Polymeric Materials in the Anthropocene: Environmental Accumulation, Human Health Concerns, and Cultural Response

Abstract

Polymers made via conventional techniques are very useful because of their strength, adaptability, and cheap. Plastics are not degradable naturally, which creates lots of environmental issues. As plastic products degrade over time, they decompose into microplastics which enter the environment. These microscopic particles called microplastics have been identified in agricultural soils, freshwater and marine environments, and atmospheric dust, enabling their continuous movement through ecosystems and food webs. Recent research shows high concentrations of traces of microplastics in human biological systems. Non- degradability of polymer in environment leads to plastic pollution. Some good alternatives like bioplastics are introduced to replace this pollution of the environment by using engineering techniques. Literary and cultural studies contribute an essential analytical aspect by viewing plastics as cultural symbols of disposability, ecological disengagement. This work integrates EIA, microplastic behavior analysis, and emerging bioplastic innovations to provide a vast understanding of polymer diffusion. Recent research on microalgae-based biodegradable plastic has been examined as sustainable alternatives, which suggests that effective solutions of polymer-related problems require a combination of technological innovation and regulatory frameworks.