Environmental behaviors and degradation methods of microplastics in different environmental media. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xi, Binbin; Wang, Bing; Chen, Miao; Lee, Xinqing; Zhang, Xueyang; Wang, Shengsen; Yu, Zebin; Wu, Panfeng
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 299(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Microplastic -- Distribution -- Migration -- Biological effect -- Degradation method; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134354
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastics, as a group of emerging contaminants, are widely present in environmental media and have the potential to endanger the ecological environment and human health. Due to the inconsistencies and difficulties inherent in the analysis of microplastic particles, global monitoring data on the distribution of microplastics in the environment are still far from sufficient. The fate and migration of microplastics in the environment are also uncertain. Therefore, there have been increasing reviews on the distribution, biological effects, migration, and health risks of microplastics. However, reports focusing on the degradation of microplastics are still rare. Understanding and commanding the environmental behavior of microplastics are of great significance to explore the treatment of microplastic pollution. Although some preliminary studies on microplastics have been carried out, there is still an urgent need to conduct a comprehensive study on environmental behaviors and degradation methods of microplastics in different environmental media. This article summarizes the recent advances on microplastics, basically includes the distribution and ecological impact of microplastics in soil and water environments, then elaborates the migration behavior and influencing factors of microplastics, and focuses on the research progress of microplastics degradation methods. On this basis, the problems existing in the current research and the future development directions have been proposed. This review could provide a more systematic reference for the development and research of microplastics in the future. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Estuarine sediments and agricultural soils show high concentration of microplastic. The effect of microplastic on organisms mainly depends on its concentration and size. Food chains and rivers are important pathways for microplastic migration. Photodegradation is the most commonly used method for microplastic degradation. Suggestions and futures perspectives are proposed.