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Plastic pollution in marine and freshwater biota
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Researchers compiled a special issue reviewing the current science on plastic pollution — including micro- and nanoplastics — in marine and freshwater environments, identifying key gaps in understanding how these particles move through ecosystems and harm aquatic life. The collection aims to support stronger science-based environmental policies addressing plastic pollution in aquatic systems.
Plastic pollution is now recognised as a growing concern for both the environment and associated biota. Consequently, a plethora of scientific reports are being produced regarding the occurrence, distribution, and transfer pathways of litter particles. However, there are scientific gaps that need to be filled regarding micro- and nanoplastic impacts on marine and freshwater organisms. This Special Issue (SI) aimed to provide an update on plastic pollution and its consequences on aquatic ecosystems, with a particular focus on biological domains, by adopting a multidisciplinary perspective. Several research articles and reviews were collected, focusing on the origin, fate, and effects of plastics in marine and freshwater environments, along with their interactions with biotic components. We believe this SI will contribute to the development of new studies on plastic pollution and the elaboration of science-based policies at different levels of our modern society.
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Microplastic and Nanoplastic Pollution in Different Environments: Freshwater and Marine Perspectives
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This collection focuses on advancing understanding of micro and nanoplastic pollution across freshwater and marine ecosystems, covering occurrence, characterization, sources, transport, fate, and ecological impacts. It highlights research on both conventional and emerging water environments and evaluates mitigation strategies and policy interventions for aquatic microplastic contamination.
Microplastics in freshwater systems: Occurrence and effects
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This virtual special issue review synthesised current knowledge on the occurrence and effects of micro- and nanoplastics in freshwater systems, addressing a gap given that most prior research had focused on marine environments. Researchers highlighted that freshwater ecosystems are critical transport pathways for land-to-ocean plastic flux and documented the growing evidence for ecological effects on freshwater organisms and food webs.
Effects of micro- and nanoplastics on aquatic ecosystems: Current research trends and perspectives
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This review covers 83 studies on the distribution and toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics in both marine and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Researchers found that these tiny particles affected the growth, development, behavior, reproduction, and survival of a wide range of aquatic organisms. The paper identifies key research gaps and suggests future directions for understanding the full ecological impact of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Plastic Pollution and Ecosystem Health: Sources, Pathways, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies
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Researchers reviewed how plastics from industrial, domestic, agricultural, and transport sources enter terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems via runoff, rivers, wastewater, and atmospheric deposition, fragment into increasingly mobile microplastics and nanoplastics, and drive biodiversity impacts through ingestion, chemical toxicity, and trophic transfer — identifying research gaps and calling for integrated policy and technological responses.
Plastic Pollution and Ecosystem Health: Sources, Pathways, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies
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Researchers synthesized current knowledge on plastic pollution across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, tracing source pathways from industrial and domestic activities through fragmentation into microplastics and nanoplastics, and mapping impacts including trophic transfer, chemical toxicity, and biodiversity loss.
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.