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Impacts of Microplastics on Marine Organisms and in Human Health
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This review examines the impacts of microplastics on marine ecosystems and human health, covering ingestion by marine organisms across all trophic levels, from plankton to large mammals. The authors also review the human health risks associated with microplastics detected in food, water, and air. The review calls for urgent global action to reduce plastic production and improve waste management before contamination becomes irreversible.
Abstract The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) across all oceans has emerged as a significant marine hazard as worldwide plastic production continues to grow. Now and during the next 20-30 years will be the time to confront the implications of the plastic industry's rise, which has resulted in the large-scale global production of millions of plastic-based items, varying from a single pen to automobiles. Inappropriate management, lack of awareness of the detrimental effects, reckless universal use, and the indiscriminate disposal of plastic based synthetic materials, has turned Earth into a "plastic planet”. It is critical to have a throughout understanding of MPs' potential from sink to source as well as the processes that govern their distribution and uptake and exchange in ecosystems, to properly comprehend their potential consequences and ecological harm. The goal of the present study was to identify the scenarios of microplastics structure, functions and subsequent impact to the marine organisms. Diversified origins of MPs in the oceans and their negative effects on marine animals have been discussed critically in this review. Because of their small size, these plastic particles are easily ingested by a wide range of marine life (e.g., fish, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Annelida, Echinodermata, Nematoda, phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, birds, Mammalia, marine reptiles, and coral), putting their health at risk. The ability of MPs to absorb a variety of dangerous hydrophobic chemicals from the environment directly transfers these toxins into the food chain. As a result, many laws and rules have been created to address the major issue of MP pollution in the marine ecosystem and it must be improved and implemented worldwide. To avert future dangers, it is critical to stop producing it and replace it with environmentally suitable alternatives.
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