Microplastics: environmental distribution and degradation by aerobic/anaerobic microorganisms

Summary

This review synthesises research on the environmental distribution of microplastics across water, soil, and atmospheric compartments and examines their degradation by aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities. The authors compare how different redox environments shape microbial community structure, metabolic pathways, and degradation efficiency, identifying key bacterial and fungal taxa capable of converting plastic polymers into environmentally benign carbon compounds.