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Microplastic Pollution: Sources, Environmental Hazards, and Mycoremediation as a Sustainable Solution

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Fungi and Fungal Products in Human Welfare and Biotechnology

Abstract

Synthetic polymers have replaced natural polymers due to their low production cost, wide range of applications, and better resistant properties. Plastic polymers are the most preferred one among synthetic polymers as they have high tolerance against high temperature, photooxidation, and chemical degradation. While these properties make them desirable compound for manufacturing various products, it also imposes environmental hazards upon releasing microplastic particles which has negative impact on terrestrial as well as aquatic ecosystems. Although many plastic remediation technologies involving physicochemical methods have emerged in past decades, they have been inefficient when it comes to remediating microplastic pollutants. In the present scenario, mycoremediation approach has been suggested as an alternative green approach to remediate the microplastic pollution. Fungi possess diverse enzyme systems, metabolic processes, and bioactive compounds which are proven to be efficient in removing microplastic pollutants. The present review highlights the detailed mechanisms as well as evidences for microplastic remediation by fungal system. The types of microplastic pollutants, source, and their hazardous effects on various ecosystems have also been compiled.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natubhai V. Patel College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Vallabh Vidyanagar, India

    Ashish Bhatt, Darshankumar Prajapati & Akshaya Gupte

  2. Ashok and Rita Institute of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Applied Sciences, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, India

    Shilpa Gupte

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  1. Ashish Bhatt
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    Tulasi Satyanarayana

  2. R & D Division, Greenvention Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Uruli-Kanchan, Pune, Maharashtra, India

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Bhatt, A., Prajapati, D., Gupte, A., Gupte, S. (2023). Microplastic Pollution: Sources, Environmental Hazards, and Mycoremediation as a Sustainable Solution. In: Satyanarayana, T., Deshmukh, S.K. (eds) Fungi and Fungal Products in Human Welfare and Biotechnology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8853-0_5

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