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Effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms: a comprehensive review
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This comprehensive review analyzed 171 studies on how microplastics affect marine organisms, from tiny plankton to large fish and mammals. Microplastics cause a range of harm including physical gut blockage, chemical toxicity, reduced reproduction, and disrupted feeding behavior across many species. Since marine organisms at every level of the food chain are affected, these findings raise concerns about microplastics accumulating through the seafood that people eat.
Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive pollutants that pose significant threats to marine ecosystems. This review examines the impact of MPs on marine organisms, highlighting key areas of concern and knowledge gaps.The aim of this paper is to synthesize recent findings on the occurrence and biological impacts of MPs in marine environments. For this purpose a total of 171 studies conducted in different geographical regions were examined in order to ascertain the interaction of numerous vertebrate and invertebrate taxonomic groups with microplastic. Based on this analysis the pathways through which MPs enter marine ecosystems and their interactions with marine organisms were examined. Additionally, the review addresses the potential genetic, physiological, and ecological effects of MP exposure. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies.Findings indicate that MPs are ingested by a wide range of marine organisms, causing physical damage and physiological stress. MPs have been shown to interfere with feeding, growth, and reproduction, leading to adverse effects on marine populations. The review also highlights the role of MPs in bioaccumulation and biomagnification within food webs. Moreover, MPs can carry toxic substances and pathogens, exacerbating their harmful effects on marine life.In conclusion, MPs represent a significant environmental threat with far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems. Mitigating MP pollution requires global cooperation and stringent regulatory measures to protect marine biodiversity and ensure sustainable aquatic environments.
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A comprehensive review of the impact of microplastics on aquatic organisms: From ingestion to ecological consequences
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This comprehensive review assessed the impacts of microplastics on diverse aquatic organisms—including fish, marine mammals, mollusks, crustaceans, and microorganisms—from ingestion through ecological-level consequences. The authors found that microplastics cause physical injury, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and behavioral changes across taxa, with downstream effects on food web structure and ecosystem function.
Microplastics toxicity in aquatic animals
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This systematic review summarizes existing research on how microplastics harm aquatic animals across multiple species. The findings show microplastics can cause physical damage, oxidative stress, reproductive issues, and behavioral changes in fish, shellfish, and other water-dwelling creatures. Since many of these animals are part of the human food chain, their contamination represents an indirect health concern for people.
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This review examines how microplastic pollution harms marine animals at every level of the food chain, from tiny plankton to large predators. Through ingestion, entanglement, and building up in tissues over time, microplastics disrupt feeding, reproduction, and growth in marine life, which also raises concerns about human exposure through seafood consumption.
Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on biota: a review
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This review examines the ecological impact of microplastics on organisms across different levels of the food chain, from plankton to fish. Researchers found that microplastic exposure triggers a range of harmful effects including oxidative stress, immune disruption, reproductive problems, and altered feeding behavior. The evidence suggests that microplastics pose a widespread toxicological threat to wildlife, though more research is needed to understand the long-term population-level consequences.
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