Microplastics toxicity in aquatic animals

Microplastics (MPs) in water are a problem nowadays, especially as 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, leading to impacts on aquatic animals, which can have an influence on humans and ecosystems farther up the food chain. Even though research about the toxicity of MPs on organisms in water has been conducted, these studies often concentrate on assessing how MPs affect a single or small number of species, and few systematic reviews are conducted. To fully understand the impacts of MPs on aquatic animals, a thorough, in-depth review with complete up-to-date information is required. This chapter discusses the toxicological effects of MPs on aquatic animals, including zooplankton, nekton , and benthos groups in freshwater , brackish, and saltwater habitats. MPs cause direct effects on species such as reduced growth, metabolism, reproduction, foraging, neurotoxicity , and increased mortality in short and long-term observations. The effects of MPs, such as stunted physical and mental development and decreased egg quality and quantity, may continue to affect the offspring or eggs. In addition, MPs can cause indirect effects through the accumulation of pollutants around them and play a carrier role in the transport of pollutants . Furthermore, the source, concentration, and effects of MPs of different types, sizes, shapes, and concentrations on aquatic animals are also investigated in this chapter. Finally, future research on MP toxicity in aquatic animals will also be considered.