Microplastics and Microbe Interaction on Human and Animal Health

Owing to their widespread occurrence in many ecosystems and possible effects on both biotic and abiotic components, microplastics have become an urgent environmental concern. An overview of microplastic–bacteria interactions, potential human and animal health impacts, and wider environmental implications of microplastic presence are given in this chapter. Microplastics could be easily found in various domains such as freshwater and oceans, soil, and even our atmosphere. Along with affecting microbial communities, the interaction between microplastic and bacteria also has an impact on the transfer of pollutants, ecosystem functioning, and nutrient cycling. This raises questions about the safety of food and the exposure of people to dangerous substances, calling for more investigation into the long-term human health effects of microplastics. Fish, seabirds, and marine mammals are among the aquatic creatures that may confuse microplastics for food, which could result in ingesting them, internal damage, and nutrient dilution. Furthermore, absorbed contaminants and additives seeping from microplastics can cause toxicity, irregularities in reproduction, and behavioral changes in impacted species. These issues reveal that microplastics can linger in the nature for longer duration, divide into smaller particles called nanoplastics, and infiltrate different trophic levels. The compilation, origins, characterization, interactions with microorganisms, and detrimental effects of microplastics are included in the current study.