0
Article Tier 2 Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Effects of plastic particles on aquatic invertebrates and fish – A review

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2022 116 citations

AI summary Read the abstract

This review summarizes current knowledge on how microplastics and their chemical additives affect aquatic invertebrates and fish, covering behavioral changes, developmental problems, and immune system disruption. Researchers found that microplastics can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, neurotoxicity, and altered gene expression across a wide range of species. The study also highlights how microplastics act as carriers for other toxic substances, potentially amplifying their harmful effects.

Study Type Environmental

This review summarises the current knowledge on the effects of microplastics and their additives on organisms living in the aquatic environment, particularly invertebrates and fish. To date, microplastics have been recognised to affect not only the behaviour of aquatic animals but also their proper development, causing variations in fertility, oxidative stress, inflammations and immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and changes in metabolic pathways and gene expression. The ability of microplastics to bind other xenobiotics and cause combined toxicity along side the effect of other agents is also discussed as well. Microplastics are highly recalcitrant materials in both freshwater and marine environments and should be considered extremely toxic to aquatic ecosystems. They are severely problematic from ecological, economic and toxicological standpoints.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastic accumulation in aquatic environment: Physiological, eco-toxicological, immunological, and neurotoxic effects

AI summary Read the abstract

This review summarizes how microplastics build up in fish and other aquatic life, causing damage to their immune systems, nervous systems, and overall health. When fish eat microplastics, the particles move up the food chain and can eventually reach humans through seafood consumption. The authors also discuss strategies for removing microplastics from water and reducing plastic pollution.

Article Tier 2

Microplastics Impact on Water and Aquatic Systems

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examines how microplastics enter and affect aquatic ecosystems, summarising evidence of their impacts on fish, invertebrates, and other organisms from accumulation of toxic additives and physical effects. Researchers conclude that microplastics pose growing risks to aquatic biodiversity and to human health through the seafood supply chain.

Article Tier 2

The Potential for Toxicity to Fishes from Micro- and Nanoplastics, and Their Additives

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examines the potential toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics and their chemical additives to freshwater and marine fish species. Evidence indicates that exposure to these particles may cause physical harm, oxidative stress, and disruption of normal biological functions in fish, with the diverse range of plastic sizes, shapes, polymer types, and associated chemicals making comprehensive risk assessment particularly challenging.

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

The ecotoxicological impact of microplastics on freshwater invertebrates

AI summary Read the abstract

This review summarizes the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on freshwater invertebrates, finding evidence of harm including reduced feeding, growth, and reproduction across multiple species. Because invertebrates are key links in food webs, these effects could have broader consequences for freshwater ecosystems.

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