A review on the occurrence, analytical methods, and impact of microplastics in the environment

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and pharmacology Vol. 102; p. 104248
• Main Authors: Tran, Thuan Van, Jalil, A.A., Nguyen, Tung M., Nguyen, Thuy Thi Thanh, Nabgan, Walid, Nguyen, Duyen Thi Cam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Analytical methods; Environmental pollution; Health impact; Microplastics; Occurrence; Analytical methods; Health impact; Microplastics; Environmental pollution; Occurrence
• ISSN: 1382-6689; 1872-7077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104248

Nowadays, microplastic pollution is one of the globally urgent concerns as a result of discharging plastic products into the atmosphere, aquatic and soil environments. Microplastics have average size of less than 5 mm, are non-biodegradable, accumulative, and highly persistent substances. Thousands of tons of microplastics are still accumulated in various environments, posing an enormous threat to human health and living creatures. Here, we review the occurrence and analytical methods, and impact of microplastics in the environments including soil, aquatic media, and atmosphere. Analytical methods including visual observation, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were evaluated. We elucidated the environmental and human health impacts of microplastics with emphasis on life malfunction, immune disruption, neurotoxicity, diseases and other tangible health risks. This review also found some shortages of analytical equivalence and/or standardization, inconsistence in sampling collection and limited knowledge of microplastic toxicity. It is hopeful that the present work not only affords a more insight into the potential dangers of microplastics on human health but also urges future researches to establish new standardizations in analytical methods. [Display omitted] •Occurrence, quantification and impacts of microplastics in the environment were reviewed.•Microplastics were found to be present widely in atmosphere and aquatic media at very high concentration.•Visual observation is the most widely used method to detect microplastics .•Microplastics potentially affect marine life malfunction, immune disruption, neurotoxicity, and tangible health risks.