Physiological Effects of Microplastic on Marine Organisms.

The beginning of the 20th century was an era of the rise of the plastic industries, with the rapid manufacturing of plastic-based products. However, the 21st century has brought the need to confront its consequences. Improper management, a lack of awareness about its negative effects, and the irresponsible use and disposal of plastic products have turned our planet into a “plastic planet.” Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimetres long which form from a variety of sources including larger plastic pieces that have broken apart, resin pellets used for plastic manufacturing, or in the form of microbeads. This waste material significantly proves to be a great threat for human and animal health. Plastic or Microplastic has polluted the marine environment significantly. The ever-increasing amount of microplastics in the sea has resulted in considerable interest in their implications for oceanic animals. This review aims to illustrate and explain how these plastic particles affect marine life, particularly at the organ and cellular level. The incorporation of these microplastics into the tissues of marine organisms has been forecasted to result in structural damage to multiple organs, the inefficiency of the feeding activity, and the malfunctioning of the digestive system, among other depressing scenarios. According to reports, microplastics cause inflammation, impair the immune system, induce stress through their presence in cells, and disrupt ecosystems, causing organisms to struggle to cope with environmental changes. Not only that, microplastics may also disturb vital activities including metabolism, reproduction, and fluid regulation, hence affecting their survival and reproductive success rate. The focus of this review is summarizing the current state of knowledge on microplastics and physiological processes in other organisms which may have implications in the broader context of marine life. It stresses the importance of prevention of further microplastic pollution and measures to address its health risks to marine organisms and their ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]