Current progress on plastic/microplastic degradation: Fact influences and mechanism

Plastic pollution, particularly non-degradable residual plastic films and microplastics (MPs), is a serious envi-ronmental problem that continues to worsen each year. Numerous studies have characterized the degradation of plastic fragments; however, there is known a lack of about the state of current physicochemical biodegradation methods used for plastics treatment and their degradation efficiency. Therefore, this review explores the effects of different physicochemical factors on plastics/MPs degradation, including mechanical comminution, ultravi-olet radiation, high temperature, and pH value. Further, this review discusses different mechanisms of physi-cochemical degradation and summarizes the degradation efficiency of these factors under various conditions. Additionally, the important role of enzymes in the biodegradation mechanism of plastics/MPs is also discussed. Collectively, the topics discussed in this review provide a solid basis for future research on plastics/MPs degradation methods and their effects.