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Review

Irreversible Plastic Flows and Sedimentary Ecological Entrapment: A Critical Review of Legacy Risks and Governance Strategies for Planetary Health

1
NEB Co., Seoul 08504, Republic of Korea
2
Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
3
Dongmoon ENT, Guro-gu, Seoul 08377, Republic of Korea
4
Department of Environmental Science, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(20), 1546; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201546
Submission received: 18 August 2025 / Revised: 3 October 2025 / Accepted: 8 October 2025 / Published: 10 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanosafety and Nanotoxicology: Current Opportunities and Challenges)

Abstract

Plastic pollution has emerged as a pervasive and systemic driver of ecological and biogeochemical disruption in freshwater and marine environments. Unlike natural materials that circulate within closed biogeochemical loops, synthetic polymers predominantly follow unidirectional and irreversible trajectories, a phenomenon we describe as “irreversible plastic transport.” These flows culminate in sedimentary entrapment, where plastics persist as long-term ecological stressors and potential vectors of contaminant transfer. Recent global syntheses indicate that sedimentary microplastic loads can exceed 27,000 particles/kg dry weight in certain river systems, highlighting the urgency of sediment-inclusive risk assessments. This review synthesizes interdisciplinary findings to conceptualize plastics as both pollutants and governance challenges. We highlighted the dominant transport pathways of micro- and nanoplastics and emphasize that sedimentary sinks are critical long-term retention zones. Current monitoring frameworks often underestimate sedimentary burdens by focusing on surface water and overlooking subsurface ecological legacies. We propose an integrated governance approach combining cross-media monitoring, Earth system modeling, and adaptive policies to address these persistent synthetic agents. Embedding plastic dynamics within comprehensive risk assessment frameworks is essential for sustainable water management during the Anthropocene. Our synthesis supports risk-based decision-making and encourages proactive, transdisciplinary global governance strategies that integrate sediment-focused monitoring and long-term ecological risk management.
Keywords: microplastics; nanoplastics; irreversible plastic transport; sedimentary entrapment; legacy pollutants; transdisciplinary governance; Earth system risk assessment microplastics; nanoplastics; irreversible plastic transport; sedimentary entrapment; legacy pollutants; transdisciplinary governance; Earth system risk assessment

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Moon, S.-D.; Hwang, S.-O.; Han, B.-H.; Hwang, D.-s.; Kim, B.-H. Irreversible Plastic Flows and Sedimentary Ecological Entrapment: A Critical Review of Legacy Risks and Governance Strategies for Planetary Health. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 1546. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201546

AMA Style

Moon S-D, Hwang S-O, Han B-H, Hwang D-s, Kim B-H. Irreversible Plastic Flows and Sedimentary Ecological Entrapment: A Critical Review of Legacy Risks and Governance Strategies for Planetary Health. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(20):1546. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201546

Chicago/Turabian Style

Moon, Seong-Dae, Su-Ok Hwang, Byeong-Hun Han, Dae-sik Hwang, and Baik-Ho Kim. 2025. "Irreversible Plastic Flows and Sedimentary Ecological Entrapment: A Critical Review of Legacy Risks and Governance Strategies for Planetary Health" Nanomaterials 15, no. 20: 1546. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201546

APA Style

Moon, S.-D., Hwang, S.-O., Han, B.-H., Hwang, D.-s., & Kim, B.-H. (2025). Irreversible Plastic Flows and Sedimentary Ecological Entrapment: A Critical Review of Legacy Risks and Governance Strategies for Planetary Health. Nanomaterials, 15(20), 1546. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201546

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