Bioremediation of Microplastics by Microorganisms: Trends, Challenges, and Perspectives

Abstract

Severe plastic pollution is occurring in fresh water and soil systems due to the presence of non-degradable microplastics (MPs) in the environment. The scarcity of management and the excessive commercial use of plastics have been identified as the major sources of MPs. Accumulation of MPs in soil affects soil health and further can make it infertile. They can also transfer into fresh water systems through rain and flood. These MPs can transfer across the food web to living organisms and can persist in the gastrointestinal tract for quite a long time and possess a high probability of toxicological effects. For reducing the mentioned detrimental effects, several biological, chemical, physiochemical, and sustainable treatment methods are being developed for remediation of MPs. The effectiveness of these processes in eliminating MPs has been discussed previously; however, microbial bioremediation of MPs is still unclear. As it is considered as a green route and a quite easy method, this chapter aims to highlight the details of microbial bioremediation techniques. Focusing on the impact of MPs in fresh water and soil, the chapter will discuss the methods and mechanisms of microbial degradation of MPs, recent research approaches, challenges and future research directions in this field.