Microplastics in Water: Monitoring, Removal and Control

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastic contamination in aquatic environments is a growing global concern, affecting ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Monitoring, removal, and control of microplastics are critical to mitigating their environmental impact and ensuring the sustainability of water resources. The study of microplastics is fundamentally linked to broader environmental concerns, such as water quality, environmental hazards, and resource management. As microplastic pollution becomes more pervasive, it is essential to develop reliable methods for detecting, quantifying, and controlling these pollutants. Among the most pressing issues in this field today are the standardization of reference microplastics for the analytical methods, generation of microplastic databases (libraries) for better classification and comparison, and the development of effective removal methods that can be implemented on both large and small scales. Understanding the environmental impact of microplastics, including their leaching of additives, toxicity, and bioavailability, remains a critical area of research. Advances in technology and scientific understanding are driving progress in this field, with applications ranging from large-scale water treatment systems to community-level solutions. The research in this Special Issue aims to address pressing challenges, such as harmonizing microplastic detection techniques and developing new, more effective removal methods.

For this Special Issue, entitled "Microplastics in Water: Monitoring, Removal and Control", we welcome high-quality research contributions that explore the latest advances in analytical techniques, innovative removal methods, and effective control strategies.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Microplastic detection and monitoring methods;
• The urgent need for standardization of reference materials;
• Harmonization of the quantitative expression of microplastic content in samples;
• Advances in analytical techniques;
• Novel methods for microplastic removal;
• Strategies for improved microplastic control;
• The role of modeling in predicting microplastic behavior and mitigation strategies;
• Environmental impact of microplastics: leaching of additives, toxicity, and bioavailability.

Dr. Josipa Papac Zjačić
Prof. Dr. Hrvoje Kušić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 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.

• microplastics
• environmental impact
• monitoring
• removal
• control