Electronic Green Journal

This systematic review examines emerging threats of plastic pollution to ecosystem sustainability based on research published between 2021 and 2024. A comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed literature named seven studies (n = 7), of which five (n = 5) met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed three distinct categories of ecosystem impacts: terrestrial (microplastic soil contamination), aquatic (marine and freshwater systems), and novel threats associated with global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest-quality studies (n = 3) focused on terrestrial microplastic pollution, impacts on seagrass meadows, and freshwater macroplastic contamination. Other supporting studies provided insights into lifecycle impacts and pandemic-related pollution patterns. Overall, this review synthesizes evidence across multiple ecosystem types, highlighting the interconnected nature of emerging plastic pollution threats.