Microplastics: A Global Water Pollution Problem

Abstract Microscopic particles of plastic, known as microplastics, have become a ubiquitous contaminant in the environment. Their presence in the marine environment has been correlated to the exponential increase in global plastic production over the past 70 years and the subsequent increased abundance of plastic litter in the oceans. Other sources of microplastics include synthetic microfibers associated with the washing of textiles and tire particles associated with the abrasion and wear of the tread on automobile tires. Microplastics are recognized as contaminants of emerging concern because they occupy the same size fraction as plankton and sediment, making them bioavailable to a wide range of organisms, and they have the potential to adversely impact environmental health. Ingestion of microplastics by humans is likely, but confounding any assessment of health impacts is the lack of estimates on the total human exposure to these particles. This article will review the magnitude of plastic production and waste, provide an overview of the major sources of microplastics in the aquatic environment and the hazards they pose to both environmental and human health, and present a case study of ongoing efforts to characterize the sources and fate of microplastic contamination in Charleston Harbor, SC, USA.