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Trophic transfer of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: Identifying critical research needs

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 2017 252 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Sarah Au, Sarah Au, Sarah Au, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Sarah Au, Sarah Au, Sarah Au, Peter van den Hurk, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Peter van den Hurk, Peter van den Hurk, Peter van den Hurk, Sarah Au, Sarah Au, Sarah Au, Sarah Au, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Cindy M. Lee, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Stephen J. Klaine, John E. Weinstein, Cindy M. Lee, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Peter van den Hurk, Peter van den Hurk, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Stephen J. Klaine Stephen J. Klaine John E. Weinstein, Peter van den Hurk, John E. Weinstein, Stephen J. Klaine, Stephen J. Klaine, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Stephen J. Klaine John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Peter van den Hurk, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, John E. Weinstein, Stephen J. Klaine, Stephen J. Klaine

Summary

This review analyzed the available literature on trophic transfer of microplastics in aquatic food webs, identifying key factors — particle size, shape, density, and organism feeding behavior — that determine whether microplastics pass through organisms or accumulate. The authors conclude that biomagnification of microplastics remains poorly understood and requires targeted research.

Body Systems

Digestive

To evaluate the process of trophic transfer of microplastics, it is important to consider various abiotic and biotic factors involved in their ingestion, egestion, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification. Toward this end, a review of the literature on microplastics has been conducted to identify factors influencing their uptake and absorption; their residence times in organisms and bioaccumulation; the physical effects of their aggregation in gastrointestinal tracts; and their potential to act as vectors for the transfer of other contaminants. Limited field evidence from higher trophic level organisms in a variety of habitats suggests that trophic transfer of microplastics may be a common phenomenon and occurs concurrently with direct ingestion. Critical research needs include standardizing methods of field characterization of microplastics, quantifying uptake and depuration rates in organisms at different trophic levels, quantifying the influence that microplastics have on the uptake and/or depuration of environmental contaminants among different trophic levels, and investigating the potential for biomagnification of microplastic-associated chemicals. More integrated approaches involving computational modeling are required to fully assess trophic transfer of microplastics. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:505-509. © 2017 SETAC.

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