Microplastics: An Extensive Consequence of Plastic Pollution

Sakshi Sharma*

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram 122505, Haryana, India.

*Corresponding author email: sharma.sakshifeb@gmail.com; sakshi_fahs@sgtuniversity.org

Abstract

Plastics products are extensively used and it is growing day by day due to its various applications in industries, health care sectors and aesthetics. The majority of plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) etc., are discarded in the environment directly in the form of microplastics or large segments of these plastic material degrade and form microplastics into the environment. The recent approaches of aerobic or anaerobic microbial degradation have potential to remove microplastics from ecosystem. This chapter provides highlights upon plastic waste production and current status; sources of microplastic origination, microplastics effects into aquatic and terrestrial environment. Moreover, microbial degradation of microplastics and lastly, recent and future perspective of the genetic engineering approach to degrade microplastics.

Keywords: Plastic waste, Microplastics, Microbial Degradation, Genetic Engineering