Microfiber Surface Acting as a Potential Niche for Proliferation of Microbial Community

Plastics are found in great proportions within the environment owing to their durability, ease of use, and availability. Extensive usage of plastics has caused severe concerns as its fragmentation may result in the generation of microplastics and microfibers, which are considered as hazardous compounds. The persistence of microfibers in soil, groundwater, or freshwater environments requires expeditious investigation from the scientific community. The inadvertent ingestion of pollutants by soil and marine biota may provide a pathway for microfibers to enter the biological cycle. The current chapter explores the sources, characterisation, and factors influencing the microbial colonisation of microfibers in an ecosystem, whereas the role of microorganisms for the biofilm formation in the plastisphere environment has been discussed. In addition, the potential health effects and risk caused by microbial biofilm formation on microfibers in diverse environments upon human health has been explored briefly. Development of novel approaches for the identification and mitigation of microfibers is necessary to prevent their biomagnification in the ecosystem which may eventually affect human and animal health. Furthermore, government policies need to be implemented and followed with strict regulations to reduce or control the usage and disposal of products that may result in the dispersal of microfibers in the environment.