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Environmental prevalence, fate, impacts, and mitigation of microplastics—a critical review on present understanding and future research scope

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Abstract

Microplastics are considered to be ubiquitous and widespread emerging contaminants. They are persistent in the nature and pose considerable harm to the environment. Their omnipresence is documented in almost all aquatic habitats, several atmospheric and terrestrial environments, and also in human consumables. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the environmental prevalence of the microplastics in all environmental compartments, and their possible adverse impacts. It also presents review of the studies conducted in India and the epitome of potential mitigation measures. The need and direction of future research are highlighted. The review will help in determining the exposure levels, environmental consequences, and risk estimations, and will guide the researchers and policymakers.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur, India, for encouraging and for providing kind permission for publishing the article.

Funding

The first author of this publication is supported by the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India, for the financial assistance in the form of UGC-JRF junior research fellowship.

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  1. Health and Toxicity Cell (HTC), CSIR-NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) Campus, Nagpur, 440020, India

    Sakshi Patil, Kannan Krishnamurthi & Saravanadevi Sivanesan

  2. AcSIR (Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research), CSIR-NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) Campus, Nagpur, 440020, India

    Sakshi Patil

  3. Director’s Research Cell (DRC), CSIR-NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) Campus, Nagpur, 440020, India

    Amit Bafana

  4. Environmental Impact and Sustainability Division (EISD), CSIR-NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) Campus, Nagpur, 440020, India

    Pravin K. Naoghare

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SP wrote the review article. AB and PK wrote additional sections and reviewed the article. KK and SS made final revisions in the article.

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Patil, S., Bafana, A., Naoghare, P.K. et al. Environmental prevalence, fate, impacts, and mitigation of microplastics—a critical review on present understanding and future research scope. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 4951–4974 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11700-4

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