The Crucial Nexus of Microplastics on Ecosystem and Climate Change: Types, Source, Impacts, and Transport

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a significant concern within environmental degradation, prevalent across various ecosystems, including aquatic and terrestrial environments. Industries such as agriculture, laundry, tourism, personal care products, and cosmetics primarily contribute to MP pollution in both soil and aquatic ecosystems. The ingestion of MPs by marine and terrestrial organisms, followed by their subsequent transfer along the food chain, has been extensively documented. Additionally, the presence of MPs in the environment has potentially exacerbated climate change dynamics. Notably, studies have revealed that MPs in soils exhibit interactive effects on nitrogen and carbon cycles, leading to increased emissions of N2O by up to 37.5% and CO2 by up to 92%. Despite numerous studies highlighting MPs' abundance and adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, there remains a significant knowledge gap concerning their correlation with climate change and their broader implications for human and environmental health. While previous research has shed light on the ecological consequences of MPs, a comprehensive review addressing the correlation between MPs abundance in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and their impact on climate change and human health has yet to be presented. The present study offers a comprehensive overview of various types of MPs, their sources, impacts, and transport pathways under changing climatic conditions. The findings of this study are anticipated to contribute towards mitigating the transport of MPs within ecosystems, thereby minimizing ecological impacts and their associated greenhouse gas emissions.