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Microplastics in the Marine Ecosystems: Identification and Impacts
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics, broken-down bits of everyday plastic waste, are showing up along India's coastlines, and this review paper rounds up what scientists have found so far. While research on their health effects is still catching up, these particles are known to persist in the environment and can enter the food chain through seafood, raising concerns about long-term exposure for coastal communities. The authors point out that India still needs a lot more research to fully understand how serious this problem is and what it means for people's health.
Microplastics (MPs) are a class of contaminants that are emerging in our environment as a consequence of the increased manufacture and consumption of plastics. MPs (<5mm) may originate from both primary and secondary sources. Primary microplastics are produced within the MP size range, but secondary MPs originate when larger plastic particles fragment end up in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Due to their durability and potential harm to humans, they cause environmental and health concerns. Recent studies suggests that climate change, both directly and indirectly is linked to microplastics. While the growing concern of microplastic pollution continues to be explored globally, fewer studies from India asserts the urgency of conducting more studies. Existing MP studies in the Indian context cover different matrices of the environment, (terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems) on the east and west coasts of India, with more studies focusing on marine ecosystems. As studies on microplastics from coastal regions are subsequently increasing in India, the requirement of a comprehensive review paper will soon be the need of the hour. The goal of this review paper is to provide the current status of MP research studies conducted from different coastal regions of India by framing a panoramic literature review of the available scientific work conducted. This will further lay a foundation for categorizing the quantitative microplastic research from Indian coasts and help the scientific community to thoroughly have access to the information they require on conducting further studies. Besides, this review paper also focuses on identifying the lacunas in existing research and throws light on comprehending the intricate microplastic loop, which demands interdisciplinary investigation and intervention.
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