Grasping the supremacy of microplastic in the environment to understand its implications and eradication: a review

Shikha Jyoti Borah, Abhijeet Kumar Gupta, Akanksha Gupta, Bhawna, Sanjeev Kumar, Ritika Sharma, Ravinder Kumar, Pramod Kumar, Kashyap Kumar Dubey, Sandeep Kaushik, Ajay Kumar Mishra, Vinod Kumar

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Over the last century, accumulation of microplastic has emerged as a greater threat to the environment, plants, microorganisms and even human beings. Microplastics can be intentionally produced for industries such as cosmetics, or they may be unintentionally generated from degradation of bulk plastic debris. Furthermore, mismanagement of plastic waste is a major source of microplastics. When ingested, microplastics can alter several physical, chemical and biological processes in living organisms. Thus, their toxicity silently spreads its roots into the biosphere. Unfortunately, current strategies for the elimination of microplastics are not sufficient for their complete removal and degradation. Therefore, the adoption of green innovative technologies is the first step toward a microplastic-free environment. However, advances for its effective degradation and elimination are hindered by our limited understanding. This literature study investigates microplastic comprehensively, covering their sources, fate, ecological impacts and their effects on biological processes. It includes an analysis of microplastics in Indian rivers, explores methods for its eradication and degradation, emphasizes plastic recycling and offers future recommendations to pave way toward achieving a microplastic-free environment. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12899-12928
Number of pages30
JournalJournal of Materials Science
Volume58
Issue number32
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

Funding

One of the authors, Shikha Jyoti Borah, would like to thank Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, for providing financial assistance. Author Sanjeev Kumar thanks Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (file no. 08/694(0004)/2018-EMR-I) for Senior Research Fellowship.

FundersFunder number
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India08/694(0004)/2018-EMR-I

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