Micro-nano plastics in aquatic environments: Associated health impacts and mitigation strategies

Abstract

Micro-nanoplastics (MNPs) are small plastic particles (<5 mm and <100 nm in size, respectively) that have become prevalent in aquatic environments due to pollution. These particles pose significant risks to human and environmental health due to their persistence, ability to adsorb other pollutants, and potential to enter the food chain cycle, as they accumulate and are biologically transferred into the aquatic ecosystem. The biological transfer of MNPs is a complex process influenced by various factors. The movement of aquatic organisms, both vertically and horizontally, through different habitats plays a significant role in the dispersion of plastics within the aquatic environment. This process involves multiple interacting elements, and further research is essential to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind accumulation and the pathways of migration MNPs. Such insights are crucial for developing effective strategies to address and mitigate plastic pollution in the aquatic environment. Plastics degrade over a certain period of time and leach harmful chemicals in aquatic environments leading to harmful health impacts to gut microbiota and cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive disorders, among others. Further research is essential to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the hazards posed by MNP pollution. Detailed clinical investigations would serve as a foundation for the development of effective strategies for pollution management and control. In this chapter, we present a review of health impacts associated with MNPs in aquatic environments. We have introduced several MNP contamination mitigation strategies, viz., microbial degradation, photocatalytic dissociation of MNPs, and capture through nanomaterial-based membranes. We discuss the suitability of these strategies for large-scale in-situ MNP mitigation.