Occurrence and Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Abstract

The practice of using plastic for several decades now has shown its close association with us owing to its omnipresence in water and food we consume and the air we breathe. Anthropogenic activity, the most imperative cause of microplastic (MP) contamination, is evidenced in various ecosystems from land to river, oceans, and artic to antarctic habitats. Their distribution depends on environmental factors like precipitation, wind flow, tides, waves, etc., and 75–90% plastic debris contamination comes from the terrestrial sources. Asian countries are contributing to 50% of plastic production globally, and around 18–19% of plastic is produced by Europe and North America. MP contamination has shown to pose a serious threat to different trophic levels in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems resulting in active ingestion, feeding impairment, stunted growth, reduced reproduction in terms of oocyte formation and decreased sperm velocity, offspring formation, changes in gene expression profiling, etc. from producer to consumer level. Owing to its relatively large surface area, MPs act as potent vectors in carrying persistent organic contaminants and noninvasive species to pristine water bodies. It is a wake-up call for ecotoxicologists and ecologists to study the potential adverse effects of MPs at environmentally reported particle range (since most of the effects noted and/or overestimated at relatively higher concentrations) and protection of ecosystem for sustainable development.