Microbial Degradation of Marine Plastics: Current State and Future Prospects

Summary

Microbial degradation offers a promising biological pathway for breaking down the millions of tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, though current microbial capabilities remain limited compared to the scale of the problem. Understanding which microorganisms can metabolize specific polymers is critical for developing bioremediation strategies that could reduce the long-term accumulation of microplastics in marine ecosystems.