We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Incorporation of Microplastics into Food Chains and their Consequences on marine Biodiversity: An Emerging Environmental Challenge in Maharashtra, India
Summary
This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic bits (microplastics) are building up along India's Maharashtra coast and getting eaten by plankton, shellfish, and fish—including the kinds of seafood people eat. These plastics can harm marine life by causing inflammation, hormone disruption, and other health problems, and they can also carry toxic chemicals up the food chain, raising concerns about what ends up on our plates. The findings underscore the need for better monitoring and pollution controls to protect both ocean ecosystems and the seafood-based diets many communities depend on.
Microplastics (<5 mm) have emerged as pervasive contaminants across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. India, particularly the Maharashtra coast along the Arabian Sea, is experiencing increasing microplastic accumulation due to urbanization, industrial discharge, fisheries activities, and tourism pressure. The incorporation of microplastics into aquatic food chains represents a serious ecological and public health concern. This review synthesizes current evidence on sources, environmental distribution, trophic transfer mechanisms, physiological impacts on aquatic organisms, and biodiversity consequences, with special emphasis on Maharashtra. Studies across Indian waters confirm ingestion in plankton, benthic invertebrates, commercial fishes, and apex predators. Microplastics induce oxidative stress, immune modulation, histopathological alterations, and endocrine disruption, thereby threatening ecosystem stability. Furthermore, their role as vectors of toxic organic pollutants enhances ecological risk. The review highlights emerging data from the west coast of India and identifies research gaps, monitoring needs, and governance strategies relevant for sustainable coastal management. Addressing microplastic incorporation into food webs is essential for safeguarding marine biodiversity and fisheries-based livelihoods in Maharashtra.