Sources, Fate and Effects of Microplastic Pollution in Water
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 29
Special Issue Editors
Interests: microplastic; nature-based solutions; AI; pollution transport; numerical modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: nature-based solutions; AI; pollution transport; physical modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Microplastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing global environmental challenges of the 21st century. These ubiquitous particles, originating from both primary and secondary sources, are now detected across all aquatic environments, from urban rivers and lakes to remote oceans and polar regions. Despite the growing body of research, major uncertainties remain concerning the pathways, transformations, and ecological and human health impacts of microplastics in freshwater and marine systems.
This Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of the sources, fate, and effects of microplastic pollution in diverse aquatic environments. We invite original research articles, reviews, and methodological studies that shed light on the generation, transport, degradation, and accumulation of microplastics, as well as their interactions with co-contaminants, biota, and environmental processes. Submissions that integrate laboratory experiments, field monitoring, and modeling approaches are particularly encouraged. Studies focusing on innovative detection and quantification techniques, policy implications, and mitigation strategies are also welcome.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Sources, characterization, and quantification of microplastics in freshwater and marine systems;
- Transport, transformation, and environmental fate of microplastics;
- Microplastics as vectors for chemical and microbial contaminants;
- Ecotoxicological impacts on aquatic organisms and ecosystems;
- Human exposure and health risk assessment;
- Analytical and modeling approaches for microplastic detection and prediction;
- Policies, management, and nature-based solutions for microplastic pollution mitigation.
This Special Issue seeks to foster dialogue among scientists, practitioners, and policymakers working toward a cleaner and more sustainable aquatic environment.
Dr. Soroush Abolfathi
Dr. Md Salauddin
Guest Editors
Dr. Charlotte Dykes
Guest Editor Assistant
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-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
- pollution transport
- freshwater systems
- nano-particles
- water quality
- pollution mitigation
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