Microplastics: Pollution of the Modern World

With the progress of industry and economy in societies, unfortunately, we are witnessing more pollution of the environment every day. It is believed that the progress of science and industry will bring comfort to the inhabitants of the Earth, but in reality, we are witnessing increasing pollution in many areas. Among all the pollutants, for several decades, humans have been causing a new pollution, and that is microplastics. Simply put, plastic particles smaller than 5 mm are called microplastics. They can be found everywhere, and, unfortunately, they have a long shelf life and high stability, so they slowly degrade. They have a high potential for fragmentation, which is why they are constantly decreasing in size, and this increases the scope of pollution. Also, they absorb many pollutants and can be considered as carriers of other pollutants. Microplastics easily accumulate in many organisms through ingestion and breathing, leading to physical damage. However, many of them contain chemical additives and can cause toxic effects. This review paper discusses microplastic pollution and its sources. The effects of microplastics on marine organisms are also addressed.