Microplastic as a Pathogenic Vector to Cause Diseases in Marine Biota

In addition to being an eyesore, microplastic pollution has serious ecological consequences for aquatic life, terrestrial life, and human beings. According to studies, microplastics can operate as vectors for pollutants, soaking up and storing them in marine habitats, species, and ultimately food webs. Given that people will inevitably be exposed to microplastics, it is important to take stock of what we know about their possible consequences, exposure pathways, and toxicity to human health. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to shed light on the human health risks associated with microplastic’s pollutant sorption and bioaccumulation, as well as to identify the most prevalent pollutant classes absorbed by microplastic and the classes of pollutants that are bioaccumulated by microplastic in marine ecosystem organisms. Potential factors affecting microplastic’s sorption and bioaccumulation of contaminants in marine habitats were also discussed. The review also shed light on the most common forms of microplastic, the overall amount of microplastic, and its geographic distribution throughout the world’s waterways. In the literature review, it was found that microplastic sorption of contaminants was influenced by microplastic properties, chemical interactions, and water parameters. There is still no proof that microplastics pose a direct medical harm to people, despite several studies documenting the risks of microplastic-associated subunits, additives, and contaminants.