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Impacts of Microplastic on Aquatic Environment
Summary
This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) from cities, wastewater, and runoff are building up in rivers, lakes, and oceans—and working their way up the food chain into fish and seafood we eat. Because these plastics can carry harmful chemicals and may cause cell damage, eating contaminated seafood is a real, though still not fully understood, way humans could be exposed to health risks. The authors call for more research and better monitoring to figure out just how much danger this poses and how to reduce it.
Microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic environments poses significant ecological and human health concerns. Sampling techniques for MPs analysis vary, influencing abundance estimation. Freshwater bodies, including rivers and lakes, act as reservoirs for MPs from stormwater runoff, atmospheric deposition, and wastewater discharge. Urban areas contribute significantly to pollution through stormwater systems and untreated wastewater discharge. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MPs occur within aquatic food chains, impacting organisms and human health. MPs, due to their hydrophobic nature, absorb and transport hazardous substances, leading to genetic toxicity and ecosystem disruption. Estuaries play a crucial role, posing risks of bioaccumulation. Human exposure to MPs occurs through seafood consumption, a significant ingestion route. Aquaculture lacks comprehensive research on MP presence in farmed versus wild seafood. Monitoring methods, including microscopy and spectroscopy, are vital for understanding MP characteristics. In India, marine environments, sediments, beaches, and organisms face MP contamination. Research highlights correlations between human activities, tourism, and MP abundance on beaches. Fish, essential for coastal populations, exhibit MP ingestion, potentially causing adverse health effects. Comprehensive studies are essential for effective mitigation, emphasizing the need for continued research and global cooperation.