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Plastic effects on marine and freshwater environments
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Researchers reviewed current literature on how plastic pollution harms marine and freshwater environments, finding that microplastics have become a primary concern across studies covering animal health, human health, and ecosystem impacts. A key gap identified is the lack of clear connections linking plastic effects across these three domains — environment, wildlife, and human health — into a unified understanding.
In the 1930s, plastic items started to acquire popularity. Since then, they have overcome many barriers and are now important to many facets of society. Post-consumer plastic, however, is an environmental problem of increasing concern. Marine and freshwater environments are being impaired by plastic pollution, which is mostly the result of improper post-use plastic disposal. Herein I review recent literature on plastic effects to marine and freshwater environments, based on a Scopus search. Authors' keywords were analyzed and mapped. Results depicted microplastics as a global concern for the environment, animals, and human health, and was identified as a primary research focus and emerging topic concerning plastic effects on marine and freshwater environments. The foremost research gap is the lack of clear connections between the effects of plastic on human health, animal health, and the environment. Water pollution and its consequences on marine and freshwater environments are attributed primarily to human activity.
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This review examines the accumulation of microplastics in marine and freshwater environments, synthesizing evidence on how microplastic pollution affects aquatic habitats and human health while highlighting that research focus has disproportionately emphasized marine over freshwater systems.
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Cross-ecosystem impacts of plastic pollution: a systematic analysis of environmental threats
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A systematic analysis of recent literature on plastic pollution across ecosystems found that microplastics impair organisms through physical ingestion, chemical toxicity, and facilitated transfer of co-contaminants, with cross-ecosystem effects linking terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments.
Microplastics: Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
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This review covers what is currently known about microplastic pollution's effects on both the environment and human health, summarizing evidence from studies on wildlife, ecosystems, and human exposure pathways. The authors note that while concern is growing, definitive conclusions about human health risks remain elusive due to limited clinical research.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.