Microplastic Pollution in India: Environmental Effects and Recent Developments in Microbial Biodegradation of Secondary Microplastics

The increased global production of plastic materials and the presence of plastic waste in the environment have resulted in widespread environmental contamination despite the presence of restrictions from various governments. The breakdown of macroplastic materials has resulted in the formation of microplastics (MPs; ≤ 5 mm), which are now widespread in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. The widespread presence of MPs in the environment poses severe ecotoxicological risks to organisms at various trophic levels. Although there has been increased interest in the study of the impacts of MPs, critical knowledge gaps still exist regarding the application of remediation measures at various scales. This article aims to comprehend the present status of global MP contamination, with a special focus on the patterns of contamination and the difficulties associated with environmental monitoring in India. The study also examines advances over the last decade in the biodegradation of secondary MPs using bacterial and fungal consortia. The critical parameters associated with the degradation process, the efficiency of the microorganisms in various experimental setups, and the associated enzymatic processes are critically reviewed in the study.