Microplastome: A New Paradigm for Progressing from Understanding to Controlling Microplastic Pollution
Microplastics have significantly impacted almost all ecosystems on Earth. The increasing production and disposal of plastic products, coupled with the persistent nature and low recycling rate of plastic waste, make microplastic pollution a major global environmental concern with a poorly reversible trend. To better understand and tackle microplastic pollution, SKLMP Member Dr. Nathanael Jin and his Postdoc Dr. Changchao Li, along with another SKLMP Member Dr. James Fang and several other experts in this field, introduced a novel conceptual framework of "the Microplastome". Their related insights and prospective trajectories have been published as a supplementary cover paper in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology."
Given that microplastic pollution in the real environment is caused by a range of plastic particles with different physicochemical properties, as well as matters such as absorbed chemicals and microbes, studying microplastics requires comprehensive consideration of their complexity and multidimensional attributes. Thus, the research team introduced a novel, conceptual framework of the “microplastome”, defined as the entirety of various plastic particles (<5 mm),="" and="" their="" associated="" matters="" such="" as="" chemicals="" and="" microbes.="" based="" on="" this="" concept,="" the="" researchers="" emphasize="" and="" call="" for="" a="" collective="" quantification="" and="" characterization="" of="" microplastics="" and="" for="" a="" more="" holistic="" understanding="" regarding="" the="" differences,="" connections,="" and="" effects="" of="" microplastics="" in="" different="" biotic="" and="" abiotic="" ecosystem="" compartments.="" the="" article="" also="" presents="" new="" perspectives="" on="" the="" representation,="" risk="" assessment,="" and="" traceability="" of="" microplastic="" pollution.="" by="" utilizing="" a="" scheme="" for="" source="" apportionment="" based="" on="" the="" compositional="" features="" of="" complex="" microplastics="" combined="" with="" receptor="" models.="" sources="" identified="" as="" major="" contributors="" to="" the="" high="" risk="" of="" microplastics="" can="" be="" prioritized="" for="" control="">
The research team believe the development of this paradigm will go a long way toward unraveling the ecological impacts of microplastics, thereby aiding in the management and resolution of this pressing global environmental concern.
More details are available via: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c08849