Impacts of Microplastic Pollution on the Environment and its Effective Treatment – A Review

Abstract

The effectual prevention and control of microplastics (MPs) in an environment is of great significance and a challenging task. The extensive usage and improper disposal of plastic materials increased the quantity of MPs in the surroundings, which poses potential issues for both flora and fauna. A recent survey reported that MPs can easily accumulate in human and animal bodies, which causes several adverse health problems such as inflammation, chronic disease, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, etc. MPs can also disturb the growth, reproduction, and survival of aquatic organisms, leading to a disruption of the food chain and ecosystem. Moreover, it acts as a toxin carrier and transports them into the biological system, leading to the accumulation of toxic compounds in the food chain that cause biomagnification. Therefore, effective MPs management is crucial to prevent and control the release of MPs into the environment. Strategies such as the 3R principle, public awareness, employing suitable solid waste management, and developing biodegradable alternatives to plastics can partially alleviate the hostile effect of MPs on the environment. However, this kind of strategy has not met the present-day demand to reduce waste MPs completely. In the future, available techniques like membrane filters, ultrasound, electrocoagulation, magnetic separation etc. must be combined with advanced technology like machine learning and artificial intelligence (MLAI) for the best performance to remove MPs. This review provides a source for further improvement for the effective prevention and control of waste MPs generation in an environment for sustainability, which can likely be achieved using appropriate technology.

Graphical Abstract