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Microbial Technologies for Degradation of Microplastics in Wastewater

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Researchers reviewed microbial technologies — including bacterial degradation, fungal breakdown, and enzymatic pathways — capable of fragmenting and mineralizing microplastic polymers in wastewater treatment systems. These biological approaches offer a sustainable, low-cost route to eliminating microplastics before they accumulate in aquatic ecosystems and enter the food chain.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) have become a ubiquitous and concerning environmental issue in recent years. These tiny plastic particles, typically measuring less than 5 millimeters in size, have infiltrated various ecosystems worldwide including oceans, rivers, soils, and even...

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This review covers the occurrence, environmental behavior, and microbial remediation technologies for microplastic pollution, noting their diverse physical and chemical properties that make them persistent environmental hazards. Microplastics pose risks across ecosystems by carrying toxic chemicals and physically harming organisms, making microbial cleanup strategies a promising tool for reducing contamination before it reaches human bodies.

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