Relationship Between Microbes and the Environment for Sustainable Ecosystem Services, Volume 2 - Chapter 1: Effect of pollution on sediments and their impact on the aquatic ecosystem

Aquatic ecosystems are hotspots for water contamination, which results from various anthropogenic activities such as industrialization, agricultural activities and urbanization. The diverse use of various chemicals in pesticides, detergents and inorganic salts in various industries drain as effluents and find their way to various water bodies. The aquatic ecosystem has an emerging threat caused by microplastic as a result of dumping plastic into water bodies. Thus, resulting in degradation of the quality of aquatic sediments, which is assessed by the enrichment factor. The effect of pollution on sediments can be evaluated by “degree of pollution.” Aquatic sediments are the primary source of essential nutrition for the ecosystem. Potential contamination of sediments with high concentrations of heavy metals and microplastics affects all forms of aquatic organisms, most particularly Phyto and Zooplanktons. Eutrophication, oil spills and aquaculture activities are other factors that affect the aquatic ecosystem.