Beneath the Surface: Decoding the Impact of Chironomus Riparius Bioturbation on Microplastic Dispersion in Sedimentary Matrix

A Review of Microplastics in Aquatic Sediments: Occurrence, Fate, Transport, and Ecological Impact

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics accumulate in aquatic sediments — particularly the ocean floor — finding that sediments act as a long-term sink where plastics alter microbial communities and harm bottom-dwelling organisms, meaning the ecological damage of plastic pollution extends far beyond what is visible at the water surface.

Microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems and their effects on macroinvertebrates

Occurrence, Distribution, and Removal of Microplastics from Aquatic Ecosystems

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Researchers investigated the occurrence, distribution, and removal strategies for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, reviewing how their pervasive presence and resistance to conventional treatment create persistent risks for both environmental and human health.

Microplastic Pollution in Freshwater Sediments: Spatial–Temporal Patterns

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This global review of freshwater sediment studies finds that human activities, stormwater runoff, water flow, and sediment grain size all shape where microplastics accumulate in rivers and lakes, but most data come from Asia with limited coverage elsewhere. Filling these geographic and temporal gaps is essential for understanding the long-term fate of microplastics in freshwater systems that supply drinking water worldwide.

Unraveling the interplay between seasonal variations in macroinvertebrates and microplastics in urban stream sediments

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Seasonal sampling of an urban stream in Zagreb, Croatia found macroinvertebrate communities dominated by pollution-tolerant taxa while microplastic concentrations — dominated by polyethylene, polystyrene, and ethylene vinyl acetate — were higher upstream than downstream across both spring and autumn. The findings support the urban stream syndrome hypothesis and show sediment microplastics are a persistent feature of urban waterways with implications for invertebrate community health.