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Systematic Review of Nano- and Microplastics’ (NMP) Influence on the Bioaccumulation of Environmental Contaminants: Part II—Freshwater Organisms
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This systematic review summarizes existing research on how nano- and microplastic particles affect the way freshwater organisms absorb environmental pollutants. The study found that tiny plastics can act as carriers for harmful chemicals like heavy metals and pesticides, potentially increasing their toxicity to fish and other freshwater life. This matters for human health because contaminated freshwater organisms can pass these pollutant-loaded plastics up the food chain to people.
Nano- and microplastic fragments (NMPs) exist ubiquitously in all environmental compartments. The literature-based evidence suggests that NMPs interact with other environmental contaminants in freshwater ecosystems through sorption mechanisms, thereby playing a vector role. Chemically bound NMPs can translocate throughout the environment, reaching long distances from the contaminant discharge site. In addition, they can be ab/adsorbed by freshwater organisms. Although many studies show that NMPs can increase toxicity towards freshwater biota through the carrier role, little is known regarding their potential to influence the bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants (EC) in freshwater species. This review is part II of a systematic literature review regarding the influence of NMPs on bioaccumulation. Part I deals with terrestrial organisms and part II is devoted to freshwater organisms. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) was used for the literature search and selection. Only studies that assessed the bioaccumulation of EC in the presence of NMPs and compared this with the bioaccumulation of the isolated EC were considered. Here, we discuss the outcome of 46 papers, considering NMPs that induced an increase, induced a decrease, or caused no effect on bioaccumulation. Lastly, knowledge gaps are identified, and future directives for this area of research are discussed.
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