The manifestation of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has become a major challenge owing to their unique characteristics such as hydrophobicity, surface charges, longer molecular chain arrangement, higher specific surface area, variety of size, shape, color and functional groups. They can also act as a vector in spreading other toxic pollutants in the environment by making convoluted complexes. Therefore, in this review, the up-to-date status on occurrence and removal of MPs and NPs in WWTPs are comprehensively evaluated. The stimuli of pertinent factors on the removal of MPs and NPs in WWTPs are also elucidated. Furthermore, the sorption behavior and mechanism of MPs and NPs towards toxic pollutants are critically debated in order to inspect the genuine menaces of MPs and NPs to WWTPs performance and environment. Particularly, the impacts of MPs and NPs on the performance of different wastewater treatment processes have been critically discussed. So far, no specific treatment technology has been developed specifically to remove MPs and NPs from sewage effluents and sludge excluding the subsisting conventional treatment techniques. Hence, to fill this gap, the recent research innovations on the development of MPs- and NPs-targeted treatment technologies are critically reviewed. Regarding this, the performances, pros and cons of the proposed technologies are critically evaluated that will be helpful in developing more reliable and cutting-edge technologies to eradicate MPs and NPs from the environment. Moreover, this critical review also provides knowledge gaps/key challenges and future perspectives for scientific community to combat against MPs and NPs pollution.

废水处理厂（WWTP）中的微塑料（MPs）和纳米塑料（NPs）的表现由于其独特的特性（例如疏水性，表面电荷，较长的分子链排列，较高的比表面积，大小不同，形状，颜色和功能组。它们还可以通过制造复杂的络合物，作为在环境中传播其他有毒污染物的媒介。因此，在本次审查中，全面评估了污水处理厂中MP和NP的发生和清除的最新状态。还阐明了有关污水处理厂中MP和NP去除的相关因素的刺激作用。此外，为了检验MPs和NPs对污水处理厂性能和环境的真正威胁，对MPs和NPs对有毒污染物的吸附行为和机理进行了激烈的辩论。尤其是，关于MP和NP对不同废水处理工艺性能的影响已经进行了关键性的讨论。迄今为止，除现有的常规处理技术外，尚未开发出专门用于去除污水和污泥中MP和NP的特定处理技术。因此，为了填补这一空白，对有关MPs和NPs靶向治疗技术发展的最新研究创新进行了严格审查。对此，表演，对所提议技术的优缺点进行严格评估，这将有助于开发更可靠，最前沿的技术来消除环境中的MP和NP。此外，这项重要的审查还为科学界对抗MP和NP污染提供了知识差距/关键挑战和未来前景。