Fate of microplastics under the influence of climate change

Fatima Haque; Chihhao Fan

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107649

Fate of microplastics under the influence of climate change

iScience. 2023 Aug 16;26(9):107649. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107649. eCollection 2023 Sep 15.

Authors

Fatima Haque¹, Chihhao Fan¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Plastic pollution and climate change are two major environmental focuses. Having the forming potential due to ambient plastic pollution, the environmental fate of microplastics shall be inevitably impacted by global warming. This manuscript discusses the destiny of environmental microplastics and characterizes their fate considering the framework of the planetary boundary. The major routes for microplastic discharge include the release of microplastic stored in the ice into the sea when the ice melts as a result of global temperature increase, flushing of the plastic/microplastic debris from the shorelines into the adjacent water bodies as a result of increased rainfall, redistribution of the microplastics away from the source of plastic debris as a result of increased wind, and accumulation of microplastics in the soil as a result of drought. A perspective on the impact of climate change and microplastic pollution on aquatic and soil organisms was discussed as well.

Keywords: Environmental monitoring; Environmental science; Global change.

Publication types

Review