Micro-plastics (MPs) are an environmental threat that has been gaining importance lately with an increasing number of studies demonstrating that they are a larger threat than previously thought. Scientists around the world have used a wide number of methods in their studies and they have adapted changes in response to the specific nature of the research undertaken. This article provides an account of the historical development of the MP menace, development of methods and tools used in MP research and also describes the challenges that are faced to further advancement to take place. The article is categorized into various sections that include history, sources, isolation, extraction, and characterization of MPs. Among the thermal characterization techniques, direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry and secondary ion mass spectrometry, which are widely used to characterize the plastics, but not utilised so far in this field are also highlighted for future direction.

微塑料（MPs）是一种环境威胁，近来越来越重要，越来越多的研究表明，它们是比以前认为的更大的威胁。世界各地的科学家在他们的研究中使用了许多方法，他们根据所进行研究的特定性质对变化进行了调整。本文介绍了MP威胁的历史发展，MP研究中使用的方法和工具的发展，并描述了进一步发展所面临的挑战。本文分为多个部分，包括MP的历史，来源，隔离，提取和表征。热表征技术包括直接热解质谱和二次离子质谱，