Microplastics and Microorganisms: A Evolutionary Symbiosis in Terrestrial Environment

Plastics, an inevitable, unavoidable synthetic resource, have become part of every individual. The application of plastics has gained importance and increased in demand due to its cost-effectiveness and resistance to biotic and abiotic factors. Prolonged use of plastics increased the dispersion of waste irrespective of the ecosystem. Then, the threat started, which became a nightmare for every individual on the planet. The inevitability of plastic has made it difficult to avoid the usage or relay or an effective alternative. The current chapter focuses on the accumulation of plastic wastes (irrespective of the nature of plastics), the treatment processes, and specifically on microplastics. The facts and research propose that the interaction between microplastics and microbes dates back to the discovery of plastics. The high surface-to-volume ratio of microplastics attracts pollutants and microbes to coexist. The microbes, in turn, gained resistance to the plastic toxicity and fed on it as a carbon source for survival. This pattern paved a way for the discovery of biological degradation of plastics/microplastics. The symbiosis will exist for years to come until the availability of plastics and their derivatives, which provides researchers a platform to discover methods to eliminate plastic wastes in the environment. Microplastics, due to their smaller size, have entered the food chain, which is a major cause of ill effects in living organisms. Hence, understanding the symbiotic relationship and utilizing it to eradicate plastic wastes will reduce the environmental toxic impact in the forthcoming life.