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Effects of plastics and microplastics on marine ecosystems: a global review
Summary
This global review synthesizes evidence on plastic and microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems, covering their presence in sediments, water, organisms, and air, and noting sparse data on environmental fate and ecotoxicological impacts including effects on reproduction.
In recent years the use of plastics has increased exponentially. Due to their low capacity for degradation and low recycling (approximately 9%) plastic compounds have accumulated in the marine environment where erosion processes fragment and break them into microparticles that contaminate the water, harm marine fauna, and are ultimately ingested by humans. Various studies have reported the presence of microplastics in different components of marine ecosystems such as sediments, water, organisms, and even air. Existing studies mainly focus on microplastic abundance, composition, and distribution. Information on the environmental fate and toxicological behavior of microplastics in the marine ecosystem remains sparse. Recent studies suggest that microplastic ecotoxicity impacts reproductive quality, digestion, and mortality of various fish species as well as their transfer in the trophic chain. The authors analyze their sources and the impacts recorded in the marine ecosystem due to their altered biogeochemical interactions.
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