Emerging microplastic contamination in ecosystem: An urge for environmental sustainability

Abstract

Plastic use has increased steadily in recent years due to the urbanization and industrialization at global scale. Due to the population expansion, more plastic products are being utilized in today’s scenario. Most of the plastic waste generated is due to its single usage that finds its pathway in oceans, seas, rivers, ponds, and landfills. Plastic waste on degradation produces microsized plastic (diameter <5 mm) termed as microplastics (MPs). MP contamination in environment is facilitated through various sources including cosmetic products, drug carriers, glitters, and disintegration of larger plastic products such as water bottles and fishing net. Due to their ubiquitous use in the environment, they possess serious threat to terrestrial and aquatic environments and human health. Many countries have already established regulations such as ban of single-use plastics and Microbeads-Free Waters Act to control its pollution and impacts on organisms. This review explores thoroughly the interactions of MPs with other pollutants, toxicological effects of the MP additives, occurrences of MPs, and impacts on the soil stability, structure, organisms, marine species, plants, and human health. This review also covers the strategies and regulations that are implemented to mitigate the MPs pollution.