We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impact of plastic contaminants on marine ecosystems and advancement in the detection of micro/nano plastics: A review
Summary
This review summarizes how micro and nanoplastics harm marine life at every level of the food chain, from algae to fish, causing neurotoxicity, gut inflammation, and reproductive damage. The authors also review advances in detection technology, including sensors that can identify tiny plastic particles in water. Understanding how microplastics accumulate through marine food webs is critical because seafood is a major pathway for human microplastic exposure.
• Microplastics harm marine life, causing neurotoxicity, and gut inflammation. • Microplastics have a detrimental effect on bivalves, zooplankton, and marine food webs. • Sensors like SERS and electrochemistry enable sensitive monitoring of microplastics. Micro/nanoplastics pollute all levels of the food web, beginning from aquatic algae, invertebrates, and other fish, through bioaccumulation or even physical and chemical damages augmenting degradation of the marine ecosystem. Besides plastic litter, other toxic chemicals employed in the manufacture of plastics also destroy stable ecosystems. Micro/nanoplastics are toxic to marine organisms through induction of blockage of ingestion, oxidative stress, and reproductive effects. Bivalves such as oysters accumulate microplastics in tissues, which decreases filtration rates. Polystyrene nanoplastics induce endocrine disturbance and neurotoxicity in fish. Seabirds suffer from gut inflammation ("plasticosis"), and zooplankton suffers from decreased feeding rates, which impacts trophic transfer. This review identifies some of the recent developments in electrochemical detection techniques, with a focus on electrochemical sensors and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Electrochemical sensors like CdS/CeO₂ heterojunction-based sensors have been able to detect 0.38 ng/mL of polystyrene nanoplastics. Biochar-modified electrodes and nanoporous gold sensors have also become more sensitive to trace detection levels (∼0.44 nM) for microplastics. SERS-based techniques, for instance, membranes with Ag nanoparticles on anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) and metal–phenolic networks with luminescence, have facilitated detection of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene nanoplastics in environmental matrices, with detection limits of 0.1 μg/mL for 500 nm polystyrene and 1 μg/mL for smaller plastic mimics. Although portable Raman spectrometers are sufficient for larger particulates, they need SERS enhancement for detecting oceanic matrix-bound nanoparticles. This article presents a critical overview of recent progress in the application of electrochemical sensors, Raman spectroscopy, and commercially available hardware to investigate their extended applications. Challenges and future directions for improved real-time monitoring with improved sensitivity and selectivity are also presented along with interference mitigation.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Toxicological review of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: Risks to ecosystems, food web dynamics and human health.
This review synthesized evidence on the toxicological effects of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems, covering risks to individual organisms, disruptions to food web dynamics, and pathways through which plastic exposure poses risks to human health via seafood consumption.
The scientific basis for addressing marine micro- and nanoplastic pollution: Informing effective monitoring and remediation frameworks
This review synthesizes the scientific basis for monitoring and remediating marine micro- and nanoplastic pollution, covering detection technologies, ecotoxicological effects across the food web, and the specific challenges nanoplastics pose due to their nanoscale properties.
Micro/nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems: Analytical challenges, ecological impacts, and mitigation strategies
This review provides a comprehensive assessment of micro- and nanoplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems, covering detection methods, toxic effects across the food chain, and emerging cleanup strategies. Researchers highlight the limitations of current analytical techniques and the challenges of accurately measuring these tiny particles in water and living organisms. The study identifies key research priorities needed to better understand and mitigate the growing threat of plastic particle pollution in waterways.
Global insights into microplastic contamination in marine life: detection methods and current status
This review provides a global overview of microplastic contamination in marine organisms, covering how these particles are ingested, accumulate through food chains, and affect marine life. Researchers summarize detection methods including spectroscopic and thermal analysis techniques, evaluating their strengths and limitations. The study emphasizes that while significant progress has been made, major challenges remain in detecting nanoplastics, standardizing methods, and understanding long-term health effects for both marine life and seafood consumers.
Micro Plastics in The Marine Environment: A Review of Their Effects on Marine Organisms and Ecosystems
This review examines the effects of microplastics on marine organisms and ecosystems, summarizing evidence for MP ingestion across trophic levels, physical and chemical harm to marine life, and the pathways through which marine MP pollution threatens biodiversity and fisheries.