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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Towards a management strategy for microplastic pollution in the Laurentian Great Lakes—ecological risk assessment and management (part 2)
ClearOn the likelihood of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great Lakes
This review assessed the likelihood of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great Lakes, identifying significant challenges for risk assessment due to inconsistent data quality and lack of standardized methods, and calling for policy development to address microplastic pollution in these iconic ecosystems.
On the probability of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great lakes
This study assessed the ecological risks posed by microplastics in the Great Lakes using a probabilistic approach that accounts for data uncertainty. Researchers found that while no lake-wide risk threshold was exceeded, parts of several lakes showed meaningful probabilities of harm, with up to 24% of surface water locations in Lake Ontario at risk. The findings highlight that microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes warrants targeted policy attention, especially in the most contaminated areas.
Towards a management strategy for microplastic pollution in the Laurentian Great Lakes - Monitoring (Part 1)
This review outlines a proposed monitoring strategy for microplastic contamination in the Laurentian Great Lakes, addressing sampling methods, key knowledge gaps, and recommendations to support effective management of plastic pollution in this major freshwater system.
Toward an ecotoxicological risk assessment of microplastics: Comparison of available hazard and exposure data in freshwaters
Researchers compiled available exposure and toxicity data to perform the first probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics specifically in freshwater environments. The study found that while current concentrations in most freshwaters may not yet pose widespread ecological risk, localized hotspots could exceed harmful thresholds, highlighting the need for more standardized freshwater monitoring.
Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastics in freshwater ecosystems
Researchers assessed the ecological risk of microplastics across freshwater ecosystems worldwide, including rivers and lakes in China, Vietnam, Europe, and South America. While one risk method showed negligible danger, more comprehensive assessment approaches revealed extreme ecological threats at every location studied, suggesting that microplastic pollution in freshwater may be more serious than previously thought.
Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastic particles
Researchers developed a framework for assessing the ecological risk of microplastic particles, incorporating particle characteristics, environmental concentrations, and species sensitivity data. The assessment identified conditions under which current environmental microplastic levels pose significant risk to aquatic organisms.
On the probability of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great lake
Researchers conducted a probabilistic ecological risk assessment of microplastics in Great Lakes sediments, finding that fiber-shaped microplastics posed the highest risk and that current concentrations may already affect benthic organisms in certain areas.
Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastic particles
Researchers applied an ecological risk assessment framework to evaluate the hazard posed by microplastic particles across multiple environmental compartments, using species sensitivity distributions and environmental concentration data. The assessment highlighted specific particle types and size ranges that present the greatest ecological risk.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes
Researchers documented microplastic pollution across the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes, finding contamination in all lakes sampled — particularly Lake Erie — with fibers as the dominant particle type, highlighting plastic pollution in a critical freshwater system.
Environmental Chemical Contaminants in Food: Review of a Global Problem
This study measured microplastic contamination in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes and found plastic particles present across all five lakes. The majority of particles were fragments and fibers, with the highest concentrations found near urban areas and in downstream lakes. The findings indicate that the Great Lakes are a significant reservoir of microplastic pollution, with densities comparable to those reported in marine environments.
Microplastics: addressing ecological risk through lessons learned
Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic ecological risk assessment and proposed applying lessons learned from more established fields of environmental research. The study suggests that despite widespread concern about microplastic pollution, scientific understanding of actual ecological risk remains limited, and future research should follow more rigorous risk assessment frameworks.
Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: probabilistic environmental risk assessment and current knowledge in occurrence and ecotoxicological studies
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of microplastic occurrence in freshwater ecosystems and performed the first probabilistic environmental risk assessment for specific polymer types. They established predicted no-effect concentration values for polystyrene and polyethylene and calculated risk quotients suggesting that current microplastic levels in most freshwater environments pose a low ecological risk.
Assessing and Managing Microplastic Risks in Freshwater Fisheries: Exposure Pathways and Toxicological Evidence
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.
Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Multitiered Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Researchers proposed a multi-level framework for assessing the ecological risks of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, combining statistical analysis, mechanistic modeling, and machine learning. The framework addresses how microplastics accumulate through food chains, interact with other pollutants, and affect organisms at different levels. The study provides a structured approach that could help environmental managers better evaluate and respond to microplastic pollution in waterways.
Identifying Microplastics and Associated Pollutants to Assess Contaminant Exposure to Lake Michigan Fishes
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.
Plastic debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes: A review
This review synthesized available data on plastic debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes, including both surface water surveys and shoreline monitoring, finding levels comparable to those in oceanic garbage patches in some areas. The review highlighted the Great Lakes as a significant freshwater plastic pollution hotspot requiring targeted research and management.
Microplastics in the Great Lakes: Environmental, Health, and Socioeconomic Implications and Future Directions
This review examined the environmental, health, and socioeconomic implications of microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes, where plastics make up the majority of litter. The study highlights that microplastics can be taken up by aquatic organisms and enter the food chain, and may also serve as vectors for chemical pollutants and pathogens, raising concerns about both ecosystem and human health impacts.
Risk-based management framework for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems
This meta-analysis pooled data from 21 toxicity studies to create a risk management framework for microplastics in water. The researchers identified specific concentration thresholds where microplastics begin to harm aquatic life — either by diluting their food supply or by particles entering their tissues. This framework could help regulators set pollution limits to protect ecosystems and, ultimately, human food sources.
Probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics in Tai Lake, China
Researchers assessed the ecological risk of microplastic pollution across Tai Lake in China, finding concentrations ranging from zero to over 18 particles per liter in the lake and much higher in connected rivers. Using toxicity data, they determined that some areas pose moderate to high risk to aquatic life. Since Tai Lake is an important freshwater resource, this contamination raises concerns about microplastics entering drinking water and fish consumed by local communities.
Analyzing species sensitivity distribution of evidently edible microplastics for freshwater biota
Researchers developed a new framework for assessing the ecological risks of microplastics to freshwater organisms by focusing on species that are known to actually ingest them. The study found that current risk assessment methods may underestimate the danger to freshwater ecosystems and that species known to eat microplastics showed different sensitivity patterns than the broader population of test organisms.
A survey on the effect of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes
This review surveys plastic pollution in the Great Lakes of North America, examining the distribution of micro-, meso-, and macroplastics across these ecologically and economically important freshwater systems. The Great Lakes contain significant quantities of microplastics from surrounding urban and industrial areas, threatening freshwater biodiversity and drinking water quality.
Research status and prospects of microplastic pollution in lakes
This review systematically covers microplastic pollution research in lakes, including sampling and identification methods, distribution patterns, ecological effects, and knowledge gaps, identifying lakes as important but understudied sinks for microplastic contamination.
Understanding hazardous concentrations of microplastics in fresh water using non-traditional toxicity data
Researchers developed hazard concentration thresholds for microplastics in freshwater using non-traditional toxicity data, accounting for environmentally relevant sizes, shapes, and polymer types to provide more realistic governance standards.
Macroplastics in Lakes: An Underrepresented Ecological Problem?
This bibliometric review identified macroplastic pollution in lakes as a significantly understudied problem, noting that most research focuses on marine and riverine environments, and calling for standardized methodologies to better assess the ecological threat to freshwater lake ecosystems.