Microplastics: Potent Emerging Contaminants Capable of Disrupting the Biogeochemical Balance of the Biosphere
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65795/wp2mc921Keywords:
emerging contaminants, microplastics, biosphere, pollutionAbstract
The biosphere has been suffering severely from the ill effects of various emerging contaminants. Microplastics are among those that can pose serious threats and elicit widespread consequences. The chemical inertness, high aspect ratio, and extreme stability mark them as one of the potent destroyers of ecological balance in the marine ecosystem. They can affect the lives of organisms at various levels by encroaching on the aquatic food chain and altering the biogeochemistry of the system. Various biogeochemical cycles that maintain the elemental balance and their distribution from one biosystem to another were disrupted by the action of microplastics. The microplastics will migrate from lower trophic levels to higher ones through the food chain and bioaccumulate in higher-grade organisms like human beings. It’s ironic to note that the danger generated by human activity finally accumulates in human beings and causes serious, life-threatening diseases. Microplastics were found in most of the human body parts and even in the brain. They are potent enough to derail the biochemical pathways of the human body as well. Better international co-operations, mitigating policies, and strong leadership to implement the same are required to safeguard our ecosystems for future generations.
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Accepted 26-06-2026
Published 09-07-2026
