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Micro(nano)plastics and plastic additives effects in marine annelids: A literature review
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This literature review summarized current knowledge on how micro- and nanoplastics and plastic additives accumulate in and affect marine polychaete worms, which are important sediment-dwelling organisms. Researchers compiled evidence from both laboratory and field studies published between 2011 and 2022. The review highlights that these organisms are particularly exposed to plastic pollution in marine sediments and face ecotoxicological risks from both the plastics themselves and the chemical additives they release.
Plastic debris are dispersed in the marine environment and are consequently available to many organisms of different trophic levels, including sediment-dwelling organisms such as polychaetae. Plastic degradation generates micro (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) and as well as releases bounded plastic additives, increasing the ecotoxicological risk for marine organisms. Therefore, this review summarizes current knowledge on the accumulation and effects of MPs and NPs and plastic additives in polychaetes, derived from laboratory and field evidences. Thirty-six papers (from January 2011 to September 2021) were selected and analysed: about 80% of the selected works were published since 2016, confirming the emerging role of this topic in environmental sciences. The majority of the analysed manuscripts (68%) were carried out in the laboratory under controlled conditions. These studies showed that polychaetes accumulate and are responsive to this contaminant class, displaying behavioural, physiological, biochemical and immunological alterations. The polychaetes Hediste diversicolor and Arenicola marina were the most frequent used species to study MPs, NPs and plastic additive effects. The consideration of field studies revealed that MP accumulation was dependent on the plastic type present in the sediments and on the feeding strategy of the species. Polychaetes are known to play an important role in coastal and estuarine food webs and exposure to MPs, NPs and plastic additives may impair their behavioural, physiological, biochemical and immunological responses. Thus, the estimated global increase of these contaminants in the marine environment could affect the health of these benthic organisms, with consequences at population and ecosystem levels.
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This systematic review summarizes research on how microplastics affect annelid worms, which are important soil and sediment organisms. The findings show microplastics can cause oxidative stress, reproductive harm, and changes in behavior in these creatures. Since annelids play a key role in keeping soil healthy for agriculture, their exposure to microplastics could have ripple effects on the ecosystems that support our food supply.
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Impacts of Micro- and Nano-Sized Plastic Particles on Benthic Invertebrates: A Literature Review and Gap Analysis
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Researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review of 330 papers examining the effects of micro- and nano-sized plastics on benthic invertebrates that live in aquatic sediments. They found that while plastic particles can cause both physical harm through ingestion and chemical effects through leaching of additives, the vast majority of existing studies have focused on pelagic rather than benthic organisms. The review identifies significant research gaps and calls for more studies on sediment-dwelling species, which face disproportionately high exposure due to plastic particle accumulation in sediments.
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This thesis investigated how polychaete worms (common bottom-dwelling marine animals) ingest and are affected by microplastics across estuaries in South Devon, UK. Microplastics were found to cause measurable harm to these organisms, which play important roles in marine sediment ecosystems.
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