This review paper analyses the information published in scientific articles and official reports on the occurrence and effects of microplastics in the marine environment, particularly on algae and their potential use for microplastic remediation. In marine environments, polyethylene is the most common polymer found, followed by polypropylene, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms. Algal-microplastic interactions offer potential solutions to marine plastic pollution, as they could be used in the remediation of microplastics due to their high adsorption capacity. The study highlights that extensive research is needed to determine the most suitable algal species, optimal conditions, practical challenges, and potential risks that are associated with this phycoremediation approach. The development of standardised protocols and reliable analytical techniques is essential, and at the same time, systematic research on microplastics is necessary to understand their sources, distribution, impacts, and risks, inform environmental and human health policies, and promote sustainable alternatives to plastics.
The current study examines the contamination of microplastics in three greenhouse types: abandoned, normal, and simple. The findings revealed that the abundance of microplastics was found to be the highest in the abandoned greenhouse, followed by the normal greenhouse and simple greenhouse. The mean abundance of microplastic organic fertilizer and irrigation water was also high.[…]
The study examines the distribution of residual film after eight years of film mulching in mid-April 2018. Results from the study revealed that eight years of mulching significantly increased the quantity of agricultural mulch film residues in the soil. The size of residual film fragments was found to vary from 0.25 cm2 to 109 cm2,[…]
A study in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province, investigated microplastic pollution in different land uses, including facility farmland, traditional farmland, orchard, grassland, and woodland. Results showed a significant difference in microplastic abundance and characteristics between different land use types. Facility farmlands, traditional farmlands, and orchard lands had higher microplastic abundance than grasslands and woodlands. The main[…]
The study analysed 225 soil samples from maize planting zones in northern China, revealing that long-term plastic film mulching increases microplastic pollution in agricultural soils. The abundance of microplastics was significantly higher in mulched soils (754 ± 477 items kg-1) than in non-mulched soils (376 ± 149 items kg-1). The length of time with film[…]
The study examined the relative abundances and morphological distributions of microplastics (MPs) in water, sediments, and farmland soils in the Caohai Lake region. The estuary in the study area was considered a potential sink for MP transportation. Transparent and black MPs accounted for a large proportion of MPs in the five environments, with possible sources[…]