Microplastics in Atmospheric, Aquatic, and Soil Ecosystems: Occurrence, Impacts, and Innovations in Detection and Mitigation

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2025) | Viewed by 11269

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 320314, Taiwan
Interests: environmental chemistry and toxicology of classic and emerging contaminants (ECs), including perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs); regional and global environmental fate, transport, and deposition of organic micropollutants in the aquatic and atmospheric compartments; microplastics in the aquatic and atmospheric environment; novel nanomaterials for the removal of ECs

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan
Interests: heavy metals; trace elements; arsenic; environmental pollution; human health effect; genetic susceptibility of chemicals
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastics have emerged as pervasive pollutants across atmospheric, aquatic, and soil ecosystems worldwide, yet their full impacts remain poorly understood. This Special Issue of Toxics will gather cutting-edge research on the occurrence, distribution, and effects of microplastics in these environments, emphasizing novel insights and broad perspectives.

We particularly welcome studies highlighting emerging analytical techniques, ranging from advanced spectroscopic imaging to improved sampling and detection methods, which may enable the identification of smaller particles (including nanoplastics) and the tracing of their pathways through air, water, and soil. Equally important are investigations into the environmental and human health impacts of microplastics, including ecotoxicological effects on wildlife, bioaccumulation in food webs, and implications for human exposure and toxicity.

The Special Issue also encourages contributions on remediation strategies, such as innovative filtration, biodegradation, and waste management approaches to mitigate microplastic pollution at the source and in affected ecosystems. In addition, papers exploring policy implications and governance, from local regulations to international agreements, will shed light on how scientific findings are translating into action. By fostering an interdisciplinary approach that bridges environmental science, toxicology, public health, and policy, this Special Issue offers a novel and significant platform for advancing our understanding of microplastic pollution and developing holistic solutions to this emerging environmental challenge.

Dr. Jheng-Jie Jiang
Prof. Dr. Tetsuro Agusa
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • microplastics
  • nanoplastics
  • atmospheric microplastics
  • aquatic ecosystems
  • soil microplastics
  • analytical techniques
  • ecotoxicology
  • human health
  • remediation strategies
  • policy implications

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 9313 KB  
Article
Microplastic Distribution and Transport Mechanisms in the South Sea and East China Sea of Korea
by Byeongkyu Min, Huiho Jeong, Chon-Rae Cho and Hyeon-Seo Cho
Toxics 2025, 13(12), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121070 - 12 Dec 2025
Viewed by 927
Abstract
Microplastic distribution off the coast of Korea was investigated by collecting and analyzing surface seawater and sediment samples from the South Sea and East China Sea during the summer. Microplastic abundance was found to be highest in the YE area, followed by the [...] Read more.
Microplastic distribution off the coast of Korea was investigated by collecting and analyzing surface seawater and sediment samples from the South Sea and East China Sea during the summer. Microplastic abundance was found to be highest in the YE area, followed by the EC area and the SS area in both seawater and sediment matrices. The dominant microplastic shapes and sizes were fragments and small particles (0.02–0.3 mm), respectively. This distribution pattern is explained by the transport of low-density, small-sized microplastics from other seas via the high salinity Taiwan Warm Current and Tsushima Warm Current flowing northward from the southern waters of the study area. In contrast, microplastics originating from the Korean landmass along the southern coast were less abundant, likely due to their dispersal by the strong currents of the Jeju Warm Current, Taiwan Warm Current, and Tsushima Warm Current, which carry microplastics toward the Korean Strait. This study highlights the critical role of prevailing ocean currents in shaping the spatial distribution of microplastics, providing insight into sources and transport mechanisms relevant for regional marine pollution management in the Korean coastal waters. Full article
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15 pages, 1374 KB  
Article
Determination of Microplastic Pollution in Commercial Fish in the Middle Black Sea (Samsun), Türkiye
by Arife Şimşek
Toxics 2025, 13(10), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13100865 - 12 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2227
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the presence and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in six commercially important fish species in Samsun city of, the Middle Black Sea Region: rainbow trout–Turkish salmon (Oncorhynchus mykiss), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead seabream ( [...] Read more.
This study aimed to determine the presence and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in six commercially important fish species in Samsun city of, the Middle Black Sea Region: rainbow trout–Turkish salmon (Oncorhynchus mykiss), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus), and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). The digestive systems of each species were examined, and MPs were classified according to their morphology, size, color, and polymer type. The analysis revealed that the number of MPs per individual ranged from 4.73 ± 1.13 to 9.26 ± 2.18, with the highest value found in rainbow trout and the lowest in whiting. MPs smaller than 100 µm were dominant (48.9%), and fiber (45.7%) and fragment (36.5%) types were the most common morphologies observed. Black and white/transparent colors were prominent in terms of color distribution, and ATR-FTIR analysis showed a dominance of widely used consumer plastics, such as polypropylene (PP, 31.3%) and polyethylene (PE, 23.9%). Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) results confirmed the presence of irregular, fibrous, and fragmented structures at microscopic scale, consistent with microplastic morphology. These findings indicate a potential risk of microplastic pollution in the region for both marine biota and human consumption. The study fills a significant data gap regarding the Middle Black Sea ecosystem and provides a foundation for future monitoring and risk assessment research. Full article
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10 pages, 682 KB  
Article
The Presence of Microplastics in Human Semen and Their Associations with Semen Quality
by Yi Guo, Mengxun Rong, Yuping Fan, Xiaoming Teng, Liping Jin and Yan Zhao
Toxics 2025, 13(7), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070566 - 3 Jul 2025
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7012
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are becoming one of the most serious environmental threats worldwide. They have been shown to induce male reproductive toxicity in animal studies. However, evidence of their adverse effects on male reproductive health in human is still lacking. In this study, we [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) are becoming one of the most serious environmental threats worldwide. They have been shown to induce male reproductive toxicity in animal studies. However, evidence of their adverse effects on male reproductive health in human is still lacking. In this study, we evaluated the presence of MPs in human semen and explored their associations with semen quality. A total of 45 semen samples from men attending a fertility center were collected. MPs in the semen samples were analyzed by laser direct infrared (LD-IR) spectroscopy. MPs were found in 34 out of 45 semen samples, with an average abundance of 17.0 (42.0) particles/g. The size of MPs ranged from 20.3 μm to 189.7 μm and the majority (57.8%) were smaller than 50 μm. A total of 15 distinct MPs polymers were identified, and polyethylene (PET) accounted for 35.9% of the total amount of MPs, followed by butadiene rubber (BR, 26.4%) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE, 12.2%). Analysis of the association of MP exposure with semen quality showed that participants exposed to PET MPs experienced a reduction in sperm progressive motility (20.6% ± 12.8% vs. 34.9% ± 15.9%, p = 0.056). However, no significant association was found between MP exposure and sperm concentration or total sperm count. Our findings confirmed the presence of MPs in human semen and suggested that MP exposure might have adverse impacts on male reproductive health. However, further large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings. Full article
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