According to , it is important to distinguish between the sources and pathways through which microplastic enters the environment. Sources should be used to describe the origin while pathways should be used to elucidate the movement from the source to the various habitats. The major sources outlined include four categories, (i) larger plastics litteroriginating from fishing, shipping and other maritime counterparts; (ii) cleaning products -a byproduct of industrial and domestic cleaning activities; (iii) medicines -microplastics used in drug delivery for both human and animal treatments; (iv) textiles -as a results of washing clothes. All sources have the common factor of land-based activities at some point in the pathway to the marine habitat. Although, determining the individual source of microplastic pollution may be difficult, polymer identification and chemical characterization may help to provide some information on the origin of microplastic and the possible pathways involved. . It is estimated annually between 1.15 and 2.41 million tonnes of plastics enters the ocean through river systems globally with 67% of the total riverine output being found in Asia .