Unveiling Microplastic Pollution in India: Reviewing Contamination Across Coastal Ecosystems

The exponential growth in plastic manufacturing and consumption has led to the emergence of a novel class of environmental contaminants known as microplastics (MPs). These plastic particles, with a diameter smaller than 5 mm, originate from either primary or secondary sources. When bigger pieces of plastic break apart and fall to the ground, water, or air, they become secondary microplastics, or MPs. There is a narrow size range in which primary MPs are produced. Although there is a lot of research being conducted on MP contamination worldwide, India is not getting nearly as much attention. The majority of the research on the prevalence of MP in Indian ecosystems has focused on marine systems, while the freshwater, atmospheric, terrestrial, and human environments have received less attention. This study aims to provide an up-to-date perspective on the prevalence of microplastic pollution (MP) in India's air, waterways, landmasses, and food supply by conducting an extensive review of recent research. To better understand the behavior of these particles in the water environment, this study conducted a thorough review of the literature on the occurrence of microplastics in aquatic environments, divided into freshwater, wastewater, and seawater. To achieve pollutant management goals in diverse environmental contexts, it is imperative that we deepen our understanding of these emerging pollutants.