Amobonye Ayodeji, Bhagwat Prashant, Raveendran Sindhu, Singh Suren, Pillai Santhosh
Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa.
Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Trivandrum, India.
Front Microbiol. 2021 Dec 15;12:768297. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.768297. eCollection 2021.
The increasing distribution of miniaturized plastic particles, microplastics (100 nm-5 mm) and nanoplastics (less than 100 nm), across the various ecosystems is currently a subject of major environmental concern. Exacerbating these concerns is the fact that microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) display different properties from their corresponding bulk materials; thus, not much is understood about their full biological and ecological implications. Currently, there is evidence to prove that these miniaturized plastic particles release toxic plastic additives and can adsorb various chemicals, thereby serving as sinks for various poisonous compounds, enhancing their bioavailability, toxicity, and transportation. Furthermore, there is a potential danger for the trophic transfer of MNPs to humans and other higher animals, after being ingested by lower organisms. Thus, this paper critically analyzes our current knowledge with regard to the environmental impacts of MNPs. In this regard, the properties, sources, and damaging effects of MNPs on different habitats, particularly on the biotic components, were elucidated. Similarly, the consequent detrimental effects of these particles on humans as well as the current and future efforts at mitigating these detrimental effects were discussed. Finally, the self-cleaning efforts of the planet a range of saprophytic organisms on these synthetic particles were also highlighted.
小型塑料颗粒、微塑料（100纳米至5毫米）和纳米塑料（小于100纳米）在各种生态系统中的分布日益广泛，这是当前主要的环境关切问题。更令人担忧的是，微塑料和纳米塑料（MNPs）与其相应的块状材料具有不同的特性；因此，人们对它们的全部生物学和生态影响了解不多。目前，有证据证明这些小型塑料颗粒会释放有毒的塑料添加剂，并能吸附各种化学物质，从而成为各种有毒化合物的汇集地，提高它们的生物利用度、毒性和迁移性。此外，MNPs被低等生物摄入后，存在向人类和其他高等动物进行营养转移的潜在危险。因此，本文批判性地分析了我们目前关于MNPs对环境影响方面的知识。在这方面，阐述了MNPs的特性、来源以及对不同栖息地，特别是对生物成分的破坏作用。同样，还讨论了这些颗粒对人类的相应有害影响以及目前和未来为减轻这些有害影响所做的努力。最后，还强调了地球上一系列腐生生物对这些合成颗粒的自我净化作用。
