We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics as persistent and vectors of other threats in the marine environment: Toxicological impacts, management and strategical roadmap to end plastic pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed how microplastics spread through marine environments, acting as rafts for toxic chemicals and dangerous biofilms that infiltrate the food chain — a problem worsened by COVID-19's surge in single-use plastic waste. The review highlights emerging environmental DNA tools as a way to better track and manage marine microplastic contamination.
The myriad consumption of plastic regularly, environmental impact and health disquietude of humans are at high risk. Microplastics (MPs) represent a contemporary type of contamination that has permeated several environmental areas. MP pollution is already widespread in marine environments, leading to increased awareness over the past few decades. Multiple studies are being conducted to determine the source of MPs and their harmful impacts on marine life and, ultimately, human health. Thus, this paper rigorously analyzed the origin, accumulation, and detrimental impacts of MPs on the marine ecosystem. An increase in the death rate, a decrease in the rate of growth, and a reduction in the quantity of food ingested were the primary changes that occurred in marine organisms. The hydrophobic properties of MPs enable them to facilitate the formation of biofilms, which are referred to as the plastisphere. These biofilms have the capacity to transport chemicals that are frequently hazardous and may potentially infiltrate the food chain. The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly exacerbated the plastic and MP contamination in coastal and marine environments as a result of the improper management of personal protective equipment and explosive production. The most recent developments in environmental DNA (eDNA) are valuable tools for the detection and tracking of MP contamination in coastal and marine ecosystems. These technologies offer greater sensibility, efficacy, and involvement in the process. There are several measures and attempts that must be taken to address the MP pollution issues in the marine environment. The knowledge gained from this review will serve as a foundation for future marine MP research and management techniques.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics as genetic vectors for environmental DNA: A review on adsorption mechanisms, plastisphere genetics, and ecotoxicological implications
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how microplastics interact with environmental DNA in aquatic systems, finding that plastisphere biofilms act as genetic hotspots that concentrate antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements, and that small aromatic hydrophobic fragments pose the highest genetic risk—creating systematic biases in molecular ecological monitoring that current methods fail to account for.
Exploitation of environmental DNA (eDNA) for ecotoxicological research: A critical review on eDNA metabarcoding in assessing marine pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis -- a method that detects organisms through DNA traces left in water -- can be used to monitor the effects of marine pollution, including plastic waste. While eDNA does not detect plastics directly, it reveals how pollution changes the biodiversity of marine communities, serving as an early warning system. The approach could help scientists better track the ecological damage caused by microplastic contamination in oceans.
Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment—The Occurrence, Sources, Ecological Impacts, Fate, and Remediation Challenges
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes the sources, occurrence, ecological impacts, and potential remediation approaches for microplastic contamination in aquatic environments, with attention to increased plastic waste from COVID-19 protective equipment. The study highlights how microplastics can adsorb toxic chemicals and be absorbed by living organisms, interfering with biological processes across the food chain.
Microplastics, Nanoplastics and Nanoparticles: Emerging Dynamic Carriers of Extracellular DNA Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how microplastics, nanoplastics, and engineered nanoparticles can carry extracellular DNA containing antibiotic resistance genes, potentially spreading antimicrobial resistance through aquatic environments, and called for improved wastewater treatment and agricultural chemical regulation to reduce this underappreciated public health risk.
An overview – Fate and analysis of marine microplastics with insights into microfluidics, biofilms, and future ecological threats.
AI summary Read the abstract
This overview examines the fate and analysis of marine microplastics, with focus on microfluidic detection methods, plastisphere biofilm ecology, and future ecological threats from microplastic accumulation in ocean food webs. The authors highlight how microplastic surfaces concentrate toxic contaminants and host distinct microbial communities, amplifying both chemical and biological hazards in marine ecosystems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.