Fate of Micro/Nano Plastic Pollutants in the Marine Ecosystem

Plastics are the core materials in almost every product design or manufacturing—highly in demand and use. Plastics, being difficult to degrade, are further degenerated into nano- and microplastics having size of 5 mm to 100 nm. Nano- and microplastics are seen to be accumulate in natural environment, like aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems, by the release of industrial wastewater. Once released into the environment, micro/nano plastics can undergo various processes, including aggregation, fragmentation, biofouling, eutrophication, and bioaccumulation, which can lead to various health and environmental hazards. Additionally, microplastics and nanoplastics can act as a vector for the transport of pollutants and other harmful substances in the marine environment. Focusing on the marine environment, the pollutants can be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the aquatic animal’s skin, potentially leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption being a threat to all organisms, from plankton to seabirds. In addition, these pollutants can accumulate in tissues and organs, potentially leading to chronic health effects over time. The role of various microbial interactions, including some strains of bacteria like Bacillus cereus, Alcaigenes faecali, Rhodomonas sp., and Pseudomonas sp. and fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium and algae such as Ulva and Enteromorpha, were found to have degraded polythene and polyester and play an active role in degrading micro- and nanoplastics. This chapter seeks to comprehensively address the interactions between microorganisms and nanoplastic pollutants in the environment, the resulting health and environmental hazards, and potential degradation pathways of these pollutants.