Pollution to Solution: Understanding and Addressing Microplastic Contamination in the Environment

Abstract

In general, plastic pollution results from the unintentional release of macroplastic materials into the environment as well as the deliberate production and usage of small plastic particles (micro- and nano-sized plastic particles) in a variety of consumer products micro and nanoplastics in filtrate freshwater and marine environments because of the decomposition of brittle, weathered plastic items in the aquatic environment. Plastic fragmentation changes the potential for interactions and uptake by aquatic organisms due to the increase in surface area from macro to micro and nanosized particles. Therefore, it becomes necessary to apply a novel method to remove microplastics (MPs) from the natural environment becomes essential. To investigate the remedy of microplastic pollution, it is important to thoroughly summarize the distribution, impact, migration, and decomposition methods of MPs in various environmental media. Understanding and controlling the environmental behavior of MPs is of utmost importance.