Microplastics (MPs) in Marine Environments are emerging pollutants and progressively being reported from all the matrices of aquatic ecosystems, such as marine (ocean and sea), estuaries, fresh water, and wastewater effluents. These particles, typically less than 5 mm in size, are widespread across marine ecosystems, from coastal waters to the deep sea. Microplastics interact with marine biota at multiple trophic levels, leading to ingestion, bioaccumulation, and potential transfer across the food web. Additionally, they serve as carriers of harmful microbes and chemical pollutants, endangering both human health and the environment. In light of this, it should be a top priority to monitor, evaluate, and mitigate microplastics in marine environments.

Research on marine microplastics has advanced considerably over the past two decades, as reflected in the growing body of scientific literature, and this heightened interest highlights the need for a focused collection of studies dedicated to this pressing environmental issue.

This Research Topic provides an excellent opportunity to gather the latest advances in the field of marine microplastics, encompassing a broad spectrum of research areas such as sources and pathways, environmental distribution, detection methodologies, ecotoxicology, food web interactions, and remediation strategies. We invite contributions from a wide range of scientists, including marine ecologists, environmental chemists, toxicologists, microbiologists, and policy researchers. All organizational levels, from individual organisms to ecosystems, are considered.

The main objectives of this proposed issue are:
• To highlight the current state of knowledge on sources, types, and pathways of microplastics in marine ecosystems, from coastal waters to the deep sea.
• To assess the ecological impacts of microplastics on fish, plankton, invertebrates, and higher trophic levels, with a focus on trophic transfer and bioaccumulation.
• To advance methods/techniques for identifying, measuring, and characterizing microplastics in sediments, water, and biota
• To explore mitigation and remediation strategies, such as innovative technologies, waste management, and nature-based solutions for reducing plastic inputs into the marine ecosystem.
• To provide a platform for emerging perspectives on the implications of microplastics for food security, fisheries, and human health through seafood consumption.

The objective is to provide a comprehensive and comparative perspective to guide research, public health strategy, and global policy development. This theme aligns with emerging international concerns over plastic pollution under the One Health paradigm of the United Nations' focus on global plastic treaty negotiations. So, this topic is timely and impactful.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Comparative Analysis of Microplastic-Associated Antimicrobial Resistance Hotspots Across Freshwater, Estuarine, Coastal, and Open-Ocean Ecosystems