| Title | The cause, fate and effect of microplastics in freshwater ecosystem: Ways to overcome the challenge |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 21643 |
| Authors | Raju, M; Gandhimathi, R; Nidheesh, PV |
| Title | The cause, fate and effect of microplastics in freshwater ecosystem: Ways to overcome the challenge |
| Year | 2023 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | Plastic pollution is considered to be one of the major problems of the 21st century. The issue gets worse when dealing with the plastics pollution on a micro scale. The plastic particle of size lesser than 5 mm to 1 & mu;m are considered as Microplastics (MPs) and they are majorly produced by disintegration of larger plastics to smaller one. Plastics contain harmful substance which are added during their production process and these substances may cause severe illness. Virulent nature of plastics is undeniable as they are made up of toxic chemicals. Their extent of threat to the environment and humankind are still under research. About 80 % of the plastics found in the marine environment comes from the freshwater system such as streams, river etc. The freshwater gets MPs through various sources such as stormwater runoff, wastewater treatment plants, agricultural activity and landfill leachate. However, it is still unclear how MPs behave in freshwater environments. Prolonged exposure to MPs can lead to long time health risks. Microplastics found in freshwater can be consumed by various aquatic species, disrupting the food chain and posing significant threats to flora and fauna. This article discusses the presence of MPs in freshwater, its sources and its negative impacts on other pollutants, human beings, and various terrestrial and freshwater species. Storm water runoff, rivers, landfill leachate, and atmospheric air are vital in transporting MPs to freshwater ecosystem. The final section of this article presents the remedies to MPs pollution. The spread of MPs into the environment can be managed by adhering to the circular economy of plastic, creating energy from plastics, and adopting degradable polymers like bioplastics. A million tonnes of MPs already present in the environment can be reduced through microbial breakdown and cutting-edge treatment techniques. |
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