0
Article Tier 2 Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Sign in to save

Progress on the Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Crustaceans: A Review

International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2023 47 citations

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examined the effects of microplastics on aquatic crustaceans, finding that microplastics negatively affect life history, behavior, and physiological functions including oxidative stress, immune responses, and reproductive output across multiple species.

It is impossible to overlook the effects of microplastics on aquatic life as they continuously accumulate in aquatic environments. Aquatic crustaceans, as both predator and prey, play an important role in the food web and energy transmission. It is of great practical significance to pay attention to the toxic effects of microplastics on aquatic crustaceans. This review finds that most studies have shown that microplastics negatively affect the life history, behaviors and physiological functions of aquatic crustaceans under experimental conditions. The effects of microplastics of different sizes, shapes or types on aquatic crustaceans are different. Generally, smaller microplastics have more negative effects on aquatic crustaceans. Irregular microplastics have more negative effects on aquatic crustaceans than regular microplastics. When microplastics co-exist with other contaminants, they have a greater negative impact on aquatic crustaceans than single contaminants. This review contributes to rapidly understanding the effects of microplastics on aquatic crustaceans, providing a basic framework for the ecological threat of microplastics to aquatic crustaceans.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Plastics in scene: A review of the effect of plastics in aquatic crustaceans

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers synthesized 10 years of literature on plastic pollution effects across nearly 100 crustacean species, finding that ingestion, bioaccumulation, and trophic transfer are the most studied endpoints, and that crustaceans — spanning marine, freshwater, and estuarine habitats — represent both highly vulnerable organisms and valuable bioindicators for assessing plastic contamination in aquatic food webs.

Review Tier 2

A comprehensive review of the impact of microplastics on aquatic organisms: From ingestion to ecological consequences

AI summary Read the abstract

This comprehensive review assessed the impacts of microplastics on diverse aquatic organisms—including fish, marine mammals, mollusks, crustaceans, and microorganisms—from ingestion through ecological-level consequences. The authors found that microplastics cause physical injury, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and behavioral changes across taxa, with downstream effects on food web structure and ecosystem function.

Article Tier 2

Microplastics in decapod crustaceans: Accumulation, toxicity and impacts, a review

AI summary Read the abstract

This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in decapod crustaceans like shrimp, crabs, and lobsters, which are widely consumed as seafood. Studies have found microplastics accumulating in their gills, digestive organs, and gut, with experimental evidence showing oxidative stress, immune damage, and reproductive toxicity. The findings raise concerns about potential human exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption.

Article Tier 2

Do Waterborne Nanoplastics Affect the Shore Crab Carcinus maenas? A Case Study with Poly(methyl)methacrylate Particles

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers exposed shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) to waterborne nanoplastics and assessed multiple physiological endpoints, finding that nanoplastic exposure altered immune function, oxidative stress markers, and gene expression in ways that indicate significant sublethal harm to this ecologically important species.

Article Tier 2

Integrated toxicological approach to microplastics and nanoplastics in crustaceans

AI summary Read the abstract

This review summarizes existing research on microplastics and nanoplastics in crustaceans like crabs and shrimp. Studies show these particles build up in tissues including the gut and gills, causing cell damage, immune and hormone disruption, and changes in growth, molting, and reproduction, effects often worsened when combined with other pollutants.

Research digests by email

When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.

Email me about

Share this paper