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Microplastics in the marine environment
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This early review introduced and contextualized microplastics as an emerging class of marine contaminants, summarizing what was then known about their sources, distribution, and potential effects on marine organisms.
This review discusses the mechanisms of generation and potential impacts of microplastics in the ocean environment. Weathering degradation of plastics on the beaches results in their surface embrittlement and microcracking, yielding microparticles that are carried into water by wind or wave action. Unlike inorganic fines present in sea water, microplastics concentrate persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by partition. The relevant distribution coefficients for common POPs are several orders of magnitude in favour of the plastic medium. Consequently, the microparticles laden with high levels of POPs can be ingested by marine biota. Bioavailability and the efficiency of transfer of the ingested POPs across trophic levels are not known and the potential damage posed by these to the marine ecosystem has yet to be quantified and modelled. Given the increasing levels of plastic pollution of the oceans it is important to better understand the impact of microplastics in the ocean food web.
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Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review
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This review synthesized the state of knowledge on microplastics as marine contaminants, covering their sources, pathways, distribution, biological uptake, and potential ecological and toxicological effects.
Microplastics as contaminants in marine environment.
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This review summarizes the sources, distribution, and environmental impacts of microplastics in the marine environment, covering how they enter the ocean, where they accumulate, and what harms they cause to marine organisms. It also discusses the potential for microplastics to transfer up the food chain to humans through seafood.
Microplastic in the Marine Environment
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This review examines the presence, sources, distribution, and ecological effects of microplastics in marine environments, arguing that the pervasive use of plastics in modern society and poor waste management have made ocean microplastic pollution a critical global issue.
Microplastics in marine environments: Occurrence, distribution and effects
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Beyond the visible litter washing up on beaches, our oceans are filled with tiny plastic fragments called microplastics that are too small to see but widespread in marine waters. This review pulls together existing research on where these particles come from, how they spread through ocean ecosystems, and how they may affect marine life, research that matters because these same particles can work their way up the food chain into the seafood we eat. While scientists are still studying the full health impact on humans, understanding how microplastics behave in the ocean is a crucial first step.
Marine Microplastic Pollution
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This review examines microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems, summarizing the sources, distribution, and ecological effects of plastic particles in ocean environments and reviewing evidence for harm to marine organisms from physical ingestion and chemical exposure.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.