MICROPLASTIC OCCURRENCE AND EFFECTS ON THE FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM: CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS.

Plastic production has inevitably increased in the past few decades and is one of today's most diverse materials. With this growing production and broader use, aquatic ecosystems have become the trash barrel for all kinds of plastic, becoming a looming spectre to the habitat and functions of both inland and offshore ecosystems. Microplastics are a pollutant of growing concern, capable of harming aquatic organisms and entering the food web. While, freshwater microplastic research has expanded in recent years, much remains to be discovered regarding microplastic sources and delivery pathways in these environments. Plastic pollution is considered an emerging global environmental concern that could significantly affect biological diversity and potentially cause adverse effects on human health. Compared to the studies on microplastics in marine ecosystems, the studies on their presence in freshwater ecosystems have received relatively less attention. This review article focuses on the literature available on reports of microplastic occurrence, its distribution in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, and its insidious effects, which are of emerging concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]