Microplastic in Ocean: an emerging Issue of environmental concern

Abstract

By virtue of high durability, light weight and cheap price, global plastic production has been increased considerable since the middle of 20th century. Mismanaged plastic waste could eventually enter the ocean via various routes such as creeks, rivers, wastewater treatment plant outfalls, etc.. It is estimated that 275 million metric tons of plastics waste was generated from 192 coastal countries in 2010, among which 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons entered the ocean. The impact of large plastic debris (known as macroplastics) has long been the issue of marine pollution, while microplastic has only recently been recognized as an emerging environmental problem (Thompson et al., 2004). Plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size are considered as microplastics, comprising primary (manufactured at microscopic size) and secondary (large plastics broken into small pieces) plastics. As large items fragment into microplastics, their abundance and bioavailability (ingestion by marine organism) increase. Microplastics have been found on the shore, sea surface, and seabed from the coast to open ocean. It is estimated that more than five trillion pieces of plastic are drifting on surface waters of world’s ocean. There is increasing field evidence of microplastic ingestion by a wide range of marine organisms including seabird, marine mammal, fish, and invertebrates. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that microplastics caneks, rivers, wastewater treatment plant outfalls, etc.. It is estimated that 275 million metric tons of plastics waste was generated from 192 coastal countries in 2010, among which 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons entered the ocean. The impact of large plastic debris (known as macroplastics) has long been the issue of marine pollution, while microplastic has only recently been recognized as an emerging environmental problem (Thompson et al., 2004). Plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size are considered as microplastics, comprising primary (manufactured at microscopic size) and secondary (large plastics broken into small pieces) plastics. As large items fragment into microplastics, their abundance and bioavailability (ingestion by marine organism) increase. Microplastics have been found on the shore, sea surface, and seabed from the coast to open ocean. It is estimated that more than five trillion pieces of plastic are drifting on surface waters of world’s ocean. There is increasing field evidence of microplastic ingestion by a wide range of marine organisms including seabird, marine mammal, fish, and invertebrates. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that microplastics can