Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Earth Resources, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
Sci Total Environ. 2024 Oct 10;946:174297. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174297. Epub 2024 Jun 28.
Microplastic (MP) pollution in urban environments is a pervasive and complex problem with significant environmental and human health implications. Although studies have been conducted on MP pollution in urban environments, there are still research gaps in understanding the exact sources, regulation, and impact of urban MP on the environment and public health. Therefore, the goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the complex pathways, harmful effects, and regulatory efforts of urban MP pollution. It discusses the research challenges and suggests future directions for addressing MPs related to environmental issues in urban settings. In this study, original research papers published from 2010 to 2024 across ten database categories, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, were selected and reviewed to improve our understanding of urban MP pollution. The analysis revealed multifaceted sources of MPs, including surface runoff, wastewater discharge, atmospheric deposition, and biological interactions, which contribute to the contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. MPs pose a threat to marine and terrestrial life, freshwater organisms, soil health, plant communities, and human health through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Current regulatory measures for MP pollution include improved waste management, upgraded wastewater treatment, stormwater management, product innovation, public awareness campaigns, and community engagement. Despite these regulatory measures, several challenges such as; the absence of standardized MPs testing methods, MPs enter into the environment through a multitude of sources and pathways, countries struggle in balancing trade interests with environmental concerns have hindered effective policy implementation and enforcement. Addressing MP pollution in urban environments is essential for preserving ecosystems, safeguarding public health, and advancing sustainable development. Interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative research, stringent regulations, and public participation are vital for mitigating this critical issue and ensuring a cleaner and healthier future for urban environments and the planet.
城市环境中的微塑料 (MP) 污染是一个普遍而复杂的问题，对环境和人类健康都有重大影响。尽管已经对城市环境中的 MP 污染进行了研究，但在理解城市 MP 对环境和公共健康的确切来源、法规以及影响方面仍存在研究空白。因此，本研究的目的是全面概述城市 MP 污染的复杂途径、有害影响和监管工作。它讨论了研究挑战，并为解决与城市环境中与 MPs 相关的环境问题提出了未来的方向。在本研究中，选择并回顾了从 2010 年到 2024 年在十个数据库类别（包括 PubMed、Google Scholar、Scopus 和 Web of Science）上发表的原始研究论文，以提高我们对城市 MP 污染的理解。分析结果表明，MP 的多方面来源包括地表径流、污水排放、大气沉降和生物相互作用，这些都会导致水生和陆地生态系统的污染。MP 通过摄入、吸入和皮肤接触对海洋和陆地生物、淡水生物、土壤健康、植物群落和人类健康构成威胁。目前针对 MP 污染的监管措施包括改进废物管理、升级污水处理、雨水管理、产品创新、公众意识宣传和社区参与。尽管采取了这些监管措施，但仍存在一些挑战，例如：缺乏标准化的 MPs 测试方法、MP 从多个来源和途径进入环境、各国在平衡贸易利益与环境问题方面存在困难等，这些都阻碍了有效政策的实施和执行。解决城市环境中的 MP 污染对于保护生态系统、维护公众健康和推进可持续发展至关重要。跨学科合作、创新研究、严格的法规和公众参与对于缓解这一关键问题以及确保城市环境和地球的更清洁、更健康的未来至关重要。
