Marine Pollution by Microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea

Worldwide, plastic debris is becoming a great environmental problem, with potentially negative effects also on human health, although currently the topic is highly debated in the scientific community. In the basin, microplastics come mainly from three coastal regions, namely Egypt, Turkey and Italy, in decreasing order. Today, the knowledge about the possible interactions of microplastics in the biotic system is unclear and huge efforts are required to discover their effects on human health. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the production and use of plastics by investing money in research planning and strengthening any kind of human efforts to solve this new kind of marine pollution.

Automated summary

Plastic debris has become a major environmental issue worldwide, potentially impacting human health. Microplastics in the basin primarily originate from coastal regions such as Egypt, Turkey, and Italy. The effects of microplastics on the biotic system and human health remain unclear, necessitating extensive research efforts. It is crucial to invest in research planning and reinforce human efforts to mitigate this emerging marine pollution by reducing plastic production and usage.