Microplastic Pollutants in Aquatic Environments

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastic pollution is an escalating threat to aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans. Due to their minute size, diverse polymer compositions, and resistance to degradation, microplastics are now ubiquitously detected in water columns, sediments, and aquatic organisms. Their presence raises significant concerns regarding ecological effects and interactions with chemical contaminants, with profound implications for water quality and overall ecosystem health.

This Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of recent research on microplastic pollutants in aquatic environments. Particular emphasis is placed on their sources, occurrence, transport, and fate across various aquatic compartments. We especially encourage submissions addressing advances in sampling strategies, analytical techniques, and quality assurance, as methodological harmonization remains a critical challenge in the field. Furthermore, we welcome studies investigating polymer-specific behavior, interactions with co-occurring contaminants, and the resulting impacts on aquatic organisms and microbial communities.

Additionally, this Special Issue explores innovative mitigation and removal strategies, including advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies, adsorption-based approaches, and nature-based solutions. By synthesizing experimental, field-based, and review studies, this collection aims to advance the fundamental understanding of microplastic pollution and support the development of effective monitoring and management strategies for aquatic environments.

Dr. Maja Vujić
Dr. Milica Velimirovic
Dr. Sanja Vasiljević
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.