Microplastics: Why Filtering Water Is Not Enough

This review and policy analysis examines microplastic pollution from a chemical and environmental perspective. It explains how polymer properties, photo-oxidation, mechanical abrasion and biofouling influence the fragmentation, persistence and transport of microplastics. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies and institutional information available up to 12 July 2026, the article reviews major sources, including tyre wear, paint, synthetic textiles, plastic pellets, agricultural plastics and the fragmentation of larger plastic waste. It also discusses analytical methods such as microscopy, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, as well as potential consequences for biodiversity, agriculture, water management and human exposure. The article proposes an exploratory solution called the Microplastic Emission Passport (MEP). This system would classify products from A to E according to standardised measurements of particle emissions during normal use, while publishing test methods and uncertainty information and supporting producer-funded monitoring and prevention. This publication is a student-led scientific review and a testable policy proposal, not a report of a new field or laboratory experiment. It was written by Ashkan Nabili, a 17-year-old French STL student interested in chemistry and environmental research. This version has not been peer-reviewed.