Agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP) poses significant challenges to global water security and ecosystem health. This study proposes a zoning management framework for ANPSP in China, integrating ecological sensitivity, pollution load intensity, and agricultural production structures. Seven distinct governance zones are delineated, each with tailored strategies and measures. Supported by technological innovation, policy incentives, and participatory governance, this framework aims to achieve precise pollution control and water quality improvement.

Microplastics (MPs) maintain a bidirectional relationship with climate change, simultaneously contributing to global warming and being influenced by it. The production, use, and disposal of plastics generate substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, from the high energy demands of manufacturing to their degradation in the environment. In aquatic ecosystems, MPs reduce phytoplankton activity, compromising primary productivity and decreasing CO₂ uptake. In both terrestrial and aquatic systems, MPs disrupt biogeochemical cycles, influencing GHG emissions and exacerbating global warming. Atmospheric MPs affect regional and global radiative balances by altering Earth’s cooling processes and contributing to cloud formation and dust transport. In polar environments, the deposition and subsequent release of MPs from melting ice accelerates climate feedback, exposing new areas to further warming. MPs also alter microbial communities, affecting oxygen consumption and GHG release during soil organic matter decomposition. As global temperatures rise, plastic fragmentation intensifies, and extreme weather events increase MP dispersion. Thus, a vicious cycle emerges between global warming and pollution, wherein both factors mutually reinforce each other, undermining natural systems and the planet’s climate stability. This article aims to compile and synthesize current scientific knowledge to provide an overview that supports the development of mitigation measures addressing the challenges posed by MPs in the context of global warming, through a discussion of the characteristics of various Earth compartments, including the atmospheric, sedimentary, aquatic, and biological ones.

Marine plastic pollution is an escalating global concern, yet accurate data on aquatic plastic debris remain scarce due to the inherent limitations of traditional in situ sampling methods. To address this gap, next-generation hyperspectral satellite missions, particularly the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), offer promising potential for monitoring plastic pollution. This review applies narrative and scoping approaches to evaluate the potential utility of PACE in aquatic plastic monitoring. Drawing on 100 curated references, it examines 10 key studies employing Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, WorldView-2 and -3, the Hyperspectral Precursor of the Application Mission (PRISMA), Sentinel-3, and the Environmental Mapping Analysis Program (EnMAP), providing insights relevant to PACE’s hyperspectral capabilities. Key mission parameters - including spatial resolution, spectral granularity, temporal revisit cycles, and polarimetric sensitivity - are compared across platforms. A post-hoc design suitability assessment and a structured Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Constraints (SWOC) analysis of PACE’s instruments highlight both advantages and limitations for aquatic plastic monitoring. The review proposes targeted strategies such as spectral unmixing, correction for confounding absorption effects, and derivative reflectance analysis to enhance the detection of plastic signals in optically complex waters. Although empirical evidence remains limited, this review argues that PACE’s unique architecture - combined with multisensor data fusion and advanced analytical methods - has the potential to overcome current methodological constraints. It presents a testable hypothesis that PACE’s spatial, spectral, and polarimetric capacities can significantly advance satellite-based monitoring of aquatic plastic pollution.

Microplastic (MP) pollution, especially from polystyrene (PS), presents a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems due to its persistence and resistance to biodegradation. In the present study, a bacterium identified as Bacillus cereus was isolated from the polluted Mula River in Pune, and its potential to degrade PS MPs was evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. Morphological analysis confirmed it as a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile organism. The strain exhibited distinctive colony characteristics, including rough texture, opaque appearance and irregular margins. Biochemical profiling revealed positive results for methyl red, Voges-Proskauer, citrate utilization, and catalase tests, indicating metabolic versatility and oxidative tolerance. Molecular identification was conducted using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The amplified 16S rRNA sequence (~1,392 bp) was analyzed using BLASTN against the NCBI database, showing 100% sequence similarity with known Bacillus cereus strains (e.g., Bacillus cereus strain BM1, KU871054.1; Bacillus cereus strain 4-813, MW052587.1), thereby confirming its taxonomic identity. Phylogenetic analysis using MEGA software further supported its placement within the Bacillus cereus clade. Bacillus cereus grew effectively in minimal salt medium (MSM) with PS as the sole carbon source, achieving an optical density (OD) of 0.80 at 600 nm over 30 days. Biodegradation efficiency, assessed by dry weight loss of PS, showed a 20% reduction. The calculated degradation rate constant was 0.00758 g/day, corresponding to a half-life of 91.48 days. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed notable chemical modifications, including the appearance of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups and diminished aromatic C–H stretching, suggesting oxidative cleavage of the polymer backbone. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided visual evidence of biofilm-mediated degradation, revealing dense extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) layers, bacterial embedment, and pronounced surface erosion. Even after biofilm removal, the PS surface retained pits and fissures, indicating irreversible microbial degradation. This integrated analysis highlights the potential of indigenous Bacillus cereus for the bioremediation of PS MPs through biofilm formation and enzymatic activity. The findings contribute to the growing field of MP biodegradation and support further exploration of microbial approaches for sustainable plastic waste management.