Machine learning may accelerate the recognition and control of microplastic pollution: Future prospects

Microplastics (MPs, sizes <5 mm) have been found to be widely distributed in various environments, such as marine, freshwater, terrestrial and atmospheric systems. Machine learning provides a potential solution for evaluating the ecological risks of MPs based on big data. Compared with traditional models, data-driven machine learning can accelerate the realization of the control of hazardous MPs and reduce the impact of MPs at both local and global scales. However, there are some urgent issues that should be resolved. For example, lack of MP databases and incomparable literatures causing the current MP data cannot fully support big data research. Therefore, it is imperative to formulate a set of standard and universal MP collection and testing protocols. For machine learning, predictions of large-scale MP distribution and the corresponding environmental risks remain lacking. To accelerate studies of MPs in the future, the methods and theories achieved for other particle pollutants, such as nanomaterials and aerosols, can be referenced. Beyond predication alone, the improvement of causality and interpretability of machine learning deserves attention in the studies of MP risks. Overall, this perspective paper provides insights for the development of machine learning methods in research on the environmental risks of MPs.