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Microplastics transferring from abiotic to biotic in aquatic ecosystem: A mini review
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A review compiled field data from dozens of studies and found that microplastics are more abundant in aquatic sediments than in water or in mussels and fish, and that a meaningful correlation exists between sediment and mussel contamination. However, the pathway and extent of biomagnification through the food chain remains unclear, as consistent evidence is lacking. The authors call for more standardized methods so studies can be reliably compared — a significant gap given ongoing concerns about microplastics entering human diets through seafood.
Microplastics have been detected in global aquatic ecosystems, so it is vital to understand the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of microplastics for ecological risk assessment. However, variability between studies, including sampling, pretreatment processes, and polymer identification methods have made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Alternatively, the compilation and statistical analysis of available experimental and investigation data provides insight into the fates of microplastics in an aquatic ecosystem. To reduce bias, we performed a systematic literature retrieval and compiled these reports on microplastic abundance in the natural aquatic environment. Our results indicate that microplastics are more abundant in sediments than in water, mussels, and fish. There is a significant correlation between mussels and sediments, but not between water and mussels or between water/sediment and fish. Bioaccumulation of microplastics appears to occur through water, but the route of biomagnification is unclear. More sound evidence is required to fully understand the biomagnification of microplastics in aquatic environments.
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This review examines the sources, measurement methods, occurrence, and potential health risks of microplastics throughout aquatic food chains, finding that while microplastics are ubiquitous in fish, shellfish, and other aquatic food sources, the data needed for a comprehensive human dietary exposure and risk assessment are not yet available. Researchers identify standardization of detection methods as a critical prerequisite for meaningful risk evaluation.
Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research
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A comprehensive review of over 800 species found that while microplastics are routinely found in the digestive tracts of aquatic organisms, they do not appear to bioaccumulate or biomagnify through food webs, with over 99% of observations locating particles in the gastrointestinal tract rather than tissues. The review calls for more standardized sampling and reporting to enable better temporal and spatial trend analysis.
A critical view on microplastic quantification in aquatic organisms
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Researchers critically reviewed the methods used to quantify microplastics in aquatic organisms including zooplankton, bivalves, and fish. The study highlights that no standardized methodology exists for measuring microplastic contamination in biota, which makes comparing results across studies difficult and underscores the need for consistent analytical protocols.
Microplastic in freshwater ecosystem: bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and biomagnification
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This review synthesizes evidence on microplastic bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in freshwater ecosystems, finding that while ingestion by freshwater organisms is well-documented, biomagnification through food chains remains poorly understood and requires further investigation.
Occurrence and pathways of microplastics, quantification protocol and adverseeffects of microplastics towards freshwater and seawater biota
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This review examines the occurrence, pathways, and adverse effects of microplastics on freshwater and marine organisms, highlighting how these particles can enter the food chain through seafood consumption. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion causes health hazards in aquatic animals and points to gaps in understanding how microplastics affect human health along the food supply chain.
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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.