Nano/Micro Plastic and Emerging Plastic in the Environment: Monitoring, Analysis, and Remediation

Dear Colleagues,

The ubiquitous presence of plastic pollution has emerged as a pressing environmental challenge, with nanoplastics, microplastics, and emerging plastics garnering particular attention due to their pervasive distribution and potential ecological and health impacts.

Detecting, analyzing, and quantifying microplastics and, particularly, nanoplastics presents analytical challenges due to their diminutive dimensions, diverse chemical compositions, and propensity to undergo physical and chemical transformations in environmental matrices. Conventional analytical techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), encounter limitations when accurately detecting and quantifying nanoplastics amidst the background of natural particulate matter and organic compounds. Moreover, the dynamic nature of nanoplastic interactions with environmental components necessitates the development of novel analytical strategies which are capable of discerning their fate, transport mechanisms, and bioavailability across diverse ecosystems. Challenges persist in elucidating the pathways through which nanoplastics infiltrate food webs, accumulate in biota, and potentially propagate adverse effects through trophic levels. Furthermore, the lack of standardized protocols and reference materials hampers the comparability and reliability of nano/microplastic data obtained from different studies, thus impeding progress towards a comprehensive understanding of their ecological implications. Effective monitoring and remediation strategies are imperative to mitigate the proliferation of nano/microplastics and emerging plastic contaminants in the environment, as well as to achieve a environmental risk assessment.

The Special Issue regarding "Nano/Micro Plastic and Emerging Plastic in the Environment: Monitoring, Analysis, and Remediation" aims to address these multifaceted dimensions of nano/microplastics pollution, while exploring innovative approaches for their detection, characterization, and mitigation.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Characterization and detection methods: advancements in analytical techniques for the identification, quantification, and characterization of nano/micro plastics and emerging plastic variants in environmental matrices.
• Environmental fate and transport: investigations into the fate, transport mechanisms, and spatial distribution patterns of nano/micro plastics and emerging plastic contaminants in diverse environmental compartments.
• Nanoplastic behavior and fate: investigations into the physicochemical transformations, transport dynamics, and environmental persistence of 
• nanoplastics, elucidating their interactions with abiotic and biotic components within ecosystems.
• Ecological impacts and risks: assessments of the ecological impacts and potential risks associated with the accumulation of nano/micro plastics and emerging plastic pollutants on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as their repercussions on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
• Standardization and quality assurance: initiatives aimed at standardizing analytical protocols, reference materials, and quality assurance measures to enhance the reliability, reproducibility, and comparability of nanoplastic data across research endeavors.
• Monitoring strategies and remediation technologies: development and implementation of monitoring protocols and remediation strategies aimed at mitigating plastic pollution, safeguarding environmental integrity, and promoting sustainable resource management practices.

Original work highlighting the latest research and technical development is encouraged, but review papers and comparative studies are also welcome.

Dr. Serena Ducoli
Dr. Miguel Oliveira
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• nanoplastics
• microplastics
• emerging plastics
• analytical challenge
• risk assessment
• monitoring
• standardization
• ecological impact