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Microplastics in aquatic environments: Implications for Canadian ecosystems
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This review summarizes what is known about microplastic contamination in Canadian freshwater and marine environments, covering sources, distribution, and potential ecological effects. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected across Canadian waters from the Great Lakes to Arctic coastlines, significant data gaps exist for many regions. The study calls for standardized monitoring methods and more research into how microplastics affect Canadian aquatic ecosystems and the species that depend on them.
Microplastics have been increasingly detected and quantified in marine and freshwater environments, and there are growing concerns about potential effects in biota. A literature review was conducted to summarize the current state of knowledge of microplastics in Canadian aquatic environments; specifically, the sources, environmental fate, behaviour, abundance, and toxicological effects in aquatic organisms. While we found that research and publications on these topics have increased dramatically since 2010, relatively few studies have assessed the presence, fate, and effects of microplastics in Canadian water bodies. We suggest that efforts to determine aquatic receptors at greatest risk of detrimental effects due to microplastic exposure, and their associated contaminants, are particularly warranted. There is also a need to address the gaps identified, with a particular focus on the species and conditions found in Canadian aquatic systems. These gaps include characterization of the presence of microplastics in Canadian freshwater ecosystems, identifying key sources of microplastics to these systems, and evaluating the presence of microplastics in Arctic waters and biota.
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Impact of Microplastic Pollution on Freshwater Ecosystems and Effective Mitigation Measures in Canada
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A desktop research review of microplastic impacts on Canadian freshwater ecosystems found that microplastics accumulate in water, biota, and sediments, disrupting food webs and habitat structure, with mitigation strategies including source reduction, improved wastewater treatment, and ecosystem-based approaches identified as effective.
Microplastics Pollution: A Brief Review of Its Source and Abundance in Different Aquatic Ecosystems
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This review summarizes what is known about microplastic sources and abundance across different aquatic ecosystems including rivers, lakes, and oceans. Researchers found that microplastics are pervasive across all water environments, with concentrations influenced by nearby human activities and pollution sources. The study identifies key pathways through which microplastics enter aquatic habitats and calls for standardized monitoring methods to better track contamination levels.
Understanding microplastics in aquatic ecosystems – A mini review
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This mini-review summarizes the sources, distribution, characterization methods, and ecological impacts of microplastics across freshwater, estuarine, and marine aquatic environments, highlighting gaps in understanding their long-term fate and toxicological effects on aquatic organisms.
Microplastic contamination, an emerging threat to the freshwater environment: a systematic review
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Researchers systematically reviewed the spread of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems — rivers, lakes, and streams — documenting their sources, how they move through water, the damage they cause to aquatic organisms, and the methods used to detect them. Their review serves as a baseline reference for future research and calls for improved waste management to protect freshwater environments from ongoing microplastic contamination.
A Comprehensive Review on Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems and Their Effects on Aquatic Biota
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This comprehensive review examines microplastic pollution across freshwater and marine ecosystems and its effects on aquatic organisms. Researchers found that microplastics are abundant in both environments and that nearly all studies reviewed documented uptake by organisms along with alterations in biochemical parameters. The evidence indicates that microplastic contamination is becoming an increasingly serious environmental and health concern for aquatic life.
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.