The ubiquity of microplastics and phthalates in aquatic ecosystems and toxicological concerns

Effects of plastics and microplastics on aquatic organisms and human health

AI summary · Read the abstract

This review paper pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are ending up in fish, mussels, shrimp, and other seafood we eat. Because these creatures absorb microplastics from polluted water, the plastic can travel up the food chain and onto our plates, meaning our growing use of plastic may be quietly working its way into our diets. The authors call for more public awareness and action to reduce plastic pollution before its full health effects on people are better understood.

The environmental effects of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems

AI summary · Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed the growing body of evidence on how microplastics harm aquatic ecosystems, finding that long-term exposure damages organisms at multiple levels — from delivering toxic chemicals to disrupting reproduction — and calling for urgent action to reduce plastic leakage into waterways.

Occurrence and Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

AI summary · Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed how microplastics — now present in the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe — accumulate in and harm both aquatic and land-based ecosystems, highlighting the broad reach of plastic pollution as a threat to wildlife and potentially to human health.

Environmental effects of micro plastics in the aquatic environment

Micro/nanoplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: An Integrated Review of Occurrence, Toxicological Implications, Case Studies, Methodologies, and Future Recommendations

AI summary · Read the abstract

This integrated review covers the occurrence, toxicology, and detection of micro- and nanoplastics across freshwater, marine, and estuarine ecosystems, using case studies to illustrate biomagnification through aquatic food webs and the compounding risk from co-occurring chemical contaminants. The review calls for stronger international collaboration and policy frameworks grounded in scientific evidence, recognizing that the pervasive nature of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic systems poses escalating risks to both ecosystem integrity and human health.