An Overview of Micro(Nano)Plastics in the Environment: Sampling, Identification, Risk Assessment and Control
Licheng Peng (),
Tariq Mehmood,
Ruiqi Bao,
Zezheng Wang and
Dongdong Fu
Additional contact information
Licheng Peng: Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Haikou 570228, China
Tariq Mehmood: Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Haikou 570228, China
Ruiqi Bao: Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Haikou 570228, China
Zezheng Wang: Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Haikou 570228, China
Dongdong Fu: Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Haikou 570228, China
Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-23
Abstract:
Advances in urban infrastructure, a flourishing polymer sector, and more traffic have all contributed to a rise in micro(nano)plastics in the environment. Researchers are exploring the production, fate, toxicity threshold, and severity of micro(nano)plastic exposure. Albeit, understanding sampling protocols, preservation of samples, and characterization of micro(nano)plastics obtained from the different mediums (e.g., soil, water, air, and living bodies) is still challenging. Particularly identification of micro(nano)plastics, on the other hand, is restricted and limited to the typical generic definition of contaminating sources. In addition, before micro(nano)plastics degrade naturally, many challenges must be overcome, enhancing the need for research on assisted degradation. Thus, a systematic review is presented, which begins by discussing micro(nano)plastic identification, sampling, and handling; then showcases the environmental and health consequences and how to control them; finally, it discusses environmental micro(nano)plastics management options. According to studies, biological and chemical methods to break down micro(nano)plastics have risen in popularity. However, these methods often only cover one type of plastic. Furthermore, these solutions can transform polymers into micro(nano)plastics and may also produce byproducts, increasing environmental contamination risk. Therefore, control, prevention, and management strategies are all investigated to generate more realistic and long-term solutions. The literature suggests a combination of different microorganisms (e.g., different bacterial species) and different approaches (e.g., filtration with degradation) could be more effective in the treatment of micro(nano)plastics. Furthermore, according to the literature, relevant health risks associated with micro(nano)plastics to humans from various exposure routes are currently unclear. Likewise, standardization of methods supported with sophisticated state-of-the-art apparatus for detecting micro(nano)plastics is required. Overall, precision in micro(nano)plastic identification and treatment strategy selection is critical, and their usage should be regulated if their environmental behavior is not properly addressed.
Keywords: degradation; health risk; micro(nano)plastics; soil; air; and water pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:
Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/21/14338/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/21/14338/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX
RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan)
HTML/Text
Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:14338-:d:961168
Access Statistics for this article
Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu
More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().