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

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