A REVIEW: MICROPLASTIC IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM SOURCE, IMPACT AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

Plastics are essential to contemporary life, yet because of their persistence, they are a significant environmental pollution, and microplastics (MPs, <5 mm) are particularly problematic in aquatic systems. This paper summarizes the state of the art on MPs' origins, kinds, effects, and mitigation techniques. MPs are mostly released into aquatic habitats via land based sources, including landfill leaks, personal care products, and improperly handled plastic debris. MPs can be categorized as primary, which are purposefully produced (such as fibers, pellets, or microbeads), or secondary, which are created when bigger plastics break down. Pollutants like as organic chemicals, microbial populations, and heavy metals can be absorbed and transported by them due to their large surface area and hydrophobicity. In terms of ecology, MPs impair eating, growth, reproduction, and survival across species by causing mechanical injury through ingestion and entanglement. Additionally, particle size and form affect toxicity; fibers have effects on organisms that are very long-lasting. Consuming fish exposes humans to the chemical mostly, which raises questions regarding bioaccumulation, tissue transfer, and possible long-term health hazards. Invasive species and illnesses are also spread by MPs, which changes the dynamics of aquatic microbes and the way ecosystems function. Mitigation necessitates all-encompassing approaches that incorporate breakthroughs like waste-to-energy technology, biodegradable materials, and upcycling using the 4R framework: reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. Upcycling and recycling have potential, but their widespread use is constrained by technological and financial issues. According to available data, reducing plastic inputs urgently requires coordinated policy, viable alternatives, and public involvement. Filling up the information gaps about the impacts of Microplastic contamination on the environment and human health is crucial to creating practical worldwide solutions.