Microplastics on the frontline: causes, strategies to combat pollution and protect health with advanced bioremediation—a review

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing global concern with serious implications for ecosystems and human health. The present review provides a comprehensive analysis of the occurrence, mobility, and toxicological impacts of MPs, focusing on their role as vectors for heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. The review explores their subsequent translocation into the human food web. This review summarizes and evaluates microbial and enzymatic degradation. The review framework integrates traditional environmental assessment with emerging technologies, specifically evaluating the efficacy of microbial enzymes (such as PETase and laccase) and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled predictive modeling for pollution hotspot identification. This holistic approach bridges the gap between field-based quantification and advanced bioremediation strategies. The findings are contextualized within the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic review of 666 studies published between 2010 and 2025 in the Scopus database was conducted to synthesize insights across multiple levels of MPs and bioremediation using published articles in India. The novelty lies in combining India-specific field data, cross-trophic toxicological insights, and AI to address existing research gaps. The framework aligns with multiple SDGs, including SDG 3, 6, 9, 12, and 14.