Abstract
During the last decades, one of the most contentious environmental issues has been the investigation of the fate of microplastics (MPs) and detrimental consequences in natural and water resources worldwide. In this respect, it is critical research firstly to track the ways in which MPs are determined as key anthropogenic pollutants in terms of ecological risk and secondly to plan feasible policies under which the role of science and society in tackling this global issue in the future should be prioritized. In this study, a systematic theoretical, technical, and planning analysis was developed in alignment with a Scopus search deployed in the second half of the year 2021 and covering a wide chronological range (from 1970s onwards) and thematic contexts of analysis by using keywords and key phrases organized into two groups. The document results were graphically represented, revealing the main scientific focus of studies. Subsequently, our study investigated the quantitative assessment methods of MPs in marine environments, denoting the range of standard procedures applied for collecting and analyzing samples of water, bottom sediments, and coastal deposits. The technological part of the study includes the presentation of the relevant analytical techniques applied for MPs tracking and monitoring in water resources, determining the wide spectrum of plastic compounds traced. Of particular interest was the determination of environmental depletion and human implications caused, even by extremely low concentrations of MPs, for marine biota, posing potential risks to marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and food availability. Finally, the research proposed the challenges of actions needed to support scientific, industry, policy, and civil society communities to curb the ongoing flow of MPs and the toxic chemicals they contain into water resources, while rethinking the ways of plastics consumption by humanity.
Highlights
MPs are characterized as persistent organic pollutants of increased surface area, their transportation occurs by their adsorption by living organisms
IR and Raman analysis can be designed and developed for the better preparation of samples, since minimizing the chemical modification of the MPs samples can cause a misinterpretation by the IR spectra [20]. Another analytical challenge of complementary to μ-Raman spectroscopy is that Py-GC/MS pigment, containing particles, fibers, and sea sediment particles, are all identified as plastics [8]
In addition to the technical appreciation of MPs, it is of paramount importance that researchers and environmental planners approach marine MP debris in the marine environment as an integrated issue, being a contemporary societal issue that challenges the life convenience of using plastic materials in everyday activities without the environmental consciousness of ecological harm caused by careless disposal [45]
Summary
Plastics are among the most demanded and commercially marketable materials worldwide. The fate of plastics in the environment is determined by their physicochemical properties, including endurance, light weight, and durability in association with low manufacturing costs. The primary concerns arise from the fact that MPs are prone to adsorb contaminants on their surfaces, thereby becoming a secondary source of contaminants. The latter can travel up the food chain and accumulate in higher predators and humans [4]. The scientific community addresses the natural path of MPs transformation and transportation as a priority issue of high environmental impact, considerable efforts and many questions still need to be addressed [12]
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