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The Global Microplastic Cycle in the Ecosphere
Summary
This review examines the global microplastic cycle across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems during the Anthropocene, tracing how persistent organic pollutants and microplastics move through environmental compartments. Researchers synthesized evidence showing that microplastic accumulation continues to increase alongside other persistent pollutants, posing growing risks to ecosystem stability.
The Anthropocene Age covers the period in which pollution in aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems is at its highest level and continues to increase day by day. Persistent organic pollutants such as benzene, naphthalene and dioxin produced in the Industrial Area create concern for the environment and are tried to be controlled through international agreements. In addition to these chemicals, plastic materials with a wide variety of uses are also produced. Although plastic materials are seen as materials that can make people’s daily lives easier, they have become one of the important environmental problems. Although the storage or disposal of plastic waste varies between countries, its contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems is global. Microplastics constitute plastic particles smaller than 5 mm and are candidates to be one of the pollutants that cause concern on ecosystems. In this book chapter, the chemical structure of microplastics, their degradation processes in the environment, their abiotic and biotic transport in the ecosystems and their effects on biota will be explained.