Emerging Threats of Microplastic Contaminant in Freshwater Environment

Abstract

The development of plastic brings world-shattering changes in industrialization, commercialization, and mankind and is now the most predominant widely used essential product. The disposal and degradation of plastic leads to the generation of microplastic and is a potential and crucial pollutant in our ecosystem. The discharge of microplastic to the aquatic bodies and finally its migration to the marine ecosystem draw attention of many researchers toward its noxious effects. The primary and secondary sources of microplastic that makes its path toward the riverine ecosystem causing pollution and interference with the aquatic organism resulting in contamination and toxicity is primarily discussed in this chapter. The impacts of microplastic in aquatic organisms affect its biological ingestion process causing clogging and indigestion and in adverse condition hinder the biological processes resulting in toxicity, immune dysfunction, reproductive abnormalities, alteration of behaviors and feeding habit, and finally death. In addition to this, the absorption of microplastic results in bioaccumulation and biomagnification across the food chain, making its route to the human body. Furthermore, this chapter also emphasizes the various remediation and pollution management strategies based on the present approach and provides a research assessment for future research and advancement.