Factors influencing the migration and distribution of microplastics in the environment

Abstract

Microplastics, as emerging environmental pollutants, are ubiquitously distributed across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems, where their heterogeneous spatiotemporal dynamics are governed by multifactorial interactions. The key drivers include the intrinsic properties of microplastics (size, shape, and aging state), environmental physical parameters (hydrological factors, soil structure, meteorological factors, lighting and temperature), chemical factors (pH, inorganic iron, and organic matter), and biological activities (microorganisms and root organisms). These interconnected factors collectively dictate MP transport pathways, retention hotspots, and long-term ecological trajectories. Despite the increasing recognition of the environmental prevalence of microplastics, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding the synergistic mechanisms underlying their cross-media migration and fate. This review synthesizes current insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing MP behavior, with a focus on bridging the mechanistic understanding and real-world scenarios. By establishing a unified framework for the environmental interactions of microplastics, this work advances predictive modeling capabilities and informs targeted strategies for pollution mitigation and ecosystem protection, ultimately supporting robust risk assessment protocols.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Microplastics / Distribution / Environmental migration / Emerging contamination / Influential factors

Highlight

	● The inherent properties of microplastics have direct impacts on their migration behavior in environment.
	● This paper summarizes the factors affecting the migration and distribution of microplastics in environmental media.
	● Physical, chemical, and biological factors synergistically affect the migration and distribution of microplastics.
	● Microplastics transition and circulate in environmental media such as water, soil, and air.

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