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Mathematical modeling of microplastic spread and fisheries impacts: synthesis of transport parameterization, trophic pathways, and population-level risk assessment
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This review pulls together dozens of studies using math models to track how microplastics move through waterways and up the food chain in fish. The good news: microplastics mostly pass through fish rather than building up in their bodies over time. The bigger concern is that these plastic particles can carry toxic chemicals along for the ride, and when combined with climate change and overfishing, this pollution could still cause real declines in fish populations — something worth watching for both ocean health and the seafood many of us eat.
Microplastic (MP) contamination is a globally pervasive stressor in marine and freshwater fisheries ecosystems; however, our quantitative understanding of its transport dynamics, trophic fate, and population-level consequences remains fragmented. This review synthesizes mathematical and computational modeling frameworks used to investigate MP transport, exposure, and ecological impacts in fisheries contexts. We evaluate five principal model classes, hydrodynamic, Eulerian, Lagrangian, statistical, and population-balance approaches, and assess their parameterization of advection–diffusion processes, vertical transport, biofouling-driven density modification, and sediment heteroaggregation across the freshwater, estuarine, coastal, and pelagic continuum. A consistent pattern emerges: MPs bioaccumulate within trophic levels but rarely biomagnify across trophic levels, largely due to rapid gastrointestinal egestion (>80% within 144 hours) and size-selective retention. The principal ecological risk derives from plastic-associated chemical co-transport, including hydrophobic organic contaminants and leaching additives, whose bioaccumulation kinetics may operate independently of particle persistence. Population-dynamic models indicate non-linear, threshold-dependent declines in fish biomass under the combined pressures of microplastic pollution, climate change, and fishing activity. This review provides guidance for ecosystem-based fisheries management and policy-relevant risk assessment. Future research priorities include analytical standardization, taxon-specific elimination kinetics, and the integration of multiple stressors into coupled hydrodynamic–biogeochemical–fisheries models to support robust projections under increasing plastic inputs.
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This review pulls together existing research on how microplastics move through fish—from what they eat, into their organs and cells, and how it affects their growth, behavior, and immune health. Since fish are a major food source for humans, understanding how microplastics build up in their bodies helps scientists figure out whether—and how much—these tiny plastic particles might be making their way onto our dinner plates. The paper doesn't prove human harm, but it lays the groundwork for better monitoring and future research into that question.
Applications of mathematical modelling for assessing microplastic transport and fate in water environments: a comparative review
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This systematic review evaluates mathematical models used to predict how microplastics move through and accumulate in water systems. Better models help scientists understand where microplastics end up in the environment and, ultimately, how they might reach drinking water sources and affect human exposure.
Mapping of microplastic toxicity: Uptake, trophic transfer, and ecotoxicological risks in marine ecosystems
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) build up in ocean life, moving from small organisms all the way up to the fish we eat, causing stress, inflammation, and cell damage along the way. Since these particles can carry harmful chemicals with them, and seafood is a major route of exposure for people, the findings highlight a real need for better monitoring and policies to protect both marine life and human health.
Microplastic Pollution in Marine and Freshwater Fisheries: Ecological Impacts, Trophic Dynamics, and Implications for Fisheries Management
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic bits (microplastics) have been found in over 900 types of seafood, especially in Asian waters, and can build up as you go up the food chain, meaning bigger fish (and the people who eat them) may end up with more plastic exposure. These particles have been shown to harm fish health, causing problems like stress, poor growth, and reproductive issues, but there are currently no official safety limits for microplastics in food, which the authors argue needs to change to protect both fish populations and the people who rely on seafood.
Modeling the Fate and Transport of Plastic Debris in Freshwaters: Review and Guidance
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Researchers reviewed current mathematical models for tracking how plastic debris — including microplastics and nanoplastics — moves through freshwater environments, finding that while many principles from existing particle models apply, plastic's unique combination of high persistence, low density, and extreme size range makes its behavior far more varied and complex to predict.
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