Role of Extremophilic Microbes in Removal of Microplastics

According to a new OECD report, global plastic consumption is predicted to rise from 460 million Mt. in 2019 to 1231 million Mt. in 2060, representing a faster rise than most raw materials. Moreover, nowadays, in addition to the plastics that can be seen obviously with the naked eye, microplastics that are from 1 to 5000 μm in size, pose a significant risk to the environment, ecosystems, and human health. The main sources of these tiny pollutants arise from various sources such as wastewater, packaging waste, and industrial effluents, including textile processing and tire wear. Pollutant-degrading microorganisms could be an attractive solution to remove microplastics under controlled conditions as an environmentally friendly approach. Particularly, extremophilic microorganisms and their enzymes are promising candidates for overcoming environmental and health problems caused by microplastic accumulation.