Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute Basparesh 2252-0449 15 2 2025 08 23 The Global Challenge of Microplastics: Environmental Impacts and Solutions The Global Challenge of Microplastics: Environmental Impacts and Solutions 40 52 2160 10.22063/basparesh.2025.35592.1720 FA Ziba Shirini Department of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Fatemeh Rafiemanzelat Faculty/ University of Isfahan 0000-0003-3314-437X Journal Article 2024 11 05 Microplastic pollution is a pervasive global issue that affects terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and poses significant environmental challenges for human populations. Defined as particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm in size, microplastics arise from the improper disposal and use of plastics through industrial products such as including cleaners, cosmetics, packaging materials, and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, they can also originate from the degradation of larger plastic items and enter the environment through various pathways such as drinking water sources, sea salts, and ingestion by marine organisms, and subsequently infiltrate the food chain. Their diminutive size enables them to escape conventional wastewater treatment processes, leading to their widespread dispersion in the environment. Due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio, microplastics serve as carriers of organic pollutants, heavy metals, toxins, and potentially harmful pathogens, posing risks to ecosystems. Recognized for their persistence, stability, and adverse health effects, microplastics have emerged as a pressing environmental concern, encouraging extensive research efforts towards large-scale ocean cleaning initiatives, reduced synthetic plastic utilization, and the development of biodegradable alternatives. The purpose of this article is to raise scientific awareness and provide existing solutions for the proper use of polymers and their waste management, in order to draw the attention of the polymer scientific community to the need to accelerate research in joining the global strategy for improving the environment by providing effective solutions for recycling and replacing more environmentally friendly polymers. Microplastic pollution is a pervasive global issue that affects terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and poses significant environmental challenges for human populations. Defined as particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm in size, microplastics arise from the improper disposal and use of plastics through industrial products such as including cleaners, cosmetics, packaging materials, and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, they can also originate from the degradation of larger plastic items and enter the environment through various pathways such as drinking water sources, sea salts, and ingestion by marine organisms, and subsequently infiltrate the food chain. Their diminutive size enables them to escape conventional wastewater treatment processes, leading to their widespread dispersion in the environment. Due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio, microplastics serve as carriers of organic pollutants, heavy metals, toxins, and potentially harmful pathogens, posing risks to ecosystems. Recognized for their persistence, stability, and adverse health effects, microplastics have emerged as a pressing environmental concern, encouraging extensive research efforts towards large-scale ocean cleaning initiatives, reduced synthetic plastic utilization, and the development of biodegradable alternatives. The purpose of this article is to raise scientific awareness and provide existing solutions for the proper use of polymers and their waste management, in order to draw the attention of the polymer scientific community to the need to accelerate research in joining the global strategy for improving the environment by providing effective solutions for recycling and replacing more environmentally friendly polymers. http://basparesh.ippi.ac.ir/article_2160_6b41ba781ee9c7e6c308782fc4822026.pdf