Microplastic Pollution: A Global Environmental Crisis Impacting Marine Life, Human Health, and Potential Innovative Sustainable Solutions
Abstract
1. Introduction
1.1. Types of Microplastics, Uses, and Sources
1.2. Objective of This Study
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Search Strategy
2.2. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
3. Results
Selection of Review Articles
4. Discussion
4.1. Environmental Microplastic Pollution
4.2. Chemical and Physical Characterization of Microplastics
4.3. Dispersion of Microplastics in the Surroundings
4.4. Transportation of Microplastics
4.5. Prevalence of Microplastics in Humans and the Environment
4.6. Toxic Effects
5. Treatment and Mitigation Strategies
6. Future Prospects of Microplastic Pollution
7. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
ROS | Reactive Oxygen Species |
NDSL | National Digital Science Library |
PRISMA | Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis |
PP | Polypropylene |
PC | Polycarbonate |
PSU | Polyarylsulfone |
PS | Polystyrene |
TPE | Thermoplastic elastomers |
PET | Polyethylene terephthalate |
PUR | Polyurethane |
PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate |
PVC | Polyvinyl chloride |
PP | Polypropylene |
PA | Polyamides |
AC | Activated carbon |
ECs | Emerging contaminants |
EDCs | Endocrine-disrupting chemicals |
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Symbols | Types of Plastics | Properties | Sources | Common Uses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Polyethylene erephthalate (PET or PETE or olyester) | Wrinkle-free fiber, clear, tough, solvent resistant, barrier to gas and moisture, softens at 80 °C. | Terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) | Soft drinks, water bottles, containers, salad dressing, biscuit trays, and salad domes. | |
High-ensity olyethylene (HDPE) | Long, almost unbranched polymer chains make them really dense and, therefore, stronger and thicker than PET. | Petroleum, specifically from the ethylene monomer extracted from crude oil | Used for grocery bags, opaque milk, juice containers, shampoo bottles, and medicine bottles. | |
Polyvinyl hloride (PVC) | Strong, hard, softens at 80 °C, can be transparent, and soluble. | Salt and oil | Used in toys, blister packs, wrappers, detergent bottles, loose-leaf binders, blood bags, and medical tubing. | |
Low-ensity olyethylene (LDPE) | Soft, flexible, waxy surface, transparent, softens at 70 °C, easy to scratch. | Monomer ethylene, derived from petroleum or natural gas | Used for bags (grocery, dry cleaning, bread, freezer bags, newspapers, trash), plastic wrap; lids for paper milk cartons and hot and cold drinks; some squeeze bottles (honey, mustard), food containers, and container lids. Also used to cover wires and cables. | |
Polypropylene (PP) | Hard and semi-transparent, softens at 140 °C, semi-transparent, resistant to solvents, versatile. | Petroleum | Used for hot food containers. | |
Polystyrene (PS) | Transparent, glassy, rigid, opaque, semi-hard, softens at 95 °C, affected by fats, acids, and solvents, but resistant to alkalis and salt solutions, low water absorption, if not pigmented, clear, odorless, and tasteless. | Non-renewable fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals | Used for food containers, egg cartons, disposable cups, bowls, packaging, and bicycle helmets. | |
Other | Other plastics that have all the properties of resins and several materials (e.g., laminates) depending on the plastic or combination of plastics types. | Edible fish, drinking water, salt, honey, air, mussels, oysters, sea mullet, canned sardines, and sparts | Components for cars and home appliances, computers, electronics, cold bottles, and packaging. |
Medical Search Engines | Results |
---|---|
#Pubed database | 210 |
# Medline | 85 |
#NDSL (National Digital Science Library) | 34 |
Total database search | 329 |
Document eliminated | 246 |
Included study | 32 |
SL. No. | Author Details | Year | Purpose of Study | The Results of the Study |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tiwari B. R. et al. [19] | 2023 | Medical applications of plastic, such as PPE and packaging materials, have increased dramatically as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. | Health problems like cancer, diabetes, and allergic reactions can result from the buildup of microplastics in the human body; therefore, efficient detection and disposal techniques are required. |
2 | Sun M. Y. et al. [20] | 2024 | A prospective view for MP research is provided by recent studies that examine the sources, distribution, exposure pathways, harmful effects, and processes of MPs on humans, animals, and plants. | Microplastics are produced and managed in garbage, which has a negative impact on the environment and living things. MPs have the ability to absorb and consume contaminants, which can impact metabolism and health. |
3 | Wang T. et al. [21] | 2023 | The study looks at microplastic pollution in different Tibetan Plateau habitats, evaluating its source, fate, and possible ecological impacts in addition to its spatial distribution. | Even at Mount Everest, microplastics are present in greater quantities than in the ocean system in the biotic and abiotic elements of the Tibetan Plateau. |
4 | Lee M. et al. [22] | 2022 | In order to evaluate the spread of microplastic contamination across the different environmental pillars—aqueous, terrestrial, airborne, bio-organism, and human—the article carried out a comprehensive literature analysis. | Faster rates of plastic breakdown have been found in recent studies, exposing microplastics as a new source of harmful contamination that is spreading from the ocean to the soil, groundwater, air, and food chain. |
5 | Goyal T. et al. [23] | 2023 | Current information on possible sources of MP in soil, water, and air, as well as their analysis techniques, effects on human health, and remediation techniques, is included in this review. | MPs are present in a variety of sources, including drinking water, ocean, beach sand, agricultural soils, wastewater treatment plant effluent, and the atmosphere. They are also becoming more prevalent in food products and soil ecosystems. |
6 | Vivekananda A. C. et al. [24] | 2021 | The origins, movement, impacts, worldwide regulatory frameworks, methods of detection, and management approaches of microplastics in aquatic environments. | Microplastics are a major ecological and health hazard since they can enter aquatic life and the food chain and are released from commonplace objects, industry, and wastewater treatment facilities. |
7 | Li Y. et al. [25] | 2023 | According to the literature review, microplastics are commonly detected in human and environmental samples. | Oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ malfunction, metabolic abnormalities, immunological response, neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and possible chronic diseases are among the harmful impacts of microplastics that draw attention to study gaps and future development objectives. |
8 | Goswami S. et al. [26] | 2024 | In-depth analysis of microplastics is given in this review, which looks at their chemistry, origins, exposure to humans, toxicity, and molecular potential for cancer. | Environmental pollutants mimic endocrine mediators like estrogen and androgen and affect cell-cycle proteins, redox homeostasis, gene expression, and the state of inflammatory mediators, all of which contribute to carcinogenesis. |
9 | Luo D. et al. [27] | 2024 | Recent studies on the sampling and detection, origin and properties, transport, and destiny of atmospheric MNPs are compiled in this review. | According to studies, inhaling MNP might result in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and negative immunological responses, which may cause cardiovascular disorders as well as anomalies in reproduction and development. |
10 | Sharma S., Chatterjee S. [28] | 2017 | Microplastics build up in the cells and tissues of marine creatures, causing long-term biological impacts. | Human health and marine biota are at risk from microplastics, which is why excessive plastic use must be controlled, and laws and regulations governing litter sources must be put in place. |
11 | Lin Y. D. et al. [29] | 2023 | This review explores the complexities of microplastics, including their sources, absorption, and harmful effects on people and the environment. | The environment has been severely harmed by the overproduction, use, and disposal of plastic products, which is why governments around the world are taking immediate action to reduce plastic employment. |
12 | Haldar S. et al. [30] | 2023 | The review examines the genesis, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of nanoplastics on human and environmental systems, and it makes recommendations for practical ways to reduce plastic pollution. | The primary ways that NPs are exposed are by eating and inhalation; absorption mechanisms and cytotoxic consequences are explored. There isnot much research on NP toxicity issues, though. |
13 | Hoang W. et al. [31] | 2024 | Investigating the remarkable resilience and resilience to biodegradation of microplastics in the environment is the goal of the project. | Small and easily consumed by soil organisms, microplastic trash can harm plants and hinder their growth; thus, efforts must be made to lessen these effects for the sake of environmental health and agricultural sustainability. |
14 | Sridharan S.et al. [32] | 2021 | The assessment identifies data limitations and knowledge gaps regarding the impact of atmospheric transport and particle plastics on urban air quality, assessing whether contamination is trivial or significant. | Though their quantity and importance to human health are yet unknown, airborne particulate matter (PM) has a major impact on urban air quality and atmospheric transmission to pristine environments. |
15 | Huang W. et al. [33] | 2021 | This review highlights scientific advancements on the trophic transfer of pollutants and microplastics along the aquatic food chain while analyzing the effects of microplastics on aquatic species at different trophic levels. | With the goal of improving our knowledge of microplastics’ impacts on aquatic ecology, this study investigates the possible health concerns associated with them, specifically through exposure to food chains and diet. |
16 | Naik R. K. et al. [34] | 2019 | This paper looks at how microplastics can spread harmful chemicals, metals, antibiotics, pathogenic bacteria, and dinoflagellates that produce HABs from one continent to another through ballast water. | Due to a surge in bacterial illness outbreaks and HABs, microplastics in ballast waters may pose a major health risk by aiding in the development and spread of drug-resistant human infections. |
17 | Khalid N. et al. [35] | 2023 | This analysis addresses current knowledge gaps and suggests future directions for farmland soil research by examining the application of plastic mulch films in agroecosystems. | MPs have the ability to impact human health as they go up and down the food chain’s trophic levels. |
18 | Lin X. H. et al. [36] | 2020 | This study covers the idea, classification, source, impact on human health, and proposed remedies to China’s microplastic pollution, with the goal of guiding risk assessment and regulation design. | Microplastics, a growing environmental pollutant, are hazardous to human health and the environment due to their widespread use, manufacture, and degradation. |
19 | Ye J. et al. [37] | 2024 | Nanoplastics’ origins, dispersion, human exposure, and accumulation in reproductive systems, with a focus on their consequences on animal and human reproductive health. | Research indicates that nanoplastics have detrimental impacts on human and aquatic reproductive systems, but little is known about how they affect mammals and people. |
20 | Masud R. I. et al. [38] | 2023 | The sources, amount, and destiny of biomedical waste are reviewed in this article, with particular attention to the recent increase in MPs and their detrimental impacts on both aquatic and terrestrial life. | Chronic diseases are brought on by MP intake in humans; thus, it is imperative that biomedical waste be urgently controlled and managed to lower MP pollution and lower threats to human health and the environment. |
21 | Zhu Y. et al. [39] | 2024 | The risks and toxicity mechanisms of MPs/NPs in nine biological systems are systematically understood thanks to this review. | Ingestion and inhalation of microplastics can have detrimental effects on the respiratory and digestive systems, resulting in inflammation, oxidative stress, and changes in metabolism. |
22 | V. G. et al. [40] | 2023 | The composition and interactions of MPs in landfill leachate, possible mitigating strategies, and the difficulties of present leachate treatment for MP elimination are all covered in this paper. | Because landfill leachate contains harmful pollutants and antibiotic resistance genes, which are now known to be emerging contaminants, MPs can pose health problems. |
23 | Thushari G. G. N., Senevirathna J. D. M. [41] | 2020 | The goal of this review paper is to investigate several facets of plastic contamination in marine and coastal settings. | In order to increase awareness of a plastic-free, healthy blue ocean in the near future, this article focuses on the existing level of plastic pollution in the marine ecosystem. |
24 | Mitrano D. M. et al. [42] | 2021 | This perspective investigates nanoplastics’ involvement in global plastic pollution, including their sources, hazards, and potential similarities to other nanosized environmental items such as manmade nanomaterials and natural colloids. | The physical and chemical properties of various plastic pollution sizes (macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics) will result in distinct fates and hazards. |
25 | Wang Y. et al. [43] | 2021 | This study gives a thorough summary of existing information and makes recommendations for future research to improve our understanding of airborne microplastics and their potential human health hazards. | Airborne microplastics, mostly derived from synthetic fabrics and fibers, contribute significantly to pollution in aquatic and soil habitats, posing a health concern to humans. |
26 | Rahaman M. N. et al. [44] | 2023 | This article summarizes the global distribution and source of MP inside coral reefs. | Investigations should properly understand the distribution, destiny, and impacts of MPs on human and coral health, as well as their environmental risks. |
27 | Lee W. K., Thévenod F. [45] | 2020 | This review critically investigates cadmium’s effects on organellar structure and function, with an emphasis on the disruption of organelle physiology in vertebrates. | Interorganellar communication is essential for proper cell function and includes signaling molecules, organelle exchange, mechanical force, shape changes, and membrane contact sites. |
28 | Zhang Q. et al. [46] | 2020 | 46 articles on the quantity, sources, and analytical techniques of microplastics in air, drinking water, and table salt as well as their possible paths of accumulation and translocation within the human body were examined in this study. | An estimated 0–7.3×104 pieces of microplastics are consumed annually per person, posing serious risks to the digestive and respiratory systems, especially when inhaled indoors. |
29 | Cavazzoli S. et al. [47] | 2023 | This paper evaluates and criticizes popular techniques for examining MNPs in environmental, sludge, and sewage samples, and it makes recommendations for possible fixes to any issues found. | Human health and the sustainability of the ecosystem are at danger due to the toxicological concerns posed by MNPs and their harmful pollutants. It is vital for consumers to understand whatever happens to them in sewage treatment facilities. |
30 | Zhou Y. et al. [48] | 2020 | In order to quantify soil microplastics (MPs) and comprehend how MPs, properties, and environmental factors interact, a standardized approach for MP analysis is suggested. | The evaluation helps establish waste management and remediation strategies for regional soil MP pollution by functioning as a roadmap for soil MP research techniques and frameworks. |
31 | Li T. et al. [49] | 2024 | The life cycle, survival, mutations, loads, shedding, transmission, infection, re-assortment, interference, abundance, and host vulnerability of viruses are all assessed in this review in relation to chemical and biological contaminants. | Understanding how environmental pollutants affect animal viruses could help further research on the harmony of viruses, animals, humans, and ecosystems to maintain human health. |
32 | Pham V. H. T. et al. [50] | 2024 | The study emphasizes the value of employing extremophiles to accelerate the breakdown of plastic, paying particular attention to elements like amyloid precursor protein as well as cell hydrophobicity. | The goal of this review is to improve the release of carbon dioxide and future H2/CH4 synthesis by bioprospecting for unknown methods for plastic degradation bioproducts. |
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Karak, P.; Parveen, A.; Modak, A.; Adhikari, A.; Chakrabortty, S. Microplastic Pollution: A Global Environmental Crisis Impacting Marine Life, Human Health, and Potential Innovative Sustainable Solutions. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 889. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060889
Karak P, Parveen A, Modak A, Adhikari A, Chakrabortty S. Microplastic Pollution: A Global Environmental Crisis Impacting Marine Life, Human Health, and Potential Innovative Sustainable Solutions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(6):889. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060889
Chicago/Turabian StyleKarak, Prithviraj, Afsona Parveen, Anindya Modak, Atin Adhikari, and Sankha Chakrabortty. 2025. "Microplastic Pollution: A Global Environmental Crisis Impacting Marine Life, Human Health, and Potential Innovative Sustainable Solutions" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 6: 889. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060889
APA StyleKarak, P., Parveen, A., Modak, A., Adhikari, A., & Chakrabortty, S. (2025). Microplastic Pollution: A Global Environmental Crisis Impacting Marine Life, Human Health, and Potential Innovative Sustainable Solutions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6), 889. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060889