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Microplastics as an emerging threat to amphibians: Current status and future perspectives
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This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in amphibians like frogs and salamanders, finding that over 80% of studied species had accumulated microplastics. The particles persisted in organs, showed toxic and gene-damaging effects, and could transfer through the food chain. Since amphibians are indicators of environmental health, widespread microplastic accumulation in these animals signals broader ecosystem contamination that can ultimately affect human food and water sources.
Given their pervasiveness in the environment, particularly in aquatic ecosystems, plastics are posing a growing concern worldwide. Many vertebrates and invertebrates in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems exhibit microplastic (MP) uptake and accumulation. Some studies have indicated the fatal impacts of MPs on animals and their possible transfer through food chains. Thus, it is crucial to study MP pollution and its impacts on environment-sensitive and globally threatened animal groups, such as amphibians, which also play an important role in the energy transfer between ecosystems. Unfortunately, research in this field is lacking and sources of organized information are also scarce. Hence, we systematically reviewed published literature on MPs in amphibians to fill the existing knowledge gap. Our review revealed that most of the previous studies have focused on MP bioaccumulation in amphibians, whereas, only a few research highlighted its impacts. We found that more than 80% of the studied species exhibited MP accumulation. MPs were reported to persist in different organs for a long time and get transferred to other trophic levels. They can also exhibit cytotoxic and mutagenic effects and may have fatal impacts. Moreover, they can increase the disease susceptibility of amphibians. Our study concludes the MPs as a potential threat to amphibians and urges increasing the scope and frequency of research on MP pollution and its impacts on this vulnerable animal group. We also provide a generalized method for studying MPs in amphibians with future perspectives and research directions. Our study is significant for extending the knowledge of MPs and their impacts on amphibians and guiding prospective research.
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Ecotoxicological perspectives of microplastic pollution in amphibians
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This review summarizes research on how microplastics affect amphibians, which are considered important indicator species for freshwater pollution. Researchers found evidence that microplastics can impair amphibian growth, immune function, and gene expression, with effects varying by species and particle characteristics. The findings raise concerns about the vulnerability of amphibian populations already threatened by habitat loss and other environmental stressors.
Micro(nano)plastics as an emerging risk factor to the health of amphibian: A scientometric and systematic review
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Only 12 studies have examined microplastic effects on amphibians, concentrated in Brazil and China and limited mostly to the Anura order; lab-tested concentrations were far from environmentally relevant levels, leaving significant knowledge gaps about mechanisms of toxicity in this vertebrate group.
Variation in microplastic characteristics among amphibian larvae: a comparative study across different species and the influence of human activity
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Scientists examined microplastics inside amphibian larvae from 10 species and found plastic particles in all of them, with blue fibers being the most common type. Larger larvae tended to contain longer plastic fragments, and there was a relationship between human activity levels near habitats and the characteristics of the plastics found. This study shows that microplastic contamination has penetrated freshwater food webs, affecting animals during their most vulnerable developmental stages.
Ecotoxicological and Risk Assessment Perspectives of Micro(nano)plastic Pollution in Aquatic Organisms with Emphasis in Amphibians
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This ecotoxicological review synthesized evidence on microplastic and nanoplastic uptake, accumulation, and adverse effects in freshwater vertebrates and invertebrates, with particular focus on amphibians, documenting disruptions to reproduction, development, and immune function at environmentally relevant concentrations. Amphibians serve as sensitive ecological sentinels whose population declines from microplastic exposure signal broader ecosystem dysfunction that can propagate through food webs to affect the fish, birds, and mammals — including humans — that depend on healthy freshwater systems.
Microplastic Contamination in Amphibians and Reptiles: An Ecotoxicological Synthesis of Exposure, Mechanisms, and Risk Implications
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This review pulls together years of research on frogs, turtles, and other amphibians and reptiles, finding that many of these animals—especially sea turtles and tadpoles—carry surprisingly high levels of microplastics in their bodies, sometimes even passing them to their eggs. These plastics appear to disrupt hormones, immune defenses, and healthy gut bacteria in these animals, which matters for us too: these creatures share our water and food systems, and their struggles can be an early warning sign of environmental contamination that eventually reaches humans through the same air, water, and food sources.
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