Open Access

Mengda Feng, Daniela Almeida StreitwieserORCiD, Yibo Wang, Yiming Han, Wenxin Shi, Chengrong Li

• Microplastics (MPs), due to their small size, large specific surface area, and strong adsorption, have become ubiquitous and persistent emerging pollutants in water environments, seriously affecting the ecological environment and human health. Constructed wetlands (CWs), as cost-effective and nature-based treatment systems, demonstrate significant potential for retaining and transforming MPs. This review systematically discusses the mechanism of removing MPs from constructed wetlands, including plant retention, substrate adsorption, microbial activities, and faunal-mediated processes, as well as the impact of MPs on constructed wetland systems, MP accumulation within the system can pose ecological risks, such as disrupting nutrient cycling, inhibiting plant growth, and causing secondary pollution. In addition, this review also explores in detail the impact and cycling of MPs on nitrogen and phosphorus removal in CWs, as well as their potential interactions with other pollutants in water environments. Finally, this review proposes directions for future focus and existing issues. This review provides ideas for analyzing the impact of MPs on constructed wetland systems from different perspectives, deepening people's understanding and recognition of new pollutants.