Author(s)

Boluwatife S. Olubusoye^1*, Peter Oni², Faustina Owusu³, Oluwatoyin Adekoya⁴, Acaye Ongwech⁵, Daniel A. Odogwu⁶, Oluwafemi Awolesi^3,7*, Ayobami Oje⁸, Beatrice Arwenyo^5*

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, Oxford, USA.
²Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, USA.
³Department of Environmental Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
⁴Department of Water Resource Policy, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, USA.
⁵Department of Chemistry, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda.
⁶Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, USA.
⁷Research and Development Unit, Ecoxygiene Services Limited, Lagos, Nigeria.
⁸Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Nigeria.

The pervasive presence of microplastics in marine environments has raised significant concerns. This review addresses the pressing issue of microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems and its potential implications for both the environment and human health. It outlines the current state of microplastic occurrence, distribution, and extraction methods within marine organisms. Microplastics have emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their harmful effects on ecosystems and their potential human health risks. These particles infiltrate marine environments through runoff and atmospheric deposition, ultimately contaminating beaches and posing threats to marine life. Despite the gravity of this issue, there has been limited research on the presence and distribution of microplastics in marine organisms. This review aims to bridge this knowledge gap by comprehensively examining the occurrence, distribution, and various extraction methods used to detect microplastics in marine organisms. It emphasizes the urgent need for targeted measures to manage microplastic pollution, highlights the significant role of human activities in contributing to this problem, and underscores the importance of reducing human-induced pollution to safeguard marine ecosystems. While this paper contributes to the understanding of microplastic pollution in marine environments and underscores the critical importance of taking action to protect marine organisms and preserve our oceans for future generations, it also emphasizes that, in effectively tackling the microplastic problem, a well-coordinated approach is essential, involving research initiatives, policy adjustments, public involvement, and innovative technologies. Crucially, prompt and resolute responses must exist to counteract the escalating peril posed by microplastics to the oceans and the global environment.

Microplastics, Marine Environment, Marine Organisms, Extraction Methods, Ecological Impact, Ocean Pollution

Olubusoye, B. , Oni, P. , Owusu, F. , Adekoya, O. , Ongwech, A. , Odogwu, D. , Awolesi, O. , Oje, A. and Arwenyo, B. (2023) Microplastics in Marine Environment: Occurrence, Distribution, and Extraction Methods in Marine Organisms. Open Journal of Ecology, 13, 931-955. doi: 10.4236/oje.2023.1312057.