Microplastic Pollution: Occurrence, Sources and Impact of COVID-19 Generated Waste

The growing concern over the exponentially increasing omnipresence and accumulation of microplastics or MPs (size < 5 mm) in the environment has posed serious questions concerning the safety and well-being of all living organisms in the ecosystem. MPs possess the ability to reach human body cell tissues and organs owing to their ability to migrate through the biological food chain. Moreover, MPs often act as a vector for several co-habiting pollutants like heavy metals, organic substances, etc.; they also release toxic organic compounds such as dioxins upon degradation. The combined ecotoxicological effect of these properties on human and animal life is complex and not fully understood yet. To add to that, the Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated the present crisis with a sharp increase in the demand for single-use plastics, primarily in the form of face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, packaging material, etc. Therefore, the most important task at hand lies in identifying the potential sources of MP pollution, which will not only assist researchers in devising efficient mitigation approaches, but also policymakers in formulating strategies to reduce influx of microplastics in the environment. This chapter seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the occurrence and distribution of MPs in the ecosystem. Special attention is directed at exploring the different sources from which MPs are released into the environment and highlighting the pathways through which MPs reach the atmosphere, soil and water. Also, an assessment of the impact of the COVID-related plastic waste on the environment is included as a part of this chapter. A brief discussion regarding the effectiveness of the prevalent mitigation strategies also follows.