Ecotoxicity of microplastic wastes and their sustainable management: A review

Abstract

Environmental Pollution due to the unprecedented inundation of microplastics (MPs) released from various sources is a major concern for most of the environmental & material scientists in today's world. Millions of tons of microplastics are produced each year and alarmingly enter the environment and up to 14 million tons of plastic waste are thought to enter into the ocean annually. The precarious results of it show a paramount imbalance in the natural ecosystem of many living beings. Such a devastating and toxic effect on our surroundings requires a long-lasting solution to safeguard its inhabitants. Additionally, studies have shown that MPs are consumed by a variety of organisms. It is precisely the combination of ingestion and chemical interaction that lends support to the idea that MPs could potentially influence the availability and harmfulness of both naturally occurring and externally introduced co-contaminants. Microbial remediation principally by bacterial and fungal populations has been an emerging trend for improving the microplastic pollution from the environment. This review paper delves into the ecotoxicological effects of microplastic pollutants on the environment and various microbial remediation technologies used by microorganisms for the degradation. It has been proven to be a key advancement as an environmentally friendly way of decomposing MPs than that of the traditional one. Plastic degradation and bioremediation potential of these microorganisms has aroused the interest of many, in eliminating the non-biodegradable plastics from the surroundings.