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Microplastics as an emerging contaminant of concern to our environment: a brief overview of the sources and implications
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This overview describes how microplastics have become a widespread environmental contaminant found in water, soil, air, and living organisms. Beyond being pollutants themselves, microplastics can carry other toxic substances and even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, amplifying their health risks. The authors emphasize that microplastic exposure through food, water, and air poses a significant and underappreciated threat to human health.
Over the years, it has become evident that microplastics are one of the most important contaminants of concern requiring significant attention. The large abundance of microplastics that are currently in the environment poses potential toxicity risks to all organisms that are exposed to them. Microplastics have been found to affect the physiological and biological processes in marine and terrestrial organisms. As well as being a contaminant of concern in itself, microplastics also have the ability to act as vectors for other contaminants. The potential for microplastics to carry pollutants and transfer them to other organisms has been documented in the literature. Microplastics have also been linked to hosting antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes which poses a significant risk to the current health system. There has been a significant increase in research published surrounding the topic of microplastics over the last 5 years. As such, it is difficult to determine and find up to date and relevant information. This overview paper aims to provide a snapshot of the current and emerging sources of microplastics, how microplastics can act as a contaminant and have toxic effects on a range of organisms and also be a vector for a large variety of other contaminants of concern. The aim of this paper is to act as a tool for future research to reference relevant and recent literature in this field.
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Microplastics as Emerging Environmental Contaminants: Sources, Distribution and Ecological Implications
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This review examines the sources, environmental distribution, and ecological implications of microplastics, which are now found across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments worldwide. The study discusses how these persistent plastic fragments can enter food webs and highlights priorities for future monitoring, risk assessment, and pollution mitigation efforts.
Microplastic Pollution in the Environment
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This review examines the ubiquitous presence of microplastics as emerging environmental pollutants across all major environmental compartments, synthesizing data on their sources, fates, and concentrations over time and space to characterize the scale of global contamination.
Emerging Threat of Food Contamination by Microplastics and its Influence on Safety and Human Perspective
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Researchers reviewed how widespread plastic use across industry has made microplastic contamination of food a serious public health concern, with particles entering the food supply through environmental pathways including runoff, wastewater, and air. Addressing this threat requires tighter regulations, better food supply monitoring, and public education on exposure risks.
Microplastics as Environmental Pollutants: Biological and Health Consequences – A Comprehensive Review
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Researchers synthesized current knowledge on microplastic sources, environmental distribution, and biological effects across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems, documenting pathways by which both primary and secondary microplastics enter organisms and accumulate through food webs.
Microplastic Pollution in Soil and Water and the Potential Effects on Human Health: A Review
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This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on microplastic pollution in soil and water environments and its potential effects on human health. Researchers compiled evidence showing that microplastics are now found throughout food chains, drinking water, and air, creating multiple exposure pathways for people. The study highlights that while microplastic contamination is widespread, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term health implications of chronic human exposure.
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