**1. Introduction**

Plastics are synthetic polymers that are pliable (flexible) in nature and may be molded into various shapes [1]. Plastic is made up of long chains of polymers made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, silicon, and chloride, which are derived from natural gas, oil, and coal [2]. Polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyester (PES) polyurethane (PU), acrylic (AC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE), polyimide (PI), poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are the most common synthetic polymers, accounting for 90% of global plastic manufacturing [3, 4]. Materials made from plastics are cheap. And because of its low production cost, simplicity, durability, strength, corrosion resistance, good thermal and electrical conductivity, and physiochemical properties, plastic has become an essential and general material in all aspects of our lives.

The mass production of plastics began in the 1940s, and thereafter microplastic pollution of the marine ecosystem has been a growing problem [5]. Global plastic production has nearly tripled in the last three decades, and it is expected to reach 33 billion tons by 2050 [6–8]. Despite rising knowledge of plastic pollution and measures to reduce it, annual plastic output continues to rise. Research conducted by [4] has revealed that over 280 million metric tons of plastics wastes are generated by the manufacturing industrial sector yearly. An estimated amount of 275 million metric tons of territory plastic garbage from 192 coastal countries entered the marine, resulting in 4.8–12.7 million metric tons [9]. The percentage of worldwide aquatic plastic pollutants entering into the marine ecosystem [10] based on data published recently has been shown in **Figure 1**. The majority of the world's largest polluting water bodies are in Asia, with a few in Africa as well.

Microplastics are microscopic plastic pieces with diameters of 5 mm found in marine environments [11]. These microscopic plastics can be ingested by a variety of marine living organisms, including corals, planktons, marine invertebrates, fish, and whales, and are then passed through the food chain. These biodegradable plastics directly endanger marine species and have an indirect influence on the ecosystem by decontaminating other marine pollutants. Microplastics accumulate hydrophobic contaminants from the aquatic environment due to their huge surface area-to-volume ratio [12]. Thus, microplastic contamination is becoming a source of concern due to its negative impact, particularly on marine life.
