Effects of microplastics’ physical and chemical properties on aquatic organisms: State-of-the-art and future research trends

Identification, characterisation of microplastic and their effects on aquatic organisms

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Tiny plastic bits called microplastics are building up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and fish are absorbing them into their bodies, with the amount varying by fish species, which body part, and what they eat. This review pulls together existing research on how scientists detect these particles and how they affect aquatic life, which matters to us because these same fish often end up on our dinner plates, potentially passing microplastics up the food chain to humans.

Environmental effects of micro plastics in the aquatic environment

Environmental perspectives of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics spread through freshwater and marine environments worldwide, finding they accumulate in sediments, absorb toxic chemicals, and create surfaces where antibiotic-resistant and potentially pathogenic bacteria can thrive. This pollution threat reaches even Antarctica and the deep sea, posing risks throughout aquatic food webs.

The occurrence of microplastic in aquatic environment and toxic effects for organisms

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"This review synthesized global research on microplastic occurrence in aquatic environments, finding that microplastics are widespread across all water bodies and can trigger inflammation, impair reproduction, and carry co-contaminants such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, and additives into organisms via bioaccumulation. The evidence underscores the need for stricter plastic emissions standards and improved water management, as aquatic microplastic pollution directly cascades into human dietary exposure through seafood and drinking water."

Distribution and Impact of Microplastics in the Aquatic Systems: A Review of Ecotoxicological Effects on Biota

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics are distributed across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments and the toxic effects they have on a wide range of organisms. Fish, invertebrates, and other animals that ingest microplastics experience physical harm, chemical toxicity, and reproductive disruption — effects that may ultimately reach humans through the food chain.