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Theoretical Review on Microplastic Pollution: A Multifaceted Threat to Marine Ecosystems, Human Health, and Environment
Summary
This review provides a broad overview of how microplastic pollution threatens marine ecosystems and human health through multiple pathways including seafood consumption, drinking water, and air inhalation. Researchers summarized evidence that microplastics cause physical harm to marine species, transport toxic chemicals through food webs, and may be linked to inflammatory and hormonal disruption in humans. The study emphasizes that addressing this problem requires coordinated policy changes, better waste management, and development of biodegradable plastic alternatives.
Microplastic pollution in oceans poses a complex global threat to marine ecosystems and human health. These ubiquitous plastic particles originate from diverse sources and become widely dispersed by ocean currents, contaminating remote regions worldwide. In the aquatic environment, microplastics cause physical harm to aquatic species through ingestion. They disrupt habitats and act as vectors for toxic chemicals through bioaccumulation in aquatic species, enter food webs, and impair marine ecosystem functions. For humans, microplastic exposure via seafood consumption, drinking water, and inhalation raises concerns about potential inflammatory, cytotoxic, and endocrine-disrupting diseases that are linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and metabolic disorders. Mitigating this pervasive pollution requires a multi-pronged approach, including policy interventions that minimize plastic use, improve waste management, encourage technological innovations for biodegradable alternatives, provide public awareness campaigns, and improve coordinated efforts across plastic stakeholders. Comprehensive strategies combining research, regulations, and public engagement are crucial to protect marine life and human health from the detrimental impacts of microplastic contamination. This paper provides an overview of the origins and pathways of microplastics and assesses the impacts of microplastic pollution on human health and the environment. This study also highlights the methodology, knowledge gaps, and future directions to facilitate research on microplastic removal and risk assessment in the oceans.
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