Microplastic are small plastics that have a particle size of 5 mm or less that. They can originate from primary sources (for ex., microbeads in personal care products or industrial waste) and secondary sources (when larger plastic breaks down into smaller particles due to weathering and erosion over time). Like larger plastic, microplastics are ubiquitous and profound in oceans, lakes, forests, and urban areas.
Published in Chapter:
Plastic Pollution and Its Impact on Biodiversity
Copyright: © 2024
|Pages: 23
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-6950-0.ch012
Abstract
Biodiversity loss is one of the most critical environmental problems nowadays. Several natural and anthropogenic causes are known to trigger it. Environmental pollution, including land degradation, has been long considered a significant contributor to biodiversity loss. However, the role of plastic pollution, especially microplastics, in biodiversity loss has been recognised relatively recently. This chapter delves into the complex relationship between biodiversity and plastic pollution, assessing how plastic degrades natural habitats, distorts the ecosystem, and threatens the survival of countless species, eventually disrupting the ecosystem's delicate balance. Through a review of scientific literature, the chapter probes the sources of plastic pollution, its various forms and the impacts of plastic on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It examines how plastic waste ingestion, entanglement, and chemical contamination affect individual species, populations, and ecological communities. Lastly, the chapter discusses measures to manage plastic pollution and safeguard biodiversity.