The threat of microplastics and microbial degradation potential; a current perspective
Microplastics in marine environments come from various sources, and over the years, their buildup in marine environments suggests an inevitable need for the safe mitigation of plastic pollution. Microplastics are one of the chief and hazardous components of marine pollution, as they are transferred...
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Veröffentlicht in: | The Science of the total environment 2024-12, Vol.955, p.177045, Article 177045 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Microplastics in marine environments come from various sources, and over the years, their buildup in marine environments suggests an inevitable need for the safe mitigation of plastic pollution. Microplastics are one of the chief and hazardous components of marine pollution, as they are transferred through the food chain to different trophic levels, affecting living organisms. They are also a source of transfer for pathogenic organisms. Upon transfer to humans, several toxic effects can occur. This review aims to assess the accumulation of microplastics in marine environments globally, the threat posed to humans, and the biodegradation potential of bacteria and fungi for future mitigation strategies. The versatility of bacteria and fungi in the biodegradation of different types of plastics has been discussed, with a focus on the microbial majority that has been cultivated in labs from the marine environment. We also propose that the exploration of yet-to-be-cultivated microbial majority can be a way forward for employing future strategies to mitigate microplastics.
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•Microplastics pollute marine environments and accumulate, posing a growing threat.•Both terrestrial and marine sources contribute to microplastic pollution.•Microplastics harm human health and marine biodiversity via the food chain.•Certain bacteria and fungi can degrade plastics reducing pollution.•Culturing chip (cChip) technology may help advance microbial solutions for marine microplastic biodegradation. |
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ISSN: | 0048-9697 1879-1026 1879-1026 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177045 |