Environmental perspectives of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review
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REVIEW
Environmental perspectives of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review Manzoor Ahmad1 · Jia‑Ling Li1 · Pan‑Deng Wang1 · Wael N. Hozzein3,4 · Wen‑Jun Li1,2 Received: 23 January 2020 / Accepted: 21 May 2020 © Ocean University of China 2020
Abstract Microplastics are a highly concerning pollutant that have gained attention from the scientific community and other regulatory authorities due to their potential risks to organisms and ecosystems. Microplastics are widespread in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and can be found even in Antarctica and deep-sea sediments. The ability to survive for long periods in the environment and their aptitude of inter- and intra-environmental translocation can prompt poor environmental outcomes. The adsorption of heavy metals and other toxic persistent organic pollutants is a further cause for concern. Furthermore, microplastics enable the development of a distinct microbial niche within an ecosystem, which could potentially impair ecosystem function by promoting the growth of selective microbial communities. The acquisition of metal-resistant, antibiotic-resistant genes, and the enrichment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on microplastic surfaces have recently been reported. Moreover, some studies have also reported the colonization of pathogenic bacterial strains such as Vibrio spp. on microplastic surfaces. This review aims to address the sources of microplastic pollution in the freshwater and marine environments and to discuss their potential functions in the environment. Keywords Microplastic · Heavy metals · Pollutant reservoir · Distinct microbial habitat · Gene exchange
Introduction Plastic has become an indispensable part of human life. It is a synthetic organic polymer produced through the polymerization of monomers procured from fossil fuels, gas, or coal. Certain attributes such as durability, lightweight, resistance Edited by Chengchao Chen. * Wen‑Jun Li [email protected] 1
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ürümqi 830011, China
3
Bioproducts Research Chair, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
4
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni‑Suef 65211, Egypt
to corrosion, and low price have led to the extensive use of plastic-based materials. While plastic was invented a century ago, mass production did not start until the mid-nineteenth century (Ivleva et al. 2017). The annual global production of plastic in 2015 was 320 million tons (PlasticsEurope 2015), and this is increasing annually. Plastics have served human society in many ways, for example, reduced CO2 emission, enhanced consumer health
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