Ecotoxicity and interactions of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: advancing towards standardized mitigation approaches
9 affiliations
- 1Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Centre
- 2Department of Public Health, The University of Lahore
- 3Department of Zoology, University of Central Punjab
- 4Department of Medical Education, University of Health Sciences
- 5Department of Chemistry, Government Graduate College for Women
- 6Department of Zoology, Minhaj University Lahore
- 7Department of Diagnostics, Green Polyclinic Lahore
- 8Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab
- 9Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Centre
Abstract
This study reviews the various micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) pollution, which demands immediate mitigation strategies in aquatic ecosystems to ensure an effective, scalable, and sustainable solution. The focus is summarising the physical, chemical, and biological processes to remediate MNP contamination. Physical techniques such as adsorption, flotation, and filtration are also considered representative strategies. Pollutants like biochar and carbon nanotubes can be removed by adsorption in plants. However, there is a risk of secondary pollution from this. Advanced filtration methods, such as sand filtration and membrane bioreactor, can achieve very high removal efficiency, but problems with membrane fouling limit scalability. Flotation holds tremendous potential if the right conditions are implemented. It also includes the chemical degradation methods (polar media like hydrogen peroxide and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and thermal degradation. Some AOPs rely on reactive species to degrade plastics, but they typically follow an energy-intensive route, whereas thermal degradation can decompose plastics with its own environmental cost. A molecular approach involving biological remediation, involving microbial and enzymatic degradation, is perceived as an environmentally friendly solution. Organisms with promising plastic-degrading abilities include Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus, genetically engineered microorganisms, and fungal treatments. Moreover, the degradation of MNPs plays a substantial role in microbial biofilms. Nanotechnology is a potential supplement to MNP remediation processes, especially engineered nanoparticles. However, the study highlights the need for further research to optimise these methods, improve scalability, and ensure environmental safety, recommending a multi-faceted approach to ensure the effective and sustainable mitigation of MNP pollution.
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BibTeX
@article{perveen2026ecotoxicity,
title = {{Ecotoxicity and interactions of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: advancing towards standardized mitigation approaches}},
author = {Ishrat Perveen and Muhammad Yaqoob and Nimra Afzal and Malik Muhammad Qasim and Muhammad Maaz Arif and Samia Nawab and Arooj ul Hassan and Sumbal Nazir and Naseem Sajjad and Tallat Anwar Faridi and Hibbah Qaiser and Hafiz Muhammad Abrar Awan and Naaz Abbas and Yasar Saleem and Sania Mazhar and Shaista Nawaz and Quratulain Syed and Syed Hussain Imam Abidi},
journal = {Sustainable Environment Research},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s42834-026-00286-0},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-026-00286-0},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ecotoxicity and interactions of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: advancing towards standardized mitigation approaches
AU - Ishrat Perveen
AU - Muhammad Yaqoob
AU - Nimra Afzal
AU - Malik Muhammad Qasim
AU - Muhammad Maaz Arif
AU - Samia Nawab
AU - Arooj ul Hassan
AU - Sumbal Nazir
AU - Naseem Sajjad
AU - Tallat Anwar Faridi
AU - Hibbah Qaiser
AU - Hafiz Muhammad Abrar Awan
AU - Naaz Abbas
AU - Yasar Saleem
AU - Sania Mazhar
AU - Shaista Nawaz
AU - Quratulain Syed
AU - Syed Hussain Imam Abidi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Sustainable Environment Research
DO - 10.1186/s42834-026-00286-0
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-026-00286-0
AB - This study reviews the various micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) pollution, which demands immediate mitigation strategies in aquatic ecosystems to ensure an effective, scalable, and sustainable solution. The focus is summarising the physical, chemical, and biological processes to remediate MNP contamination. Physical techniques such as adsorption, flotation, and filtration are also considered representative strategies. Pollutants like biochar and carbon nanotubes can be removed by adsorption in plants. However, there is a risk of secondary pollution from this. Advanced filtration methods, such as sand filtration and membrane bioreactor, can achieve very high removal efficiency, but problems with membrane fouling limit scalability. Flotation holds tremendous potential if the right conditions are implemented. It also includes the chemical degradation methods (polar media like hydrogen peroxide and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and thermal degradation. Some AOPs rely on reactive species to degrade plastics, but they typically follow an energy-intensive route, whereas thermal degradation can decompose plastics with its own environmental cost. A molecular approach involving biological remediation, involving microbial and enzymatic degradation, is perceived as an environmentally friendly solution. Organisms with promising plastic-degrading abilities include Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus, genetically engineered microorganisms, and fungal treatments. Moreover, the degradation of MNPs plays a substantial role in microbial biofilms. Nanotechnology is a potential supplement to MNP remediation processes, especially engineered nanoparticles. However, the study highlights the need for further research to optimise these methods, improve scalability, and ensure environmental safety, recommending a multi-faceted approach to ensure the effective and sustainable mitigation of MNP pollution.
SN - 2468-2039
ER -