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The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations

Author

Listed:
  • Sunusi Usman

    (Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis

    (Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
    Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Khozirah Shaari

    (Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
    Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai

    (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
    Aquatic Animal Health and Therapeutics Laboratory (Aqua Health), Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Mohd Zamri Saad

    (Aquatic Animal Health and Therapeutics Laboratory (Aqua Health), Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
    Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Nurulfiza Mat Isa

    (Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Bimolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
    Laboratory of Vaccines and Biomolecules (VacBio), Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin

    (Aquatic Animal Health and Therapeutics Laboratory (Aqua Health), Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

Abstract

The relationship between humans and plastics has become intricate due to their versatile nature and low production cost. Plastics generation has surpassed that of other manufactured products, which, coupled with the prevailing poor waste management systems, makes it a serious problem for the terrestrial and aquatic environments as its final destination. Their extensive presence has continued to pose a significant threat, not only to the aquatic ecosystem but also to the approximately 3 billion people relying on it for their livelihood. Even more disturbing were the recent findings of these plastics in food and drinking water and the evidence of human exposure, the long-term health effects of which are largely unknown. This ubiquitous phenomenon has over time put plastics under critical observation, leading to the development of many local and international policies, resolutions, and directives aimed at addressing and reversing the menace. This review provided the first snapshot of the global and local governance strategies currently aimed at mitigating plastic pollution, their limitations, and future directions. The findings of the review revealed several aspects of microplastics (MPs) pollution to be overlooked in policy formulation, a laxity in policy implementation, and an apparent lack of indices to ascertain the impact of the regulations. Furthermore, there is currently no regulation on MPs contamination of food and drinking water and an apparent lack of funding for research into the health effects of plastics and their alternatives. This, therefore, necessitates the need for a well-coordinated approach at international and national levels to scale up these policies in all countries and translate them from paper to measurable, holistic, and realizable actions that will address all forms of plastic pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Sunusi Usman & Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis & Khozirah Shaari & Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai & Mohd Zamri Saad & Nurulfiza Mat Isa & Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin, 2022. "The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-22, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6773-:d:829897
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Natalia Milojevic & Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, 2021. "Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge as a Threat of Microplastic (MP) Spread in the Environment and the Role of Governance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Sun-Kyoung Shin & Namil Um & Yong-Jun Kim & Na-Hyeon Cho & Tae-Wan Jeon, 2020. "New Policy Framework with Plastic Waste Control Plan for Effective Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Sunusi Usman & Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis & Khozirah Shaari & Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal & Mohd Zamri Saad & Nurulfiza Mat Isa & Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin & Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli & Jumria Sutra & Musa, 2020. "Microplastics Pollution as an Invisible Potential Threat to Food Safety and Security, Policy Challenges and the Way Forward," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Milene F. Diaz-Basantes & Juan A. Conesa & Andres Fullana, 2020. "Microplastics in Honey, Beer, Milk and Refreshments in Ecuador as Emerging Contaminants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-17, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Valentin Marian Antohi & Romeo Victor Ionescu & Monica Laura Zlati & Catalina Iticescu & Puiu Lucian Georgescu & Madalina Calmuc, 2023. "Regional Regression Correlation Model of Microplastic Water Pollution Control Using Circular Economy Tools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, February.
    2. Shampa Ghosh & Jitendra Kumar Sinha & Soumya Ghosh & Kshitij Vashisth & Sungsoo Han & Rakesh Bhaskar, 2023. "Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to the Global Environment and Human Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.

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