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Journal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences (SFS)
Summary
This review covers the sources, ecological impacts, and health consequences of microplastics (particles <5 mm) in marine environments, with a focus on detection and extraction methods. It summarizes how MPs—from primary cosmetic sources and secondary plastic degradation—are ingested by marine organisms and enter the human food chain, causing metabolic, immune, and neurotoxic effects.
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, pose serious environmental and human health risks. These tiny plastics originate from primary sources, such as cosmetics and industrial products, or secondary sources, where larger plastics degrade due to environmental factors. Microplastics are difficult to remove from the environment and are often ingested by marine organisms, leading to ecological and health consequences. Their ingestion can cause injuries, metabolic disruptions, and immune or neurotoxic effects in marine life and humans through the food chain. Detection methods include microscopy (SEM), spectroscopy (FT-IR, ATR), and thermal analysis (TGA, Py-GC-MS). Density separation and filtration techniques help extract microplastics, while tissue digestion methods using chemicals like KOH and H₂O₂ isolate them from biological samples. These pollutants can act as carriers for harmful chemicals and microbes, increasing their toxicity. Human exposure through seafood consumption varies by region, raising concerns about long term health effects, including oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, and inflammation.