Abstract

GIRALDEZ ALVAREZ, Lisandro D. et al. Efects of microplastics on the environment: an emerging macroproblem. Rev. cienc. tecnol. [online]. 2020, n.33, pp.1-10. ISSN 1851-7587.

As a lightweight, durable, versatile and potentially transparent material, plastics are ideal for a variety of applications. However, around 300 million tons of plastic are produced per year, of which 13 million reach rivers and oceans causing irreparable damage to this ecosystem and affecting organisms with limited adaptation capacity. It is estimated that 8300 million metric tons (MT) of plastic has been produced. From 2015 onwards, 6300 MT has become waste and only 9% of it has been recycled. The risk that microplastics (MPs) can represent for human health is not yet a definite problem, but there is numerous evidence of the negative impacts of plastic and their wastes, microplastics and nanoplastics, ingested by organisms from diverse ecosystems. Therefore, the objective of this work was to carry out a bibliographic investigation on the current state of knowledge about microplastics and their environmental impacts, especially in the aquatic ones.

Keywords : Microplastic; Environment; Aquatic pollution..

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