Navigating solutions: a comprehensive review on plastic pollution in marine ecosystems and the vital role of biodegradable polymers

Plastic pollution is a serious anthropogenic hazard to marine life and is led by the increasing usage of long-lasting petroleum-based polymers. The present review contains an in-depth summary of the accumulation of plastic in coastal and marine ecosystems, with particular emphasis on the increasing rate of microplastics (MPs) and their ecological and human health consequences. Due to poor management, inefficient waste disposal and waste by industries, marine environments, surface water, sedimentation and biota are becoming highly polluted. When those plastics enter the bodies of marine organisms, they lead to gastrointestinal obstruction, as well as physical stress, and the introduction of invasive species and poisonous pollutants into the organism. The review analyses the existing methods of mitigation, such as source reduction, riverine interception systems, and advanced wastewater technologies. The special concern is paid to biodegradable plastics, i.e., polylactic acid (PLA) (polylactic acid), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) (polybutylene adipate terephthalate), thermoplastic starch (TPS) (thermoplastic starch), as well as the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) (polyhydroxyalkanoates) being the alternative to traditional ones. Such materials can break down into non-toxic products under certain environmental circumstances, hence reducing their long-term persistence. Nevertheless, due to the increasing level of difficulties that exist in regard to degradation efficiency, cost, and regulatory control. The review is a synthesis of the existing recent data, global policy initiatives, and technological advancements that demonstrate the prospect of the use of biodegradable polymers in the control of marine plastic pollution and justify the necessity of a multidisciplinary focus in the effort to maintain the well-being of the oceans of the world.

Graphical abstract