Management of Microplastics from Sources to Humans

Microplastics are an emerging threat to food security and mankind. A recent spike in the production of plastic has caused an increment in the level of global plastic waste. Microplastic waste can enter the ecosystem, causing air, soil, water, and food pollution that can persist for hundreds of years in the ecosystem due to its low biodegradability. People are exposed to microplastics primarily through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure, and frequent exposure can cause respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and many more complications. Management of microplastics from source to humans is important, and a few strategies are presently practiced to reduce the microplastics entering the ecosystem and their migration through the food chain. This chapter discusses sources of microplastics, human exposure to microplastics, health risks of microplastics, social and ecological impacts, and management strategies for microplastics from sources to humans.