In recent years, the environmental pollution of microplastics (MPs) has increasingly drawn our attention. MPs are small fragments of plastics that are commonly dispersed in the environment. The accumulation of environmental MPs is due to population growth and urbanization, while natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding and human activity may influence their distribution. The leaching of chemicals from MPs raises a significant safety problem and environmental approaches aimed at reducing the use and recycling of plastics, with the replacement by bioplastics and wastewater treatment developments are called for. This summary also helps in demonstrating the connection between terrestrial and freshwater MPs and wastewater treatment plants as the major contributors to environmental MPs by discharges of sludge and effluent. More research on the classification, detection, characterization and toxicity of MPs are essential to enable greater options and solutions. Control initiatives need to intensify the comprehensive study of MP waste control and management information programmes in the fields of institutional engagement, technological research and development, legislation and regulation. A comprehensive quantitative analysis approach for MPs should be created in the future, and more reliable traceability analysis methods should be built to examine further its environmental activity and existence, where this should be done to improve scientific research on MP pollution in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments and hence, develop more scientific and rational control policies.
AbassiSSoltaniNKeshavarziB, et al. (2018) Microplastics in different tissues of fish and prawn from the MusaEstuary Persian Gulf. Chemosphere205: 80–87.
2.
AcharyaSRumiSSHuY, et al. (2021) Microfibers from synthetic textiles as a major source of microplastics in the environment: A review. Textile Research Journal91: 2136–2156.
3.
AkhbarizadehRMooreFKeshavarziB (2018) Investigating a probable relationship between microplastics and potentially toxic elements in fish muscles from northeast of Persian Gulf. Environmental Pollution232: 154–163.
4.
AnLLiuQDengY, et al. (2020) Sources of Microplastic in the Environment. In: HeDLuoY (eds) Microplastics in Terrestrial Environments. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 95. Cham: Springer. pp. 143–159.
5.
AlimbaCGFaggioC (2019) Microplastics in the marine environment: Current trends in environmental pollution and mechanisms of toxicological profile. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology68: 61–74.
6.
AlshawafiAAnallaMAlwashaliE, et al. (2018) Impacts of marine waste, ingestion of microplastic in the fish, impact on fishing yield, M’diq, Morocco. International Journal Of Marine Biology And Research3: 1–14.
7.
AndradyAL (2011) Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin62: 1596–1605.
8.
AutaHSEmenikeCFauziahS (2017) Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions. Environment International102: 165–176.
9.
BarbozaLGADick VethaakALavoranteBRBO, et al. (2018) Marine microplastic debris: An emerging issue for food security, food safety and human health. Marine Pollution Bulletin133: 336–348.
10.
BarbozaLGALopesCOliveiraP, et al. (2019) Microplastic in wild fish from North East Atlantic Ocean and its potential for causing neurotoxic effects, lipid oxidative damage, and human health risks associated with ingestion exposure. Science of the Total Environment717: 134625.
11.
BeaumontNAanesenMAustenM, et al. (2019) Global ecological, social and economic impacts of marine plastic. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 142: 189–195.
12.
BessaFBarríaPNetoJM, et al. (2018) Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin128: 575–584.
13.
Carreras-ColomEConstenlaMSoler-MembrivesA, et al. (2018) Spatial occurrence and effects of microplastic ingestion on the deep-water shrimp Aristeus antennatus. Marine Pollution Bulletin133: 44–52.
14.
CaoDWangXLuoX, et al. (2017) Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the fitness of earthworms in an agricultural soil. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 61: 012148. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/61/1/012148.
15.
ChaeYKimDKimSW, et al. (2018) Trophic transfer and individual impact of nano-sized polystyrene in a four-species freshwater food chain. Scientific Reports8: 284. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18849-y.
16.
ChangM (2015) Reducing microplastics from facial exfoliating cleansers in wastewater through treatment versus consumer product decisions. Marine Pollution Bulletin101: 330–333.
17.
ChatterjeeSSharmaS (2019) Microplastics in our oceans and marine health. The Journal of Field Actions Science Reports19: 54–61.
18.
ColeMLindequePHalsbandC, et al. (2011) Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin62: 2588–2597.
19.
CompaMVenteroAIglesiasM, et al. (2018) Ingestion of microplastics and natural fibres in Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin128: 89–96.
20.
CorradiniFMezaPEguiluzR, et al. (2019) Evidence of microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from sewage sludge disposal. Science of the Total Environment671: 411–420.
21.
de SaLCOliveiraMRibeiroF, et al. (2018) Studies of the effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms: What do we know and where should we focus our efforts in the future?Science of the Total Environment645: 1029–1039.
22.
de Souza MachadoAAKloasWZarflC, et al. (2018) Microplastics as an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems. Global Change Biology24: 1405–1416.
23.
De SáLCOliveiraMRibeiroF, et al. (2018) Studies of the effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms: What do we know and where should we focus our efforts in the future?Science of the Total Environment645: 1029–1039.
24.
DiasACArmitageDTrantA (2022) Uncovering well-being ecosystem services bundles (WEBs) under conditions of social-ecological change in Brazil. Ecology and Society27: 44.
25.
FoleyCJFeinerZSMalinichTD, et al. (2018) A meta-analysis of the effects of exposure to microplastics on fish and aquatic invertebrates. Science of the Total Environment 631–632: 550–559.
26.
FriasJPGLSobralPFerreiraAM (2010) Organic pollutants in microplastics from two beaches of the Portuguese coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin60: 1988–1992.
27.
FullerSGautamA (2016) A procedure for measuring microplastics using pressurized fluid extraction. Environmental Science and Technology50: 5774–5780.
28.
GalloFFossiCWeberR, et al. (2020) Marine litter plastics and microplastics and their toxic chemicals components: the need for urgent preventive measures. In Analysis of Nanoplastics and Microplastics in Food (pp. 159–179). CRC Press.
GewertBPlassmannMMMacLeodM (2015) Pathways for degradation of plastic polymers floating in the marine environment. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts17(9): 1513–1521.
31.
GrayADWeinsteinJE (2017) Size- and shape-dependent effects of microplastic particles on adult daggerblade grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry36: 3074–3080.
32.
HaJYeoM-K (2018) The environmental effects of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems. Molecular & Cellular Toxicology14: 353–359.
33.
HaldenRU (2010) Plastics and health risks. Annual Review of Public Health31: 179–194.
34.
HamidFSBhattiMSAnuarN, et al. (2018) Worldwide distribution and abundance of microplastic: How dire is the situation?Waste Management & Research36: 1–25.
35.
HantoroILohrAJFrankGA, et al. (2019) Microplastics in coastal areas and seafood: implications for food safety. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A36: 674–711.
36.
HenselerMBrandesEKreinsP (2019) Microplastics in agricultural soils: A new challenge not only for agro-environmental policy. Journal of Applied Business and Economics22: 38–52.
37.
Hidalgo-RuzVGutowLThompsonRC, et al. (2012) Microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environmental Science & Technology46: 3060–3075.
38.
Huerta LwangaEMendoza VegaJKu QuejV, et al. (2017) Field evidence for transfer of plastic debris along a terrestrial food chain. Scientific Reports7: 1–7.
39.
KataokaTNiheiYKudouK, et al. (2019) Assessment of the sources and inflow processes of microplastics in the river environments of Japan. Environmental Pollution244: 958–965.
40.
LamVCheungWReygondeauG, et al. (2016) Projected change in global fisheries revenues under climate change. Scientific Reports6: 32607.
41.
LeeJ (2015) Economic valuation of marine litter and microplastic pollution in the marine environment: An initial assessment of the case of the United Kingdom.
42.
LiCBusquetsRCamposLC (2019) Assessment of microplastics in freshwater systems: A review. Science of the Total Environment707: 135578.
43.
LiJLiuHPaul ChenJ (2018) Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review on occurrence, environmental effects, and methods for microplastics detection. Water Research137: 362–374.
44.
LiJYangDLiL, et al. (2015) Microplastics in commercial bivalves from China. Environmental Pollution207: 190–195.
45.
LithnerDLarssonADaveG (2011) Environmental and health hazard ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition. Science of the Total Environment409: 3309–3324.
46.
LuYZhangYDengY, et al. (2016) Uptake and accumulation of polystyrene microplastics in zebra fish (Danio rerio) and toxic effects in liver. Environmental Science and Technology50: 4054–4060.
47.
MasonSAGarneauDSuttonR, et al. (2016) Microplastic pollution is widely detected in US municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent. Environmental Pollution218: 1045–1054.
48.
MatsuokaTNakashimaTNagasawaN (2005) A review of ghost fishing: scientific approaches to evaluation and solutions. Fisheries Science71: 691–702.
49.
MessinettiSMercurioSParoliniM, et al. (2018) Effects of polystyrene microplastics on early stages of two marine invertebrates with different feeding strategies. Environmental Pollution237: 1080–1087.
50.
MeulenMDevrieseLLeeJ, et al. (2014) Socio-economic impact of microplastics in the 2 Seas, Channel and France Manche Region: An initial risk assessment. ILVO-mededelingen177: 39.
51.
MilletHVangheluwePBlockC, et al. (2018) The nature of plastics and their societal usage. Plastics and the Environment2018: 1–20.
52.
MirandaDACarvalho-SouzaGF (2016) Are we eating plastic-ingesting fish?Marine Pollution Bulletin103: 109–114.
53.
NizzettoLFutterMLangaasS (2020) Are agricultural soils dumps for microplastics of urban origin. Environmental Science and Technology50: 10777–10779.
54.
OfiaraD (2001) Assessment of economic losses from marine pollution: An introduction to economic principles and methods. Marine Pollution Bulletin42: 709–725.
55.
OmidiANaeemipoorHHosseiniM (2012) Plastic debris in the digestive tract of sheep and goats: An increasing environmental contamination in Birjand, Iran. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology88: 691–694.
56.
Oluniyi SolomonOPalanisamiT (2016) Microplastics in the marine environment: Current status, assessment methodologies, impacts and solutions. Journal of Pollution Effects & Control4: 1–13.
57.
PengLFuDQiH, et al. (2020) Micro- and nano-plastics in marine environment: Source, distribution and threats — A review. Science of The Total Environment698: 134254.
58.
PiehlSLeibnerALöderM, et al. (2018) Identification and quantification of macro- and microplastics on an agricultural farmland. Scientific Reports8: 17950.
59.
PrataJC (2018) Airborne microplastics: Consequences to human health?Environmental Pollution234: 115–126.
60.
PrinzNKorezŠ (2020) Understanding How Microplastics Affect Marine Biota on the Cellular Level Is Important for Assessing Ecosystem Function: A Review. In: JungblutSLiebichVBode-DalbyM (eds) YOUMARES 9 - The Oceans: Our Research, Our Future. Cham: Springer, pp. 101–120. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-20389-4_6
61.
RehseSKloasWZarflC (2016) Short-term exposure with high concentrations of pristine microplastic particles leads to immobilisation of Daphnia magna. Chemosphere153: 91–99.
62.
RochmanCMBrowneMAHalpernBS, et al. (2013) Policy: Classify plastic waste as hazardous. Nature494: 169–170.
63.
RomeoTPietroBPedàC, et al. (2015) First evidence of presence of plastic debris in stomach of large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin95: 358–361.
SanghaKKStoecklNCrossmanN, et al. (2019) A state-wide economic assessment of coastal and marine ecosystem services to inform sustainable development policies in the Northern Territory, Australia. Marine Policy107: 103595.
66.
SighicelliMPietrelliLLecceF, et al. (2018) Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Italian Subalpine Lakes. Environmental Pollution236: 645–651.
67.
SussarelluRSuquetMThomasY, et al. (2016) Oyster reproduction is affected by exposure to polystyrene microplastics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences113: 2430–2435.
68.
SybergKKhanFRSelckH, et al. (2015) Microplastics: Addressing ecological risk through lessons learned. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry34: 945–953.
69.
ThompsonRC (2015) Microplastics in the marine environment: Sources, consequences and solutions. In BergmannMGutowLKlagesM (eds) Marine Anthropogenic Litter. Cham: Springer, pp.185–200.
70.
ThompsonRCMooreCJSaalFSV, et al. (2009) Plastics, the environment and human health: Current consensus and future trends. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences364: 2153–2166.
71.
ToussaintBRaffaelBAngers-LoustauA, et al. (2019) Review of micro- and nanoplastic contamination in the food chain. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A36: 639–673.
72.
Van CauwenbergheLJanssenCR (2014) Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption. Environmental Pollution193: 65–70.
73.
WaiteHRDonnellyMJWaltersLJ (2018) Quantity and types of microplastics in the organic tissues of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica and Atlantic mud crab Panopeus herbstii from a Florida estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin129: 179–185.
74.
WangJChenGChristieP, et al. (2015) Occurrence and risk assessment of phthalate esters (PAEs) in vegetables and soils of suburban plastic film greenhouses. Science of the Total Environment523: 129–137.
75.
WangWGaoHJinS, et al. (2019) The ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on aquatic food web, from primary producer to human: A review. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety173: 110–117.
76.
WrightSLKellyFJ (2017) Plastic and human health: A micro issue?Environmental Science and Technology51: 6634–6647.
77.
WrightSLThompsonRCGallowayTS (2013) The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)178: 483–492.
78.
ZhaoSZhuLLiD (2016) Microscopic anthropogenic litter in terrestrial birds from Shanghai, China: Not only plastics but also natural fibers. Science of the Total Environment550: 1110–1115.
79.
ZhuBKFangYMZhuD, et al. (2018) Exposure to nanoplastics disturbs the gut microbiome in the soil oligochaete Enchytraeus crypticus. Environmental Pollution239: 408–415.
