Results:

• Microplastics and nanoplastics are pervasive contaminants found in diverse environments and organisms, including humans.
• While advanced spectroscopic techniques exist, efficient and simple methods for microplastic analysis remain a challenge.
• Promising pollution control methods include bacterial degradation, photocatalysis, and biodegradable plastics, though current efforts are insufficient.

Conclusions:

• Effective regulation and advanced identification techniques are crucial for managing widespread microplastic contamination.
• Novel approaches like bacterial degradation and biodegradable plastics show potential for future plastic pollution control.
• This review aims to address the need for comprehensive information on microplastic identification and mitigation strategies.