Assessment tools for monitoring microplastics from surface water bodies: Challenges and future scopes

Abstract

The term "microplastics (MPs)" refers to solid particles of size less than 5 mm made of non-biodegradable polymers like PE, PP, and PET. In India, plastics account for around 60% of the overall municipal solid waste generated, finding an easy way to drift into the river bodies and deteriorating water quality. MPs pose a potential threat to the biosphere. MPs can be classified based on their origin and morphology. These characteristics can be used to find an efficient technique for assessing MPs. This review discusses various analytical techniques for monitoring MPs from surface water bodies with their advantages and limitations.