Integrated approaches for microplastic detection, risk assessment and sustainable biotechnological remediation

Abstract

Plastics have become indispensable in modern society, with extensive applications in electronics, transportation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, packaging, and food systems. However, their widespread use has led to the emergence of microplastics (plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm), which represent a pervasive and largely invisible form of environmental pollution. Due to their small size, persistence, and resistance to degradation, microplastics can evade conventional filtration systems and disperse widely through air, water, and soil. They have been detected in remote environments such as deep-sea sediments, high-altitude mountain regions, and Antarctica, indicating their global distribution and environmental persistence. Microplastics are distributed across terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems and are transferred to higher trophic levels through food webs, resulting in reductions in soil microbiota, soil fertility, and ecosystem functioning. Rising evidence also associates microplastic exposure to adverse human health effects, including respiratory disorders, inflammation, oxidative stress, gastrointestinal disturbances, and potential carcinogenic risks. Recent advances in analytical techniques have improved the detection of microplastics in environmental and biological samples. Furthermore, emerging waste management strategies, microbial and biotechnological approaches, have promising potential for the degradation and remediation of microplastics. Overall, incorporating multidisciplinary strategies, including waste management, public awareness and scientific innovation, is essential to monitor, mitigate, and ultimately reduce microplastic pollution.