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Research on ecotoxicology of microplastics on freshwater aquatic organisms
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This review compiled research on microplastic ecotoxicology in freshwater organisms, summarizing four key behaviors—ingestion, surface attachment, pollutant adsorption, and plasticizer release—and their ecological consequences for organisms across trophic levels. The authors call for more freshwater-focused research given the importance of rivers and lakes as both sinks and sources for plastic contamination.
As a new type of pollutant, microplastics are an emerging scientific and social concern in the environment and are widely distributed in the aquatic environment and organism. Nowadays, researches on microplastic pollution mainly focus on the marine environment. As a bridge for the migration of microplastics from the terrestrial environment to the marine environment, the freshwater environment has been deserved more attention. Published articles on microplastics in freshwater environments were reviewed in this paper, and four typical behaviors of microplastics were summarized: biological ingestion, biological attachment, adsorption of pollutants and release of plasticizers. In addition, the progress in research and results on the ecological toxicity of microplastics to freshwater organisms was also analyzed. Finally, emphasis on future research on the toxicity of microplastics to freshwater aquatics organisms was made throughout this review as a tool in microplastic risk assessment research.
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This review examines the distribution, fate, and trophic transfer of microplastics in freshwater environments, documenting their presence in rivers and lakes worldwide. The authors summarize evidence for microplastic ingestion by freshwater biota and discuss implications for ecosystem health.
Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems: Sources, Transport and Ecotoxicological Impacts on Aquatic Life and Human Health
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This review summarizes how microplastics enter freshwater ecosystems from sources like industrial runoff, urban waste, and agriculture, and how they accumulate in sediments where aquatic organisms ingest them. Researchers found that microplastics reduce feeding efficiency, inhibit growth, and harm reproduction in freshwater species, while also acting as carriers for toxic chemicals that build up through the food chain. The study highlights the need for better waste management and further research to understand the full scope of risks to both aquatic life and human health.
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This review examines the origins, behavior, fate, and ecological effects of microplastics in aquatic environments. It synthesizes current research showing that microplastics are ubiquitous in rivers, lakes, and oceans, where they harm organisms and accumulate in food webs, raising ongoing concerns about ecosystem health and food safety.
Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of classification, sources, and environmental impacts
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This review summarizes existing research on microplastic pollution in freshwater systems including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, noting that these particles absorb pollutants and leach chemical additives into the water. Humans face potential health risks from drinking contaminated water and eating freshwater fish and shellfish that have accumulated microplastics.
Microplastic exposure and effects in aquatic organisms: A physiological perspective
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This review summarizes recent research on how microplastics affect aquatic organisms from a physiological perspective, connecting routes of uptake with effects at the molecular, cellular, and whole-organism level. Researchers highlight that feeding strategies strongly influence which organisms ingest the most microplastics, and that effects range from oxidative stress to reproductive impairment. The study also flags emerging concerns about chemical additives leaching from plastics and the potential for microplastics to serve as substrates for pathogen growth.
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.