Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystems
The issue of plastic waste has become a significant concern for the environment as 40 % of single-use plastics are often discarded and accumulate on land and in waterways, leading to degradation into micro- and nano-sized particles through photodegradation, thermooxidative degradation, hydrolytic de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Environmental Pollution and Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950305124000214 |
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| author | Pachuau Lalrinfela Rebecca Vanlalsangi Khawlhring Lalrinzuali Punuri Jayasekhar Babu |
| author_facet | Pachuau Lalrinfela Rebecca Vanlalsangi Khawlhring Lalrinzuali Punuri Jayasekhar Babu |
| author_sort | Pachuau Lalrinfela |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The issue of plastic waste has become a significant concern for the environment as 40 % of single-use plastics are often discarded and accumulate on land and in waterways, leading to degradation into micro- and nano-sized particles through photodegradation, thermooxidative degradation, hydrolytic degradation, and biodegradation by microorganisms. The present review highlights the detection of microplastics and their impacts on humans and plants. These microplastics can carry dangerous chemicals and other substances, causing serious health hazards. They can enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact, causing various health hazards, including cell injury, hormone disruption, and cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, these microplastics also significantly impact soil and plant growth, reducing yields and other negative consequences for the plants. These microplastics can quickly enter the soil and plants, causing drastic changes in the physicochemical characteristics of soil (pH, water retention, nutrient content), microbial community, and fertility, thereby impeding the plant's whole performance and response. The current review also focused on the microplastic manifestation of reduction in plant growth, seed germination, spore size, oxidative damage, and vascular blockage. Although more research is needed to understand the mechanisms of microplastic toxicity and transport fully, it is evident that urgent action must be taken to tackle this escalating issue. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9ae9ab0fdc1f4464b8108cccdf8da428 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2950-3051 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Pollution and Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-9ae9ab0fdc1f4464b8108cccdf8da4282025-08-20T03:42:44ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Environmental Pollution and Management2950-30512024-10-01124825910.1016/j.epm.2024.11.004Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystemsPachuau Lalrinfela0Rebecca Vanlalsangi1Khawlhring Lalrinzuali2Punuri Jayasekhar Babu3Department of Biochemistry, Govt. Zirtiri Residential Science College, Aizawl 796001, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Govt. Zirtiri Residential Science College, Aizawl 796001, IndiaMizoram State Cancer Institute, Zemabawk, Aizawl, Mizoram 796014, IndiaBiomaterials and Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796001, Mizoram, India; Corresponding author.The issue of plastic waste has become a significant concern for the environment as 40 % of single-use plastics are often discarded and accumulate on land and in waterways, leading to degradation into micro- and nano-sized particles through photodegradation, thermooxidative degradation, hydrolytic degradation, and biodegradation by microorganisms. The present review highlights the detection of microplastics and their impacts on humans and plants. These microplastics can carry dangerous chemicals and other substances, causing serious health hazards. They can enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact, causing various health hazards, including cell injury, hormone disruption, and cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, these microplastics also significantly impact soil and plant growth, reducing yields and other negative consequences for the plants. These microplastics can quickly enter the soil and plants, causing drastic changes in the physicochemical characteristics of soil (pH, water retention, nutrient content), microbial community, and fertility, thereby impeding the plant's whole performance and response. The current review also focused on the microplastic manifestation of reduction in plant growth, seed germination, spore size, oxidative damage, and vascular blockage. Although more research is needed to understand the mechanisms of microplastic toxicity and transport fully, it is evident that urgent action must be taken to tackle this escalating issue.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950305124000214MicroplasticsNanoplasticsToxicityChemical additives |
| spellingShingle | Pachuau Lalrinfela Rebecca Vanlalsangi Khawlhring Lalrinzuali Punuri Jayasekhar Babu Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystems Environmental Pollution and Management Microplastics Nanoplastics Toxicity Chemical additives |
| title | Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystems |
| title_full | Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystems |
| title_short | Microplastics: Their effects on the environment, human health, and plant ecosystems |
| title_sort | microplastics their effects on the environment human health and plant ecosystems |
| topic | Microplastics Nanoplastics Toxicity Chemical additives |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950305124000214 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pachuaulalrinfela microplasticstheireffectsontheenvironmenthumanhealthandplantecosystems AT rebeccavanlalsangi microplasticstheireffectsontheenvironmenthumanhealthandplantecosystems AT khawlhringlalrinzuali microplasticstheireffectsontheenvironmenthumanhealthandplantecosystems AT punurijayasekharbabu microplasticstheireffectsontheenvironmenthumanhealthandplantecosystems |