Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment: Occurrence, Persistence, Analysis, and Human Exposure

Ricciardi, Maria; Pironti, Concetta; Motta, Oriana; Miele, Ylenia; Proto, Antonio; Montano, Luigi

doi:10.3390/w13070973

Cited by 68 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 309 publications

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“…Due to the lightness of most of its products, it is very difficult to recycle and unfortunately the majority of it is disposed of in the environment, contributing significantly to the formation of microplastics (MPs). These MPs are plastic fragments with sizes less than 5 mm and can cause serious health problems for all living organisms including human beings [3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity and Functional Tissue Responses of Two Freshwater Fish after Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics

Kaloyianni

Bobori

Xanthopoulou

et al. 2021

Toxics

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Microplastics (MPs)’ ingestion has been demonstrated in several aquatic organisms. This process may facilitate the hydrophobic waterborne pollutants or chemical additives transfer to biota. In the present study the suitability of a battery of biomarkers on oxidative stress, physiology, tissue function and metabolic profile was investigated for the early detection of adverse effects of 21-day exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs, sized 5–12 μm) in the liver and gills of zebrafish Danio rerio and perch, Perca fluviatilis, both of which are freshwater fish species. An optical volume map representation of the zebrafish gill by Raman spectroscopy depicted 5 μm diameter PS-MP dispersed in the gill tissue. Concentrations of PS-MPs close to the EC50 of each fish affected fish physiology in all tissues studied. Increased levels of biomarkers of oxidative damage in exposed fish in relation to controls were observed, as well as activation of apoptosis and autophagy processes. Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls and DNA damage responses differed with regard to the sensitivity of each tissue of each fish. In the toxicity cascade gills seemed to be more liable to respond to PS-MPs than liver for the majority of the parameters measured. DNA damage was the most susceptible biomarker exhibiting greater response in the liver of both species. The interaction between MPs and cellular components provoked metabolic alterations in the tissues studied, affecting mainly amino acids, nitrogen and energy metabolism. Toxicity was species and tissue specific, with specific biomarkers responding differently in gills and in liver. The fish species that seemed to be more susceptible to MPs at the conditions studied, was P. fluviatilis compared to D. rerio. The current findings add to a holistic approach for the identification of small sized PS-MPs’ biological effects in fish, thus aiming to provide evidence regarding PS-MPs’ environmental impact on wild fish populations and food safety and adequacy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity and Functional Tissue Responses of Two Freshwater Fish after Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics

Kaloyianni

Bobori

Xanthopoulou

et al. 2021

Toxics

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“…Due to the increasing interest in this field, several review articles [ 3 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ] were published in the last few years, with the aim of giving an overview of microplastic presence in different water matrices all over the world, analytical methods for their detection, and possible consequences to human health [ 2 , 7 , 39 , 50 , 51 ]. The occurrence of microplastics in the water environment was widely discussed in our recently published review, which focused on their abundance in different water matrices and their distribution worldwide [ 52 ]. In contrast, the present review mainly deals with the transport of this contaminant to humans through the food web, with only an introduction of the pollution of the different environmental compartments.…”

Section: Occurrence Analysis and Abundance Of Microplastics In The Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in the Environment: Intake through the Food Web, Human Exposure and Toxicological Effects

Pironti

Ricciardi

Motta

et al. 2021

Toxics

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159

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Recently, studies on microplastics (MPs) have increased rapidly due to the growing awareness of the potential health risks related to their occurrence. The first part of this review is devoted to MP occurrence, distribution, and quantification. MPs can be transferred from the environment to humans mainly through inhalation, secondly from ingestion, and, to a lesser extent, through dermal contact. As regards food web contamination, we discuss the microplastic presence not only in the most investigated sources, such as seafood, drinking water, and salts, but also in other foods such as honey, sugar, milk, fruit, and meat (chickens, cows, and pigs). All literature data suggest not-negligible human exposure to MPs through the above-mentioned routes. Consequently, several research efforts have been devoted to assessing potential human health risks. Initially, toxicological studies were conducted with aquatic organisms and then with experimental mammal animal models and human cell cultures. In the latter case, toxicological effects were observed at high concentrations of MPs (polystyrene is the most common MP benchmark) for a short time. Further studies must be performed to assess the real consequences of MP contamination at low concentrations and prolonged exposure.

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“…Microplastics may also act as sources and vectors of potentially toxic anthropogenic organic contaminants introduced either intentionally (e.g., during the production of plastics) or unintentionally (through surface adsorption through microplastic life cycle). There is increasing evidence that contaminants may bioaccumulate in the trophic system and be transferred to humans through the consumption of contaminated aquatic foods [21]. For example, microplastics were found in the soft tissues of bivalves (Mytilus edulis and Crassostrea gigas), and at the time of consumption, M. edulis contained 0.36 ± 0.07 microplastics per gram, while 0.47 ± 0.16 particles per gram were observed for C. gigas [22].…”

Section: Human Health Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment—The Occurrence, Sources, Ecological Impacts, Fate, and Remediation Challenges

et al. 2021

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Microplastics are discharged into the environment through human activities and are persistent in the environment. With the prevalent use of plastic-based personal protective equipment in the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the concentration of microplastics in the environment is envisaged to increase. Potential ecological and health risks emanate from their potential to adsorb and transport toxic chemicals, and ease of absorption into the cells of living organisms and interfering with physiological processes. This review (1) discusses sources and pathways through which microplastics enter the environment, (2) evaluates the fate and behavior of microplastics, (3) discusses microplastics in African aquatic systems, and (4) identifies research gaps and recommends remediation strategies. Importantly, while there is significant microplastics pollution in the aquatic environment, pollution in terrestrial systems are not widely studied. Besides, there is a dearth of information on microplastics in African aquatic systems. The paper recommends that the governments and non-governmental organizations should fund research to address knowledge gaps, which include: (1) the environmental fate of microplastics, (2) conducting toxicological studies under environmentally relevant conditions, (3) investigating toxicity mechanisms to biota, and developing mitigation measures to safeguard human health, and (4) investigating pollutants transported by microplastics. Moreover, regulatory measures, along with the circular economy strategies, may help reduce microplastic pollution.

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Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment: Occurrence, Persistence, Analysis, and Human Exposure

Cited by 68 publications

References 309 publications

Toxicity and Functional Tissue Responses of Two Freshwater Fish after Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics

Toxicity and Functional Tissue Responses of Two Freshwater Fish after Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics

Microplastics in the Environment: Intake through the Food Web, Human Exposure and Toxicological Effects

Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment—The Occurrence, Sources, Ecological Impacts, Fate, and Remediation Challenges

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