Perspective
The emergence of microplastics: charting the path from research to regulations
This paper summarizes recent groundbreaking research and regulations for microplastics and provides critical recommendations to overcome additional barriers.
Perspective
Microplastics in ecosystems: their implications and mitigation pathways
Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging threat to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Critical Review
Microplastic emerging pollutants – impact on microbiological diversity, diarrhea, antibiotic resistance, and bioremediation
Advanced economic development and technologies cause worldwide plastic waste to increase many folds, leaving policymakers with the dilemma of managing it.
Critical Review
Preservation, storage, and sample preparation methods for freshwater microplastics – a comprehensive review
Sampling, storage, preservation, pre-treatment, and extraction are essential components of microplastic detection. Hence, to obtain an accurate representation of microplastics, it is crucial to carefully choose the most suitable pre-analysis methods.
Critical Review
Methodologies to characterize, identify and quantify nano- and sub-micron sized plastics in relevant media for human exposure: a critical review
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment are an emerging issue of global concern.
Paper
Development of a rapid detection protocol for microplastics using reflectance-FTIR spectroscopic imaging and multivariate classification
Reflectance-FTIR spectroscopy provides opportunities for faster, more automated, and cheaper detection of microplastics in the environment.
Paper
Effect of emerging contaminants on soil microbial community composition, soil enzyme activity, and strawberry plant growth in polyethylene microplastic-containing soils
Emerging contaminants were found to alter the soil microbial community composition. However, no changes were observed when these compounds were added to soil containing 100 mg kg−1 HDPE microplastics.
Paper
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impacts developmental milestones and brain structure in mouse offspring
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impact postnatal brain development in mouse offspring. This work motivates further studies to determine the levels of nanoplastics in the environment.
About this collection
This collection from Environmental Science: Advances explores the presence, sources and environmental impacts of microplastics. From innovative detection methods to studies on the potential ecological and human health risks, each contribution showcases the challenges associated with the presence of microplastics in the environment.