Plastic Material Degradation and Formation of Microplastic in the Environment: A Review

The threats caused by degraded plastic elements are of major concern amongst the scientist community these days. The concern has been highlighted many times under many titles like micro plastic as multiple stressors, micro plastic an emerging pollutant and many more. The literature pertaining to this issue has never brought biological, chemical and physical aspects together. Without such interdisciplinary approach the complexity and severity of the problem cannot be revealed. Micro plastics affect physical property of aquatic body by altering light penetration, chemistry by oxygen depletion, biological ecosystem by adhering to different biota along with penetration and accumulation in body of aquatic organisms. The indirect entry of microplastic in human beings by consuming aquatic products and thereby effecting health is of immediate and utmost concern. Here we review, the research data generated so far concerning prevalence of Microplastics and their impact on different organisms through various routes. The present review paper emphasizes types of plastic, role of additives in enhancing quality, degradation and transformation of plastics, impact on aquatic life and requirement of research on correlation of Microplastics with human health. Over the past years, researchers have worked mostly on marine ecosystems concerning microplastic threats, but less effort has been put for freshwater ecosystems. This review paper is an attempt for assembling information on microplastic.