Microplastics: A silent truth on the environment

Abstract

Introduction: Microplastics (MPCs) are plastic fragments smaller than 5mm diameter. They can be formed by industry (primary MPCs) or debris generated from macroplastic (secondary MPCs). Objective: This review aims to explore the availability of MCPs in the environment, live organisms and especially in human health. Methodology: Data from the presente study was carried out from October to December 2017 in the electronic databases: Scielo, Pubmed, Science Direct, CAPES Periodicals and Google Scholar, published from 2008 to 2018.  Results: These particles have had a significant increase in the environment in the last years, leading the the researchers on several experiments in order to verify the scope, availability and the impact of MPCs in the environment. MPCs have proved to be susceptible of being absorbed by living organisms, leading to accumulation along the food chain and it might have consequences in the environment. Although several surveys have been conducted in animals, in humans there are few studies, so is necessary analyzing and understand the interaction between MPCs and human organism. Due to this problem size with MPCs, some countries created laws that prohibit the use of microspheres in cosmetics. Conclusion: Actually, Brazil does not have laws limiting the use of MPCs by industries and doesn't have any alternatives for water treatment, since MPCs are already present in Brazilian waters, hence is necessary the development of public services and sustainable alternatives to this problem.