Microplastics in the Marine Environment

In recent years, microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant concern due to their widespread presence, non-biodegradable nature, and ability to adsorb, leach, and transport other pollutants in the marine environment. In addition, they pose a potential risk to human health through the consumption of seafood. MPs can enter the oceans by different pathways and can be transported over long trajectories, disseminating various types of pathogens, and organic and inorganic contaminants, in marine ecosystems. Once introduced into aquatic environments, MPs undergo various biotic and abiotic processes, including weathering and biodegradation. These processes alter their physicochemical characteristics, thereby influencing their toxicological impact on organisms. This chapter discusses how these plastic particles enter marine ecosystems, their dynamics once inside, and the degradation processes to which they are exposed, as well as advances in MPs sampling and analyzing techniques.