Microplastics, Volume 4, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 8 articles

This study systematically investigates microplastic (MP) release from polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) straws across beverage matrices (deionized water, cola, and skim milk) under thermal variations. A laboratory simulation system was developed to quantify MP release at ambient temperature (25 °C) and characterize size reduction across thermal gradients (25 °C, 45 °C, and 65 °C). The integrated analytical approaches combining Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy were employed to systematically quantify and characterize MPs in terms of abundance, morphological features, and polymer composition. The findings reveal that PP straws released significantly higher MP quantities (26–28 particles/straw) than PLA counterparts (18–26 particles/straw) at 25 °C, with a pronounced burst release phase occurring within the initial 5 min of usage of straws. Thermal escalation experiments demonstrated progressive MP size reduction for both PP and PLA groups, with elevated temperatures inducing particles into smaller particles. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a critical environmental challenge in China’s aquatic ecosystems, driven by rapid industrialization and population growth. This review synthesizes recent findings on the abundance, morphology, and polymer types of MPs in China’s freshwater systems (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) and coastal marine environments. Spatial analysis reveals significant variability in MP abundance, ranging from 0.1 items/L in Tibet’s Lalu Wetland to 30.8 items/L in Beijing’s Qinghe River, with polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) dominating polymer profiles. Coastal regions exhibit distinct contamination patterns, with the Yellow Sea (5.3 ± 2.0 items/L) and the South China Sea (180 ± 80 items/m³) showing the highest MP loads, primarily as fibers and fragments. Fluvial transport, atmospheric deposition, and coastal anthropogenic activities (e.g., fisheries, tourism) are identified as major pathways for marine MP influx. Secondary MPs from degraded plastics and primary MPs from industrial/domestic effluents pose synergistic risks through the adsorption of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Human exposure routes—ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact—are linked to inflammatory, metabolic, and carcinogenic health outcomes. Policy interventions, including bans on microbeads and non-degradable plastics, demonstrate progress in pollution mitigation. This work underscores the urgency of integrated source control, advanced wastewater treatment, and transboundary monitoring to address MP contamination in aquatic ecosystems. Full article

(1) Background: Plastic and microplastic pollution in freshwater systems has emerged as a significant environmental and human health concern, yet limited research has explored how affected communities perceive these risks and support related policy interventions. This study addresses this gap by comparing the perceptions of pollution risk and preferred policy responses among stakeholders and the general public associated with the Tennessee River—one of the most plastic-polluted rivers globally. (2) Methods: Using an online survey, we collected data from 419 public respondents and 45 local stakeholders. Participants assessed perceived environmental and human health risks posed by six common pollutants and expressed support for a range of policy solutions. (3) Results: Results indicate that the public consistently perceives higher risks from pollutants than stakeholders, particularly for plastics, E. coli, and heavy metals. Surprisingly, stakeholders demonstrated significantly stronger support for regulatory policy interventions than the public, despite perceiving lower levels of pollution risk. Importantly, perceived harm from microplastics emerged as the most consistent predictor of policy support across all policy types. (4) Conclusions: These findings suggest that risk perceptions, particularly regarding microplastics, play a critical role in shaping policy preferences and highlight the importance of stakeholder engagement in designing effective freshwater pollution mitigation strategies. Full article

Soil microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to the integrity of terrestrial ecosystems and agricultural sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent progress on soil microplastic (MP) sources, ecological impacts, and separation technologies. Agricultural practices (e.g., residual plastic mulch and wastewater irrigation) and atmospheric deposition serve as primary drivers of contamination accumulation, with pronounced spatial heterogeneity observed across regions. Predominant MP types such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene disrupt soil structure and biogeochemical processes through three core mechanisms: physical interference, chemical toxicity, and biological accumulation. These particles further form carrier–pollutant complexes, exacerbating ecotoxicological impacts across trophic levels. While emerging separation techniques like magnetic separation and solvent extraction demonstrate enhanced efficiency, their implementation faces challenges stemming from soil matrix complexity and high operational costs. This article underscores the need for global collaborative efforts to accelerate innovation in biodegradable polymers, offering practical pathways for sustainable soil management. Full article

Microplastics (MP) have recently become an emerging problem with the advent of bountiful and widespread pollutants in the aquatic environment. Owing to their large surface areas, microplastics act as an effective carrier of heavy metals and tend to form complex contamination. This combined pollution created by them poses a new threat to the world. This review summarizes the effects of microplastics and heavy metals on the aquatic fauna, along with their combined adverse effects and potential threats to human health. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics adopted by microplastics to adsorb the heavy metal is also explained and some future research directions in this field are suggested. Full article

Understanding how marine debris accumulates within coastal ecosystems is a crucial aspect of predicting its long-term environmental and biological consequences. The release and subsequent dispersion of 50 billion microplastic pellets from the fire and subsequent sinking of the container ship X-Press Pearl along the western coast of Sri Lanka in 2021 provides an important case study. Here, we present a three-dimensional assessment of pellet accumulation (number density) along affected beaches and compare this with other common microplastic particles one year following the incident. Surveys confirmed that pellets were still widely present in the surface sediments of ocean beaches, with some locations returning average densities of 588 pellets m² (very high according to the global Pellet Pollution Index [PPI]). Profiling deeper into beach sediments showed pellets were present to depths of 30 cm; however, most were restricted to the top 10 cm. Our observations of persistent pellet contamination of beaches along Sri Lanka’s west coast emphasize the need for continued monitoring of these types of events to assess the magnitude and persistence of risks to the environment, wildlife, and human well-being. Full article

This study presents the development of a textile-based cascade filter for the removal of microplastics from an industrial laundry effluent. The cascade microfilter consists of three stages of 3D textile sandwich composite filter media, which have successively finer pores and are aimed at filtering microplastic particles down to 1.5 µm. Polypropylene fabrics with pore sizes of 100, 50 and 20 µm and 3D warp-knitted fabrics with high porosity (96%) were used. Filtration tests were carried out with polyethylene model microplastic particles at a concentration of 167 mg/L. To regenerate the filter and restore its filtration performance, backwashing with filtered water and compressed air was applied. Field trials at an industrial laundry facility and a municipal wastewater treatment plant confirmed high removal efficiencies. The 3D textile sandwich structure promotes filter cake formation, allowing extended backwash intervals and the effective recovery of filtration capacity between 89.7% and 98.5%. The innovative use of 3D textile composites enables a high level of microplastic removal while extending the filter media lifetime. This makes a significant contribution to the reduction in microplastic emissions in the aquatic environment. The system is scalable, space and cost efficient and adaptable to various industrial applications and is thus a promising solution for advanced wastewater treatment. Full article

Microplastics have emerged as pervasive contaminants in various ecosystems, raising considerable concerns regarding their impact on environmental health and public safety. The degradation of microplastics is thus recognized as a pressing global challenge. Photocatalytic degradation has emerged as a promising approach due to its potential for efficiency and environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, there remains a need to investigate emerging trends and advancements to understand and fully optimize this technique. Consequently, PRISMA guidelines were employed to define the search parameters, enable the identification of pertinent scholarly articles, and systematically gather bibliographic data from the published literature from 2005 to October 2024. A bibliometric analysis of 204 research articles derived from merged Scopus and Web of Science datasets was conducted to map the field’s research landscape. The analysis showed a robust annual publication growth rate of 17.94%, with leading contributions from China, India, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Keyword analysis revealed that the commonly applied photocatalysts are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in the photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene, and low-density polyethylene. Advances in collaboration across Asia and Europe have bolstered the research landscape. However, challenges persist in achieving cost-effective scalability, ensuring the safety of degradation byproducts, and translating laboratory findings into real-world applications. Emerging trends include the development of visible-light-responsive catalysts, advanced nanocomposites, and sustainable photocatalytic technologies. This study underscores the utility of bibliometric tools in identifying knowledge gaps and guiding the development of innovative approaches for microplastic degradation as part of environmental remediation efforts. Full article