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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Microplastic in freshwater ecosystem: bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and biomagnification

Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2022 91 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Vaishali Bhatt, J. S. Chauhan

Summary

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.

Study Type Environmental

Plastic wastes in the environment ultimately reach to the aquatic habitats and become available to aquatic organisms. The pathway of microplastic in aquatic ecosystem is very less investigated specially in freshwater. There have been evidences of MPs ingestion by freshwater biota but the fate of these MPs further in the food chain is unexplored. Thus, we reviewed the status of MPs in freshwater biota and tried to compare the studies to merge the available information, concepts, and perspectives in order to draw a conclusion on bioaccumulation potential, trophic transfer possibilities, biomagnification, and trends of ingesting MPs by the biota. In this review, the previously available information about MPs in aquatic biota is arranged, analyzed, and interpreted to understand all possible routes of MPs in freshwater habitats. The review further provides a better understanding about the lack of information and research gaps that are needed to be explored to develop a solution to the problem of MPs in near future.

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