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Impact of Microplastics on the Environment and Human/Animal Health and Their Enzymatic Removal
Summary
This review covers the environmental and health impacts of microplastics across ecosystems and discusses enzymatic degradation approaches, examining how identified plastic-degrading enzymes could be engineered or deployed at scale to reduce MP persistence in the environment.
Plastic, one of the most important breakthroughs in the preceding 75 years, is pervasive and poses a worldwide threat to the environment because of its durability, adaptability, and protracted existence in the ecosystem. Widespread environmental microplastic contamination exposes both humans and other biota. The environmental, economic, and societal concerns over the impact of microplastic pollution have drawn a lot of interest to study alternatives and potential plastic remediation strategies. Studies on microplastics have increased significantly as a result of greater awareness of the potential health hazards associated with their presence. Here, we will compile literature, studying the sources and distribution of microplastics, the occurrence of microplastic in different ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic), and the health impacts of microplastic contamination in humans and animals. Furthermore, One Health transdisciplinary approach to microplastics, addressing indirect effects beyond simple toxicological effects, and a thorough understanding of the prevention countermeasures for microplastics underlining the enzymatic removal of microplastic from the environment will also be discussed in this chapter.
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