In recent years, the proliferation of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems has emerged as a critical environmental challenge, galvanizing a vast array of scientific inquiries and policy discussions. The article “Correction to: Risk-based management framework for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems,” authored by Mehinto, A.C., Coffin, S., Koelmans, A.A., and colleagues, published in Microplastics & Nanoplastics in 2025, marks a significant step toward refining our understanding and management strategies regarding microplastic pollution. This correction highlights the complexity and dynamism inherent in managing microscopic plastic pollutants, reinforcing the necessity for continuous updates in scientific frameworks that address evolving ecological risks.
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than five millimeters in diameter, are now ubiquitous across marine, freshwater, and even terrestrial environments. Their persistence and widespread distribution pose multifaceted problems, affecting biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ultimately human health through bioaccumulation in food webs. The original framework proposed by Mehinto et al. offered a structured approach to risk assessment and management, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecological, chemical, and socio-economic factors. This latest correction underscores refinements in risk parameters, methodologies, and potential mitigation strategies, reflecting how nuanced and evolving our understanding of microplastic impacts continues to be.
One of the pivotal challenges in assessing microplastic risk lies in the particles’ diverse physicochemical properties. Variations in size, shape, polymer type, and chemical additives significantly influence their environmental fate and toxicity. The correction to this framework addresses these complexities by incorporating refined metrics that better capture the heterogeneity of microplastic particles in different aquatic environments. This advancement allows scientists and policymakers to calibrate risk assessments more precisely, enhancing the accuracy of predictions regarding ecological and human health outcomes.
The aquatic ecosystems are especially vulnerable due to microplastics’ ability to adsorb and concentrate hazardous chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals. This sorption capability transforms microplastics into vectors of chemical pollution, transporting toxic substances across ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. The updated risk management framework integrates this dimension, advocating for the consideration of pollutant-loaded microplastics in future environmental monitoring and remediation efforts. This multidimensional approach deepens our understanding of microplastic pollution as a complex stressor in aquatic environments.
Crucial to effective management is the implementation of adaptive regulatory measures. The correction emphasizes a dynamic model where risk thresholds and protective actions are periodically revised based on emerging scientific evidence. Such an approach is critical given the rapid scientific advances and growing datasets on microplastic distribution and effects. By promoting regulatory flexibility, this framework supports responsive governance structures capable of mitigating risks before they escalate into irreversible environmental damage.
Furthermore, the framework correction elucidates the importance of integrating ecological risk assessments with socioeconomic factors. Microplastics have implications beyond environmental health, affecting fisheries, tourism, and community livelihoods dependent on aquatic resources. The corrected model proposes more robust socioeconomic impact analyses alongside ecological assessments, fostering holistic management strategies. This integration highlights the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration across ecology, toxicology, economics, and social sciences to devise sustainable solutions.
From a technological standpoint, the refined framework suggests enhanced methodologies for detecting and quantifying microplastics in water bodies. Advances in spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, coupled with machine learning algorithms, enable more sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective analyses. These technological improvements are vital for monitoring programs, enabling the generation of comprehensive datasets necessary to inform adaptive management. The correction reflects these technological trends by recommending standardization of detection protocols to ensure data comparability and reliability.
Another notable aspect addressed by the correction involves the ecological risk pathways specific to different aquatic habitats, such as rivers, estuaries, and oceans. Each habitat type experiences unique hydrodynamic conditions and biological communities, influencing microplastic transport, deposition, and impact patterns. By tailoring risk management frameworks to habitat-specific contexts, the updated model fosters targeted interventions that optimize resource allocation and ecological protection outcomes across diverse aquatic systems.
The amendment also places significant emphasis on downstream impacts, including microplastic accumulation in sediments and interactions with benthic organisms. This sediment-phase focus reveals a critical yet often underappreciated reservoir for microplastic pollutants, where prolonged exposure can induce chronic effects on sediment-dwelling species. Recognizing sediment as both a sink and potential source for secondary microplastic pollution expands the scope of environmental monitoring and highlights the need for integrated sediment management in pollution control strategies.
Public awareness and community engagement remain central pillars for effective microplastic risk management, as articulated in the correction. The framework encourages transparent communication channels between scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders, including local communities and industries. Elevating public understanding of microplastic sources, pathways, and consequences can facilitate behavioral changes, support grassroots initiatives, and drive policy acceptance. This participatory approach underscores the social dimensions of environmental governance in addressing global pollution challenges.
Importantly, this correction underscores the value of international cooperation in tackling microplastic pollution. Given the transboundary nature of aquatic ecosystems and plastic debris movement, coordinated efforts across countries and regions are imperative. The framework advocates for harmonized monitoring protocols, data sharing platforms, and joint policy actions to strengthen collective capacity in microplastic risk mitigation. This global perspective resonates with broader environmental treaties and sustainability agendas prioritizing biodiversity conservation and pollution reduction.
The authors also reaffirm the critical need for future research directions to fill persisting knowledge gaps. These include long-term ecotoxicological studies on microplastic effects across trophic levels, the role of microplastics in disease transmission, and potential synergistic impacts with climate change stressors. Addressing these uncertainties will further refine risk model parameters and support evidence-based policymaking. The correction invites the scientific community to collaborate in multidisciplinary efforts that enhance predictive capabilities and management effectiveness.
A particularly forward-looking element involves integrating emerging technologies such as remote sensing and environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses to detect and monitor microplastic pollution. These innovations promise to revolutionize environmental surveillance by enabling large-scale, non-invasive assessments of microplastic distribution and ecological impacts. The revised framework recognizes these technologies’ potential, advocating their incorporation into future monitoring networks to provide real-time data with unprecedented spatial coverage and resolution.
Furthermore, the correction sheds light on potential remediation technologies aimed at reducing microplastic loads in aquatic ecosystems. Approaches such as biofiltration, advanced wastewater treatment, and plastic-eating enzymes are discussed as promising yet still experimental strategies. The framework stresses the importance of rigorous evaluation of these interventions’ ecological footprint and effectiveness before widespread adoption. Balancing innovation with environmental safety remains a key consideration in microplastic pollution management.
In conclusion, the correction to the risk-based management framework for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems represents a pivotal advancement in addressing one of the most pervasive environmental pollutants of our time. By incorporating refined risk parameters, adaptive governance models, technological innovations, and socio-economic integrations, this updated framework offers a comprehensive blueprint for science-driven, effective management. As microplastic pollution continues to challenge ecosystem resilience and human well-being, such evolving frameworks are crucial for steering global efforts toward sustainable aquatic health futures.
Subject of Research: Risk-based management of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems
Article Title: Correction to: Risk-based management framework for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems
Article References:
Mehinto, A.C., Coffin, S., Koelmans, A.A. et al. Correction to: Risk-based management framework for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics & Nanoplastics 5, 41 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00149-2
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