Mechanisms of interaction between microplastics and microorganisms in the environment

Abstract

As an emerging pollutant, microplastics (MPs) exist widely in the environment and have a certain degree of negative impact on microorganisms, plants, animals, and even the human body. This review summarizes the sources, distribution, and potential hazards of MPs, focusing on a particular emphasis on how MPs influence microorganisms individually and in intergroups, as well as the pathways and methods of microbial degradation in the environment. On this basis, future research directions on MPs and microorganisms are proposed so as to better understand the environmental behavior of MPs and carry out ecological risk assessment.