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: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 287

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 (1 paper)

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Research

10 pages, 651 KiB  
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
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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