A review of plastic and microplastic pollution towards the Malaysian marine environment

Abstract

Abstract Plastics are widely used in daily lives but uncontrollably dumped into the ocean by humans. Plastic pollution is harmful to the marine environment and organisms as it can break down into microplastics (MPs) and release chemicals into the water. Microplastics (MPs) are small, fragmented plastic pieces (< 5mm) that exist in every part of the ocean. MPs are problematic because they are hard to recover and can be easily consumed by marine organisms, resulting in bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain. Malaysia is a tropical country located at the heart of Southeast Asia (SEA) and owns diverse marine ecosystems and organisms. Malaysia is affected by plastic pollution due to rapid development and intense economic activities. In this paper, we discuss the plastic pollution crisis in Malaysia and its contributing factor. We review the possible effect on the marine environment in Malaysia. Knowledge gaps to manage plastic pollution in Malaysia are also addressed. As MPs are consistently discovered in different compartments of the Malaysian marine environment, there is an urgency to develop a better waste management system and strong cooperation from all societal levels to handle plastic pollution in the country.