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Microplastics in the Environment
Summary
Microplastics—tiny plastic fragments from everyday products—are piling up in our air, water, and food, and scientists are increasingly concerned about their effects on wildlife and human health. This review paper (which summarizes existing research rather than presenting new experiments) explores how certain bacteria and enzymes might be able to break down these plastics naturally, offering a promising but still-developing solution to plastic pollution. While this "eating plastic" approach isn't ready for widespread use yet, it highlights a potential path toward reducing the microplastics that end up in our environment and, ultimately, our bodies.
Microplastics are a major environmental pollutant that pose a global health concern because of their increasing toxicity in marine organisms, birds, animals, and humans. The production and consumption of plastic products have resulted in the emergence of microplastics (MPs), which are landfilled in aquatic and terrestrial environments, causing the death of several organisms. MPs include polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. Biodegradation is considered the most sustainable method for rectifying this global environmental issue. This review discusses biological degradation, particularly by microbes, and enzyme-based approaches. The degradation evidence is determined by three results: changes in the physical structure, appearance, and mass of plastics and MPs, and the generation rate of their metabolic by-products. The main aim of this chapter is to elaborate on the role and types of microorganisms and their enzymes in MP degradation. Various techniques such as SEM, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, FTIR-ATR, nuclear magnetic resonance, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography– mass spectrometry are available for their identification, characterization, and for the confirmation of metabolites produced after MP degradation. Moreover, advanced techniques, such as metagenomics and enzyme engineering, have been recommended as future possibilities to combat such a global threat. Further research is required to improve enzymatic plastic degradation.