Scenario of Microplastics Waste in the Ecosystem

Plastic and polymeric products are ever increasing, inspite of sporadic efforts to minimize plastic litter in the environment. The plastic pollution has become a growing menace due to its persistence and impacts on the marine environment, with threats emerging for flora and fauna. The existence of microplastics in the environment is often established through aquatic studies. It generally originates from synthetic products, dust, coatings, personal care products, plastic pellets, etc., which account for > 80% of all microplastic in the ecosystem. These microplastics may originate on land and can be transported by soil erosion and wind to water bodies, including ponds, rivers, and oceans, ultimately affecting various environmental matrices. They have been determined from within water soil, salts, milk, blood and tissues of organisms. Numerous studies have shown that microplastics are widespread and have negative environmental impacts. These impacts include harm to marine ecosystems, threats to biodiversity, and potential health risks with severe toxicological implications. Microplastic contamination of marine ecosystems is due to poor plastic-waste management and a lack of effective measures to mitigate the problem. Microplastics may cause inflammation and lead to various health issues, including cancer, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, they may cause genotoxicity and contribute to chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases. In view of these, we need to enforce a standardized management strategy to mitigate microplastics in coastal areas. State of the art monitoring and management initiatives are the need of the current R&D experts, with the holistic support of all direct and indirect producers, manufacturers, stakeholders, regulators, and representatives from academic and aware populations.