The production of fossil fuel-derived, synthetic plastics is continually increasing, while poor plastic waste management has recently induced severe pollution issues. Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. Microplastics are ubiquitous and slowly-degrading contaminants in waters and soils. Microplastics have long residence time, high stability, high potential of being fragmented and can adsorb other contaminants. Many aquatic species contain microplastics, which are in particular easily accumulated by planktonic and invertebrate organisms. Then, microplastics are transferred along food chains, leading to physical damages, decrease in nutritional diet value and exposure of the living organism to pathogens. Raw plastics contain chemical additives such as phthalates, bisphenol A and polybrominated diphenyl ethers that may induce toxic effects after ingestion by living organisms. Furthermore, the adsorption capability of microplastics makes them prone to carry several contaminants. Methods to remove microplastics from water and other media are actually needed. Here, we review microplastics occurrence, transport, raw polymers and additives, toxicity and methods of removal. Removal methods include physical sorption and filtration, biological removal and ingestion, and chemical treatments. Mechanisms, efficiency, advantages, and drawbacks of various removal methods are discussed.

来自化石燃料的合成塑料的产量不断增长，而塑料废物管理不善最近引起了严重的污染问题。微塑料是小于5毫米的塑料颗粒。微塑料是水和土壤中普遍存在且降解缓慢的污染物。微塑料的停留时间长，稳定性高，被破碎的可能性高，并且可以吸附其他污染物。许多水生物种都含有微塑料，尤其容易被浮游生物和无脊椎动物生物蓄积。然后，微塑料沿着食物链转移，导致物理损害，营养饮食价值下降以及生物体接触病原体。原料塑料包含化学添加剂，例如邻苯二甲酸盐，双酚A和多溴联苯醚，在被生物体摄入后可能引起毒性作用。此外，微塑料的吸附能力使它们易于携带多种污染物。实际需要从水和其他介质中去除微塑料的方法。在这里，我们回顾了微塑料的出现，运输，原料聚合物和添加剂，毒性和去除方法。去除方法包括物理吸附和过滤，生物去除和摄入以及化学处理。讨论了各种清除方法的机制，效率，优点和缺点。我们回顾了微塑料的出现，运输，原料聚合物和添加剂，毒性和清除方法。去除方法包括物理吸附和过滤，生物去除和摄入以及化学处理。讨论了各种清除方法的机制，效率，优点和缺点。我们回顾了微塑料的出现，运输，原料聚合物和添加剂，毒性和清除方法。去除方法包括物理吸附和过滤，生物去除和摄入以及化学处理。讨论了各种清除方法的机制，效率，优点和缺点。