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Updated: Jan 28, 2026
14:10
Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils
Published on: March 21, 2025
3.2K
Microplastic Pollution: Advancements in Mitigation, Policy Challenges, and Future Directions
Prachi Gaur1, Pallavi Gupta1, Vivek Gaur2
1Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Current Microbiology
|January 26, 2026
Summary
Microplastic pollution requires integrated solutions. While filtration is ready, it has limits; advanced oxidation is costly; and biological methods are slow, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research and novel technologies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Microplastic (MP) pollution is a pervasive global environmental issue.
- Existing reviews address mitigation strategies in isolation, lacking comparative synthesis.
- There is a need for an integrated evaluation of MP mitigation interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a decision-oriented synthesis of biological, technological, and policy interventions for microplastic mitigation.
- To comparatively assess the efficacy, limitations, scalability, and deployment readiness of various MP removal strategies.
- To identify research gaps and guide future mitigation efforts.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of biological, engineering, and policy-based microplastic mitigation strategies.
- Comparative analysis of intervention effectiveness, cost, scalability, and readiness for deployment.
- Synthesis of findings to inform integrated mitigation approaches.
Main Results:
- Filtration is the most deployment-ready technology but faces challenges with fouling and capturing small microplastics.
- Advanced oxidation processes show potential but are energy- and cost-intensive.
- Biological and enzymatic methods are promising but currently limited by speed and scalability; engineered strains pose biosafety risks.
Conclusions:
- No single intervention is sufficient; integrated strategies combining different approaches are necessary.
- Further interdisciplinary research and novel technological solutions are crucial for effective microplastic pollution control.
- Urgent, coordinated action across sectors is required to develop and implement comprehensive mitigation plans.
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