A review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination

Abstract Microplastics, widespread environmental pollutants, have received considerable attention because of their distribution and possible effects on human health and ecosystems. This study thoroughly examines current progress in identifying, detecting, and understanding the significance of microp...

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Main Authors: Pankaj Kumar, Kusum Lata, Amel Gacem, Mohd. Tariq, Snigdha Singh, Apurva Sharma, Virendra Kumar Yadav, Javed Khan Bhutto, Manoj Kumar, Maha Awjan Alreshidi, Mir Waqas Alam, Krishna Kumar Yadav, Shipra Choudhary
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:Environmental Sciences Europe
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01164-z
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author Pankaj Kumar
Kusum Lata
Amel Gacem
Mohd. Tariq
Snigdha Singh
Apurva Sharma
Virendra Kumar Yadav
Javed Khan Bhutto
Manoj Kumar
Maha Awjan Alreshidi
Mir Waqas Alam
Krishna Kumar Yadav
Shipra Choudhary
author_facet Pankaj Kumar
Kusum Lata
Amel Gacem
Mohd. Tariq
Snigdha Singh
Apurva Sharma
Virendra Kumar Yadav
Javed Khan Bhutto
Manoj Kumar
Maha Awjan Alreshidi
Mir Waqas Alam
Krishna Kumar Yadav
Shipra Choudhary
author_sort Pankaj Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Microplastics, widespread environmental pollutants, have received considerable attention because of their distribution and possible effects on human health and ecosystems. This study thoroughly examines current progress in identifying, detecting, and understanding the significance of microplastics in different environmental contexts. The paper provides an analysis of the dispersion and origins of microplastics, uncovering areas of high concentration and trends of buildup with key findings indicating microplastic accumulation of up to 2 million particles/km2 in some regions. The intricate relationships between microplastics and biological systems are such that their toxicological impacts on human health and their ecological ramifications can be easily observed. The amalgamation of existing research highlights the pressing need for efficient mitigation measures and regulations to tackle the escalating menace of microplastics. Strategies like biodegradable polymer development, wastewater filtration technologies, and global policy interventions are being sought to control this pollution. This study aims to thoroughly comprehend microplastic contamination, promoting well-informed choices and initiatives to protect the environment and public health.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2190-4715
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher SpringerOpen
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series Environmental Sciences Europe
spelling doaj-art-107e30e7b25e4781a018446f68c5c8ad2025-08-20T03:42:44ZengSpringerOpenEnvironmental Sciences Europe2190-47152025-07-0137112110.1186/s12302-025-01164-zA review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contaminationPankaj Kumar0Kusum Lata1Amel Gacem2Mohd. Tariq3Snigdha Singh4Apurva Sharma5Virendra Kumar Yadav6Javed Khan Bhutto7Manoj Kumar8Maha Awjan Alreshidi9Mir Waqas Alam10Krishna Kumar Yadav11Shipra Choudhary12Department of Environmental Science, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul UniversityDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University 20 Août 1955Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul UniversityMarwadi University Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Marwadi UniversityDepartment of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid UniversityDepartment of Hydrology, Indian Institute of TechnologyDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Ha’ilDepartment of Physics, College of Science, King Faisal UniversityDepartment of VLSI Microelectronics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and TechnologyAbstract Microplastics, widespread environmental pollutants, have received considerable attention because of their distribution and possible effects on human health and ecosystems. This study thoroughly examines current progress in identifying, detecting, and understanding the significance of microplastics in different environmental contexts. The paper provides an analysis of the dispersion and origins of microplastics, uncovering areas of high concentration and trends of buildup with key findings indicating microplastic accumulation of up to 2 million particles/km2 in some regions. The intricate relationships between microplastics and biological systems are such that their toxicological impacts on human health and their ecological ramifications can be easily observed. The amalgamation of existing research highlights the pressing need for efficient mitigation measures and regulations to tackle the escalating menace of microplastics. Strategies like biodegradable polymer development, wastewater filtration technologies, and global policy interventions are being sought to control this pollution. This study aims to thoroughly comprehend microplastic contamination, promoting well-informed choices and initiatives to protect the environment and public health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01164-zMicroplasticHuman healthEnvironmental fateEcological riskEnzymatic degradation
spellingShingle Pankaj Kumar
Kusum Lata
Amel Gacem
Mohd. Tariq
Snigdha Singh
Apurva Sharma
Virendra Kumar Yadav
Javed Khan Bhutto
Manoj Kumar
Maha Awjan Alreshidi
Mir Waqas Alam
Krishna Kumar Yadav
Shipra Choudhary
A review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination
Environmental Sciences Europe
Microplastic
Human health
Environmental fate
Ecological risk
Enzymatic degradation
title A review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination
title_full A review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination
title_fullStr A review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination
title_full_unstemmed A review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination
title_short A review on the environmental fate, toxicological risks, and cutting-edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination
title_sort review on the environmental fate toxicological risks and cutting edge degradation methods of microplastics contamination
topic Microplastic
Human health
Environmental fate
Ecological risk
Enzymatic degradation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01164-z
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