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Identifying Microplastics and Associated Pollutants to Assess Contaminant Exposure to Lake Michigan Fishes
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This study identified microplastics and associated chemical pollutants in aquatic organisms from a freshwater system, assessing overall contaminant exposure risk from both the plastic particles themselves and the chemicals they carry. The research demonstrates that microplastics contribute to complex, multi-contaminant exposures in aquatic wildlife.
Pollution of the aquatic environment by anthropogenic debris is globally ubiquitous. Due to its low manufacturing cost and durability, plastic production has increased by > 600% over the past four decades, with mismanaged waste, microbeads from cosmetic products, and microfibers from synthetic fabrics accumulating in the aquatic environment. The average accumulation of microplastics in surface waters of Lake Michigan, for example, is 17,000 pcs/km2, with localized patches exceeding 100,000 pcs/km2. Contamination of the environment has subsequently resulted in the accumulation of microplastics in the aquatic food web, including in fishes targeted for human consumption. Ingestion of plastics by aquatic organisms can result in physical injury, death, and in some cases the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) via desorption of POPs from microplastic surfaces to an organism. The presence of microplastics in the Lake Michigan food web, and the risk for POP accumulation from the ingestion of microplastics by Great Lakes fishes, however, is unknown. Presented at the Emerging Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment Conference (Champaign, IL : May 31-June 1, 2017).
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Microplastics as vectors of chemical contaminants and biological agents in freshwater ecosystems: Current knowledge status and future perspectives
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This review examines how microplastics in freshwater ecosystems act as carriers for chemical pollutants and harmful microorganisms. Researchers found that pollutant concentrations on microplastic surfaces can be up to six times higher than in surrounding water, amplifying exposure risks for aquatic life and potentially humans. The findings highlight that microplastics are not just a pollution problem themselves but also a vehicle that spreads other contaminants through the food web.
Assessing and Managing Microplastic Risks in Freshwater Fisheries: Exposure Pathways and Toxicological Evidence
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This review assessed microplastic exposure pathways and toxicological risks for freshwater fish in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and aquaculture ponds, covering ingestion, trophic transfer, and chemical co-contaminant effects. The authors concluded that freshwater fish face substantial microplastic risk and outlined monitoring and risk management strategies for fisheries managers.
Co-occurrence of microplastics and organic/inorganic contaminants in organisms living in aquatic ecosystems: A review
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This review examines studies that measured both microplastics and chemical pollutants (organic and inorganic) in aquatic organisms at the same time. A positive correlation was found between microplastic levels and certain pollutants in organisms, suggesting microplastics may help transport contaminants into living things. The findings raise concerns that seafood contaminated with microplastics could also carry higher levels of toxic chemicals into the human diet.
Effects of microplastics on freshwater organisms: A laboratory approach
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This thesis systematically examined how microplastics harm freshwater organisms both physically and by acting as carriers for chemical pollutants. The research found that both the physical presence of microplastics and the chemicals associated with them can negatively affect freshwater species.
Microplastics as Carriers of Co-Occurring Pollutants in Freshwater Ecosystems: Mechanisms, Environmental Fate, and Ecotoxicological Risks
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Microplastics in rivers and lakes don't just pollute water on their own, this review of existing research shows they can act like tiny magnets, picking up heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals and carrying them through the food chain. That means fish and other wildlife may be exposed to a more toxic combo than either the plastic or the chemicals alone, which raises concerns for anyone eating freshwater fish or relying on these ecosystems, though scientists say more research is needed to fully understand the long-term risks to human health.
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