Microplastics and its Impacts on Marine Environment and Biotic Communities – A Global Perspective

A global issue that is prevalent nowadays and has become a hot topic is pollution caused by microplastics. They are dominating the entire earth including all ecosystems and pristine environments. Bioaccumulation of microplastics occurs in sediments, water columns and living organisms. In this review, studies based on microplastics research, conducted on seven continents, all over the world, were reviewed and discussed. The abundance of microplastics differs in each country based on different factors such as population, urbanization etc. The review focusses on both physical parameters (color, shape and size) as well as chemical parameters (composition) of microplastics. Impacts of microplastics on diverse groups of marine life was documented. Recent advances in technology for detection of microplastics were compared among different continents. Wide span of research on microplastics is needed in countries which are yet to be explored. Hence, future studies need to aim at developing standardized techniques for detection as well as quantification of microplastics.