We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Exposure and toxicokinetics of microplastics in arthropods: Mechanisms and consequences
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes current knowledge on microplastic exposure routes and toxicokinetics in arthropods across diverse habitats, examining how MPs accumulate in insect, crustacean, and arachnid tissues and the mechanisms by which they cause physiological harm.
Arthropoda, the largest and the most diverse invertebrate Phylum, are increasingly impacted by microplastic (MP) pollution across varied range of habitats. This review synthesizes toxicity of MPs in different taxa of arthropods with references to exposure route, tissue level accumulation and toxicokinetic behaviour with a focus on physiological outcomes. This review article comprehensively identified that gut and gill are the primary sites of MP accumulation. Toxicokinetics, including absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) were explored to assess the behaviour of MP from ingestion to egestion within arthropod system. Among the polymers, polystyrene is the most studied and frequently associated with invoking toxicity in different species of arthropod. Oxidative stress, immune modulation, altered growth, survivability and reproductive fitness appears to be the key toxicological responses. Impairment of feeding behaviour, locomotion and prey-predatory interactions have also been documented. Additives and environmental contaminant adsorb on MPs were reported to intensify the toxicity in many arthropod species. These findings highlight the vulnerability of arthropods to MP pollution and underscore the risk at broader ecological level due to having their role in food web, nutrient cycling and environmental monitoring. This review also identifies the research gaps highlighting the limited data availability in terrestrial arthropods, long-term exposure and multi-generational studies, emphasizing the need for integrative approaches to assess MP toxicity under environmental realistic conditions.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic exposure and effects in aquatic organisms: A physiological perspective
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Interaction of microplastics and terrestrial and aquatic insects (bioaccumulation, degradation, ecotoxicological effects)
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes research on how insects — both aquatic and terrestrial — interact with microplastics, covering ingestion, bioaccumulation, potential degradation, and toxic effects across many species. Insects represent a critical but understudied link in microplastic transfer through food webs: they occupy a pivotal trophic position, and contamination in insects can propagate to birds, fish, and other wildlife that depend on them. The review highlights significant knowledge gaps in terrestrial insect ecotoxicology compared to the better-studied aquatic realm.
Physiological Effects of Microplastic on Marine Organisms
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the physiological effects of microplastics on marine organisms, covering how plastic particles—from fragmentation of larger debris or manufactured microbeads—are ingested, accumulate in tissues, and disrupt metabolic and immune functions. It concludes that the ever-increasing concentration of MPs in marine environments represents a growing threat to marine biodiversity and ultimately to human health through the food chain.
Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review of Ecotoxicological Effects, Exposure Pathways and Trophic Transfer Risks
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesises evidence on the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in marine, freshwater, and estuarine environments, covering ingestion, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and physiological harms across aquatic fauna. It identifies chemical co-contamination and particle size as key modulators of toxicity.
Mechanism and effect of microplastics toxicity in aquatic system
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined the toxic mechanisms of microplastics in aquatic systems, describing how MPs accumulate in organisms, amplify toxicity through the food chain, and cause damage to marine biodiversity. It highlighted the threat MPs pose to seafood safety and the need for integrated pollution control in marine environments.
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.