Microplastics and Their Harmful Effects on Living Organisms

"In recent years, our soils, rivers, seas, oceans and even the air we breathe have begun to be polluted with microplastics. Every day, it is increasingly evident that microplastics, ranging in size from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters, are adversely affecting our environment and organisms. New research and findings regarding microplastics emerge daily. Microplastics have been found everywhere, from human blood to the air we breathe, and are particularly prevalent in almost all fish species living in oceans. A study emphasized the prevalence of microplastics, suggesting the possibility of consuming microplastics equivalent to the size of a credit card weekly. Recent studies indicate that microplastics can breach the blood-brain barrier in animals, reaching brain tissue and potentially affecting the human brain as well. This finding suggests that organisms may face even greater challenges in the future. This study examines research on the harmful effects of microplastics on living organisms. As a result, serious research should continue on the damages caused by microplastics, solutions should be proposed, mandatory implementations should be put into practice, the cost of glass containers and materials that can be used instead of plastic should be reduced, and efforts to develop alternatives should be increased."