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Effect of Microplastics on Marine Ecosystems
Summary
This chapter reviews how large plastic waste flowing into oceans breaks down into microplastics under sunlight and wave action, and how those particles travel through marine food webs. Ingested microplastics can cause cellular damage, tissue injury, and hormonal disruption in marine organisms, and the same particles can ultimately reach humans who eat seafood. The chapter also discusses the economic threat microplastic contamination poses to the aquaculture industry.
The ocean is the center of global river convergence, and the world’s rivers will carry nutrients, inorganic salts, and garbage into the ocean. However, large plastic waste and plastic particles will eventually flow into the ocean and be deposited, posing a threat to marine life and the environment. It is found that large plastic garbage can be found along the coasts of various sea areas such as Taiwan and Japan. These plastic wastes will be decomposed into microplastics smaller than 5 mm due to the erosion of sunlight, seawater, and waves. Microplastics will enter marine organisms through the food chain, which may cause cytopathic, tissue damage, and endocrine disorders. These microplastics remaining in marine organisms will be transferred to the human body due to the factors of the food chain. Therefore, in addition to the threat to marine organisms, microplastics may also affect human health. The harm of microplastics will be one of the most important issues for the impact on the marine environment. This chapter will discuss the harm and impact of microplastics on marine life and also discuss the economic threats to the aquaculture industry.