Reply to Lenz et al.: Quantifying the smallest microplastics is the challenge for a comprehensive view of their environmental impacts

Huvet, Arnaud; Paul-Pont, Ika; Fabioux, Caroline; Lambert, Christophe; Suquet, Marc; Thomas, Yoann; Robbens, Johan; Soudant, Philippe; Sussarellu, Rossana

doi:10.1073/pnas.1607221113

Cited by 49 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It has also been suggested that the accumulation of both macroplastic and microplastic particles in the stomach and/or gastrointestinal tract can lead the organism to feel satiated, resulting in decreased feeding, which will also negatively impact growth and reproduction and mortality (Thompson 2015). Negative impacts associated with the ingestion of microplastic particles have been reported from laboratory‐based studies at elevated concentrations; such impacts are not consistent with environmental exposures (Huvet et al 2016; Lenz et al 2016). However, under environmentally relevant exposures, the numbers of microplastic particles residing in the gastrointestinal tract of fish and invertebrates reported in the literature are not generally considered harmful (Kaposi et al 2014; Devriese et al 2015; Mazurais et al 2015; Alomar et al 2017; Ory et al 2018b; Roman et al 2019).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research

Gouin

2020

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

121

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Microplastic particles have been observed in the environment and routinely detected in the stomachs and intestines of aquatic organisms over the last 50 yr. In the present review, information on the ingestion of plastic debris of varying sizes is collated, including data for >800 species representing approximately 87 000 individual organisms, for which plastic debris and microplastic particles have been observed in approximately 17 500, or 20%. The average reported number of microplastic particles/individual across all studies is estimated to be 4, with studies typically reporting averages ranging from 0 to 10 particles/individual. A general observation is that although strong evidence exists for the biological ingestion of microplastic particles, they do not bioaccumulate and do not appear to be subject to biomagnification as a result of trophic transfer through food webs, with >99% of observations from field‐based studies reporting that microplastic particles are located within the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, there is substantial heterogeneity in how samples are collected, processed, analyzed, and reported, causing significant challenges in attempting to assess temporal and spatial trends or helping to inform a mechanistic understanding. Nevertheless, several studies suggest that the characteristics of microplastic particles ingested by organisms are generally representative of plastic debris in the vicinity where individuals are collected. Monitoring of spatial and temporal trends of ingested microplastic particles could thus potentially be useful in assessing mitigation efforts aimed at reducing the emission of plastic and microplastic particles to the environment. The development and application of standardized analytical methods are urgently needed to better understand spatial and temporal trends. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1119–1137. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research

Gouin

2020

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

121

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“…For example, a significant question (Lenz et al 2016) and answer (Huvet et al 2016) may help us to better understand the single and combined effects caused to organisms by microplastics ingestion and the associated toxic chemicals to the organisms. For example, a significant question (Lenz et al 2016) and answer (Huvet et al 2016) may help us to better understand the single and combined effects caused to organisms by microplastics ingestion and the associated toxic chemicals to the organisms.…”

Section: Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, a significant question (Lenz et al 2016) and answer (Huvet et al 2016) may help us to better understand the single and combined effects caused to organisms by microplastics ingestion and the associated toxic chemicals to the organisms. However, Huvet et al (2016) highlighted the urgency to improve the analytic methods for microplastics to not underestimate their abundance in the environment. However, Huvet et al (2016) highlighted the urgency to improve the analytic methods for microplastics to not underestimate their abundance in the environment.…”

Section: Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much work is needed to fill data gaps, answer remaining questions, and resolve conflicts related to microplastics pollution in the environment. For example, a significant question (Lenz et al 2016) and answer (Huvet et al 2016) may help us to better understand the single and combined effects caused to organisms by microplastics ingestion and the associated toxic chemicals to the organisms. Lenz et al (2016) suggest that future studies of the impacts of microplastics on organisms should include lower concentrations of microplastics, because the concentrations in some laboratory experiments were orders of magnitude higher than those reported from field studies.…”

Section: Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lenz et al (2016) suggest that future studies of the impacts of microplastics on organisms should include lower concentrations of microplastics, because the concentrations in some laboratory experiments were orders of magnitude higher than those reported from field studies. However, Huvet et al (2016) highlighted the urgency to improve the analytic methods for microplastics to not underestimate their abundance in the environment. Few studies on microplastics in the water column and seafloor are available, whereas studies in the water surface have been widely carried out.…”

Section: Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Current understanding of microplastics in the environment: Occurrence, fate, risks, and what we should do

Peng

Wang

Cai

2017

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

214

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Microplastics pollution has been documented in the global environment, including at sea, in freshwater and in atmospheric fallout. Ingestion of microplastics by multiple kinds of organisms has been reported and has received increasing attention, because microplastics not only act as a source of toxic chemicals but also a sink for toxic chemicals. To better understand the great concerns about microplastics and associated toxic chemicals potential exposed to the organisms ingesting the debris, we should know more about the occurrence, fate, and risks of microplastics in the environment. What we should do depends on this better understanding. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:476-482. © 2017 SETAC.

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Finding the missing piece of the aquatic plastic pollution puzzle: Interaction between primary producers and microplastics

Yokota

Waterfield

Hastings

et al. 2017

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

211

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Mounting evidence of global plastic pollution has prompted many studies of its potential effects on aquatic ecosystems. In particular, most research has focused on organismal responses to microplastics and the effects of microplastics when introduced as food. However, there has been far less research into the possible effects of microplastics on primary producers. In this review, we document the available evidence for possible effects from the literature and from a laboratory experiment using cyanobacteria and microplastic fragments. Our review shows that primary producer-microplastic interactions can alter algal photosynthesis, growth, gene expression, and colony size and morphology, possibly via adhesion and/or transfer of adsorbed pollutants from microplastics; and, these effects could be transferred up the food web, including to humans. We recommend that the effects of microplastics on primary producers be incorporated into microplastic research to better understand its full effects on freshwater and marine ecosystems. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. Scientific Significance StatementA significant amount of plastic waste enters rivers, lakes, and oceans, where larger pieces eventually break down into smaller pieces called microplastics. Many researchers have investigated how these microplastics can be ingested by invertebrate and vertebrate animals and can lead to negative consequences for organisms and food webs. However, there is only a limited amount of research on how microplastics could alter growth patterns of primary producers, including micro-and macro-algae and aquatic plants. In this article, we summarize the available evidence from the literature and an experimental study to show that photosynthetic organisms do interact with microplastics, with measurable changes in their growth. Future research on microplastics should pay closer attention to possible influences of microplastics at the bottom of the aquatic food web. 91Limnology and Oceanography Letters 2, 2017, 91-104

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Reply to Lenz et al.: Quantifying the smallest microplastics is the challenge for a comprehensive view of their environmental impacts

Abstract: 00004International audienceNational Academy of Science

Cited by 49 publications

References 7 publications

Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research

Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research

Current understanding of microplastics in the environment: Occurrence, fate, risks, and what we should do

Finding the missing piece of the aquatic plastic pollution puzzle: Interaction between primary producers and microplastics

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