Emerging Solutions to Microplastic Pollution: A Review

MP pollution poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating comprehensive solutions beyond recycling and substitution. This review explores the problem of MP contamination, and the constraint of existing mitigation approaches and categorizes emerging solutions into primary (innovative technologies, MP degrading organisms, and novel approaches) and secondary (policy, behavioral interventions, and education) strategies. Technologies like nanotechnology-based filtration systems and photocatalytic degradation, innovative coagulation and flocculation technology, magnetic extraction, and application of metal and metal oxides show promise. However, scalability and practical implementation require further investigation. Biological pathways, including biodegradable plastics and MP-degrading organisms, complement technological innovations. Practical mitigation demands coordinated action from governments, industries, researchers, and individuals. Public awareness and education, effective waste management practices, and strict global regulations are crucial to supporting technological innovations. Interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating natural and social sciences, arts, and humanities, fosters a broader understanding of MP pollution. Transdisciplinary research enables comprehensive risk assessments, exposure evaluations, and informed policy development. Establishing standard vocabularies and collaborative frameworks facilitates knowledge sharing and innovation. This review emphasizes the need for risk-taking, open-mindedness, and cross-disciplinary cooperation to tackle MP pollution's complex issues. Ultimately, a multifaceted approach combining technological innovation, biological solutions, policy interventions, and public engagement is necessary to mitigate MP pollution's harmful impacts on humans and ecosystems.