Health Impacts of Microplastics on the Indian Terrestrial Ecosystem
摘要
Microplastic was first discovered in the marine environment, but 4–23 times more plastic debris contaminates the terrestrial ecosystem yearly. Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, growing demand for plastic consumption, ineffective agricultural practices, and illegal dumping lead to MP soil pollution. Therefore, MP pollution in terrestrial environment has started to raise serious concerns. Sampling, extraction, identification, characterisation and quantification are currently used to assess MPs. This chapter emphasises the ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on the terrestrial environment and their significant effects on soil ecosystems, terrestrial plants, biota and humans. The transfer of related pollutants and degradation consequences of microplastic on the environment was also highlighted. Microplastic toxicity in the Indian terrestrial ecosystem in various regions was also described in this chapter. MPs have been investigated in Indian marine environment, freshwater ecosystem, marine plants, animals and terrestrial ecosystem. Microplastics are transported by various means and accumulate in soil profile, altering the functions of soil ecosystem by changing its biophysical properties. They also accumulate in the food chain and potentially risk living life including plants, organisms, and human beings by interfering with their reproduction rate, growth rate, seed germination, digestive system, and genetic structure.