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Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments
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Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2025 | Viewed by 3334

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Xueqiang Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, and Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Interests: environmental geochemistry; environmental bioremediation; pollution control of marine and freshwater systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Chengtao Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
Interests: environmental behavior and ecological effects of microplastics; environmental biotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The pervasive presence of microplastics in aquatic environments has raised global concerns due to their persistence, potential for bioaccumulation, and detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health. This Special Issue of Water aims to advance our understanding of microplastic pollution, addressing the sources, transport mechanisms, environmental behavior, and ecological impacts of microplastics in various aquatic systems.

We invite submissions that explore a range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Detection, characterization, and quantification of microplastics in freshwater and marine environments;
  • Sources, transport, and fate of microplastics across aquatic systems;
  • Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms and food webs;
  • Interactions between microplastics and other pollutants;
  • Mitigation and management strategies for reducing microplastics pollution;
  • Development of environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics.

This issue seeks to bring together research that highlights innovative methods, multidisciplinary approaches, and policy-relevant findings to inform future research directions and practical solutions.

Prof. Dr. Xueqiang Lu
Prof. Dr. Chengtao Li
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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.

Keywords

  • microplastics
  • ecotoxicology
  • aquatic systems
  • detection
  • mitigation strategies

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 6835 KiB  
Article
Realistic Environmental Exposure of Microplastics in European Flat Oyster, Ostrea edulis: Evaluation of Accumulation and Depuration Under Controlled Conditions and Molecular Assessment of a Set of Reference Genes
by Federica Pizzurro, Eliana Nerone, Marco Di Domenico, Massimo Ancora, Luana Fiorella Mincarelli, Romolo Salini, Ludovica Di Renzo, Simone Fazio and Sara Recchi
Water 2025, 17(7), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071063 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 327
Abstract
Marine plastic waste represents, in recent decades, a major threat to the environment, as plastics degrade into microplastics (MPs) that a wide range of organisms ingest. Filter-feeding taxa, including bivalves, serve as indicators of environmental contamination due to their ingestion of MPs. This [...] Read more.
Marine plastic waste represents, in recent decades, a major threat to the environment, as plastics degrade into microplastics (MPs) that a wide range of organisms ingest. Filter-feeding taxa, including bivalves, serve as indicators of environmental contamination due to their ingestion of MPs. This study investigated (a) the bioaccumulation and depuration capacities of Ostrea edulis exposed to MPs and (b) the identification of reference genes for assessing stress responses in bivalves under MP exposure. The experimental protocol comprised a 28-day exposure to MPs followed by a 7-day depuration period. The mean concentration of accumulated MPs was 5.31 ± 0.86 particles/g, comprising filaments (79%), beads (19%), and fragments (2%). Depuration reduced MP concentrations by 69% after 24 h and by an additional 23% after 120 h. In conclusion, a two-day depuration period significantly reduced MPs in oysters intended for human consumption. Additionally, the molecular analysis identified EF-1α, GAPDH, and L5 as stable reference markers for MPs exposure experiments, supporting the development of a monitoring toolkit for MPs in marine environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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14 pages, 4168 KiB  
Article
Comparative Long-Term Monitoring of Microplastics in the Effluent of Three Different Wastewater Treatment Plants with Two, Three, and Four Treatment Stages
by Michael Toni Sturm, Daphne Argyropoulou, Erika Myers, Anika Korzin, Pieter Ronsse, Oleg Zernikel, Dennis Schober and Katrin Schuhen
Water 2025, 17(5), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17050711 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 584
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important point sources for microplastics (MPs) in the environment. For effective mitigation measures and regulations, it is important to monitor their release into the environment and understand the level of MPs in the WWTP effluents based on different [...] Read more.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important point sources for microplastics (MPs) in the environment. For effective mitigation measures and regulations, it is important to monitor their release into the environment and understand the level of MPs in the WWTP effluents based on different treatment technologies. In this study, we compare the MP levels in the effluents of three different municipal WWTPs which each use a different treatment concept: a conventional three-stage WWTP, one with an additional fourth cleaning stage using powdered activated carbon, and a two-stage WWTP utilizing a membrane bioreactor (MBR). Long-term monitoring was performed on the WWTP effluents using the same standardized methods for sample collection, preparation, and detection, based on fluorescent staining. Despite the various advanced treatment processes, there are no significant differences in the resulting MP contamination in the investigation of WWTP effluents. The average MP concentrations in the effluents were 21.8 MPs/L for the conventional three-stage WWTP, 15.1 MPs/L for the four-stage WWTP, and 15.1 MPs/L for the MBR. Further, the MP contamination in all effluents shows a strong fluctuation over time. These findings highlight the need for standard MP monitoring at WWTPs, to gain a better understanding of the MP emission in different treatment processes. Further, it highlights the need for a fourth treatment stage that specifically targets MP removal to effectively prevent the MP release from WWTPs into the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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14 pages, 3900 KiB  
Article
Microplastic Pollution in Sewage Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plants and Estimation of Microplastic Release
by Soo-Jin Cho, Ja-Hyung Choi, Young-Sam Yoon and Nam-Il Um
Water 2025, 17(3), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17030387 - 31 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1083
Abstract
International efforts are being made to reduce environmental pollution caused by microplastics (MPs). Microplastics are released into the environment through sewage treatment sludge, and the use of sludge as a soil improvement agent is increasing rapidly, emphasising the importance of controlling microplastics in [...] Read more.
International efforts are being made to reduce environmental pollution caused by microplastics (MPs). Microplastics are released into the environment through sewage treatment sludge, and the use of sludge as a soil improvement agent is increasing rapidly, emphasising the importance of controlling microplastics in sewage treatment facilities. The release of microplastics into the environment is an increasingly significant concern, with sources including sewage treatment sludge. This study focuses on the analysis of microplastics in sewage sludge using optical (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, FTIR) and thermal (Thermo Extraction Desorption–Gas Chromatograph–Mass Spectroscopy, TED-GC-MS) processing-based analytical equipment. The average amount of MPs in the sewage sludge analysed using FTIR was 228.5 microplastics/g of sludge (MPs/g), primarily of the polypropylene type. Approximately 75% of the MPs were 0.1 mm in size or smaller. However, the average amount of MPs in the sewage sludge determined using TED-GC-MS was 95.79 µg-MPs/g. For the systematic management of microplastics, it is important to estimate the amount of microplastics generated by sewage treatment plants. Therefore, a microplastic generation calculation formula was proposed and used to estimate the potential microplastic generation in sewage treatment plants. The total amount of MPs generated from sewage treatment plants in South Korea, calculated using the equation, was approximately 364 ton/yr; we further divided the total amount by administrative regions. The findings of this study can be applied to assess global trends in MP research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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Graphical abstract

9 pages, 282 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Potential Effects of Microplastics on the Growth and Functional Traits in Two Aquatic Macrophytes (Myriophyllum spicatum and Phragmites australis) in Mesocosm Experiments
by Lele Liu, Borbala Codogno, Wei Wei, Xiya Zhang, Jian Gao, Valeriia Dokuchaeva, Luyao Ma, Pan Wu, Qing Yu and Weihua Guo
Water 2025, 17(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17010014 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 980
Abstract
In the last decade, microplastics (MPs) have become a significant environmental pollutant with potential negative effects on aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems. This mesocosm study examined the effect of MPs on the growth and physiology of two common aquatic macrophytes (Myriophyllum spicatum and [...] Read more.
In the last decade, microplastics (MPs) have become a significant environmental pollutant with potential negative effects on aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems. This mesocosm study examined the effect of MPs on the growth and physiology of two common aquatic macrophytes (Myriophyllum spicatum and Phragmites australis), focusing on changes in biomass allocation and nutrient contents. We evaluated oxidative stress responses by measuring superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars, free amino acids, and glutamate synthetase activities for M. spicatum, and we assessed photosynthetic processes through metrics including Fv/Fm, electron transfer rate, and Y(II) for P. australis. Unlike most previous studies in plants, we found that the growth and all functional traits of these two plants were not significantly affected by the common MP type (polyethylene) at either low or high concentrations. Additionally, we have examined the impact of another type of MP (polystyrene) on P. australis, and no significant effect was observed. In conjunction with prior case studies, the majority of which demonstrated the toxic impacts of MPs, our research indicates that plants exhibit a species-specific response to MPs. In addition to the strong adaptation of widespread plants used in this study, the large experimental system and relative long-term treatment may also explain our negative results. Our study highlights the need to further investigate species-specific tolerances and adaptive responses to MPs to better understand their ecological impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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