MICROPLASTICS IN OUR PLANET: SOURCE, DISTRIBUTION, EFFECTS AND BIODEGRADATION

Abstract

In the last decade, the environmental problems of microplastics have been occupied a large place in world scientific researches.The unbreakable property of these particles causes their rapid accumulation in the environment. Their micro and millimetricsizes let them be distributed over the world in a way almost uncontrollable. Works are still multiplying in the identification ofthe source and nature, in the fate and effects of the microplastics on the different ecosystems. The accumulation of this debrisin our ecosystem is a serious problem in the way of their distribution and migration: from the aquatic to the terrestrial ecosystem,all food web class will be affected. Different solutions for escaping their over distribution in the world have been studied.However, the biodegradation of these tiny particles seems the perfect solution for their disappearance from our environments.Studies seem slowly progressed because of different types of microplastics and the unknown mechanism of most of themicroorganisms on the surface of microplastics. This review is a synthesis of works done in microplastics by offering a goodcomprehension of microplastics source, effects, and biodegradation in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Researchers willhave to expand their working fields by approaching to the extreme ecosystems such as caves in the hope of findingmicroorganisms capable of producing enzymes that could serve in complete degradation of this debris.