Microplastic (MP) pollution is a critical environmental concern that exists within different mountain ecosystem compartments. This review paper highlights the source, sampling, distribution, and behavior of MPs in mountain terrains and foothills. Atmospheric transport and tourism are major sources of MP pollution in mountain ecosystems. Snow samples provide the maximum concentration of MPs compared to that of stream or ice core samples. Precipitation events considerably influence MP deposition and fallout in mountains and glaciers. PE, PP, PS, polyester, and PVC are common plastic polymers with diverse shapes, such as fibers, fragments, films, and pellets. Ecological concerns and stress due to MP accumulated in natural ecosystems have also been discussed, with considerable focus on MP transport and distribution dynamics at higher altitudes as prospects for future research. A remarkable knowledge gap was observed regarding the MP pathways in the mountainous ecosystems and the assessment of microplastic-associated additives, such as heavy metals and other toxic chemicals, including the evidence of nano-sized plastics. Furthermore, studies on the ecological and biological risks posed by MPs on remote mountains is severely limited with respect to global climate change, biodiversity loss, and influence on ecosystem services.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112232 | DOI Listing |
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf
January 2025
College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210000, China. Electronic address:
The presence of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) alongside toxic metals in soil significantly threatens plant health. Current research mainly focuses on the effects of original BMPs. In contrast, the specific impacts of ultraviolet (UV)-aged BMPs and their interaction with Cadmium (Cd) on seed germination and growth are unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMar Pollut Bull
January 2025
University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514, United States of America. Electronic address:
Microplastics, small pieces of plastic measuring less than five millimeters, have spread to all ecosystems, even those in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. In particular, microplastics have been found contaminating water in emerging fjords, or inlets created by deglaciation, along the Antarctic Peninsula. Microplastics contamination puts fjord communities, which are unique and dominated by benthic species, at high risk for microplastic exposure leading to issues with feeding, endocrine disruption, and exposure to adsorbed toxins, all of which lower fecundity and survivability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Contam Hydrol
January 2025
College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Hubei, Wuhan 430100, China. Electronic address:
Plastics pollution has become a serious threat to the people and environment due to the mass production, unreasonable disposal and continuous pollution. Polyethylene (PE), one of the most utilized plastics all over the world, is considered as a highly recalcitrant environmental destruction problem on account of strong hydrophobicity and high molecular weight. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to seek economical and efficient treatment and disposal methods for PE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China. Electronic address:
Microplastic pollution in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to soil quality and environmental sustainability. This study investigated the composition, abundance, distribution, ecological risk, and environmental carrying capacity of microplastic pollution in the Tarim River Basin (TRB), China. The risk quotient combined with soil environmental carrying capacity (SECC) approaches was proposed to evaluate ecological risks and soil sustainability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address:
Microplastics (MPs) have become pervasive pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems, raising significant ecological risks and human health concerns. Despite growing attention, a comprehensive understanding of their quantification, sources, emissions, transport, degradation, and accumulation in soils remains incomplete. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the anthropogenic activities contributing to soil MP contamination, both intentional and unintentional behaviors, spanning sectors including agriculture, domestic activities, transportation, construction, and industry.
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