About this Research Topic

Background

Microplastics and nanoplastics are environmental pollutants that have received significant recent attention. They originate from both intentional production and the breakdown of larger plastic items. Studies have now demonstrated pervasive environmental contamination by microplastic particles, including all major environments (e.g. marine, freshwater, terrestrial) and matrices (air, water, sediment, soils, biota). There is also evidence of the significant potential for both micro- and nanoplastics to interact with other pollutants and impact various organisms, but with as of yet largely un-documented consequences for global ecosystems.

Despite a substantial volume of scientific literature over the previous decade, a number of essential questions remain in the field of micro- and nanoplastics research. For example, there are large uncertainties about the status of environmental nanoplastic contamination, due to difficulties in measuring these particles in complex environmental samples. There is also an observed perception that freshwater and terrestrial environments act as pathways or vectors for contamination to coastal ecosystems and the ocean, where their effects on biota need to be better understood in complex environments and possible accumulation zones, with associated potential risks to ecosystems. There is a need for source identification, pathway assessment, and mapping of micro- and nanoplastic accumulation zones, particularly to guide and establish policies and actions for reducing or mitigating plastic releases, as well as studies to examine the impact of contamination on a range of biota, ecological processes and ecosystem services. It has also been observed that less work has been conducted on the management and mitigation of different sizes, morphologies, and polymer types of different plastics. This demand invites more research to understand the sources, pathways (e.g., from rivers, wastewater, and rainwater), toxicity, ecological consequences, management and mitigation of plastic, microplastic and nanoplastic pollution.

This Research Topic contributes to the emerging literature on plastics, microplastics, and nanoplastic by examining how the collection of data and scientific research can play a role in better management and mitigation. We are particularly interested in explorations such as the following:

-Inquiries on all aspects related to plastic, microplastic and nanoplastic pollution, including methodologies for sampling and tracing pathways in terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems
-Inquiries on the characterization and analysis of micro- and nanoplastics, including method harmonization
-Evaluation of the ecotoxicological impacts of micro- and nanoplastics
-Investigations of plastics as vectors of other environmental contaminants and microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria and anti-microbial resistant genes
-Theoretical and normative inquiries into plastic, microplastic and nanoplastic management strategies, from case studies to policies
-Evaluation of the mitigation approaches ranging from source identification, prevention and reduction of loads to polymer degradation

Keywords: plastic, microplastic, nanoplastic, policy, water, mitigation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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