A Summary of the Transporting Mechanism of Microplastics in Marine Food Chain and its Effects to Humans

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitously present in the oceanic environment and, though unrecognizable to the public, pose perilous effects to animals in all trophic levels as well as to human beings. For this study, we emphasized the wide-ranging effects of oceanic microplastics to animals and to humans. The transportation mechanism of microplastics in oceanic food chain was analysed and the negative effects to animals in all trophic levels including humans are specified. Then, two approaches to mitigate the perilous effects are illustrated. Further, by reviewing the previous research, some knowledge gaps appeared. Therefore, four suggestions for future research were proposed. Unlike previous research, this review paper serves as an overview of the perilous effects created by the microplastics from cosmetic products to animals across all trophic levels, including human, and the transporting mechanism of microplastics through the marine food chain was elaborated as well. Hence, this review paper can raise people's awareness to the microplastic pollution caused by cosmetics and further promote the banning of the microplastics in cosmetic industries and the propagating of potential alternative materials that are more sustainable.