Microplastics and Their Potential Effects in Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 13033
Special Issue Editor
Interests: marine biodiversity; marine ecology; marine ecosystems functioning; coastal systems; microplastics; marine litter
Special Issue Information
Microplastics were first described as any tiny plastic particle measuring less than five millimeters on the longest axis, and are widely reported as a common pollutant of both aquatic and terrestrial environments. In the past decade, the scientific knowledge of microplastics has increased remarkably and several studies have documented the presence, transport, fate, exposure, and potential effects of microplastics on nature and society. However, current understanding of the risks remains incomplete.
Several studies have demonstrated that a wide range of aquatic organisms of varied size and across multiple trophic levels in wild conditions contain microplastics. Ingestion is the most frequent interaction between microplastics and biota and has been predominantly found in marine species. This can result in physical injury inducing inflammation and stress, or it can result in a blockage of absorptive surfaces (e.g., gut blockage) and subsequent reduced energy intake or respiration. Physical toxicity can also manifest after tissue translocation of plastic particles, i.e., a transfer from the outside (gut lumen) of the body into the tissues. Nevertheless, limited data on the actual exposure, in the field, of aquatic species to microplastics is available.
In this Special Issue, we explore the issue of microplastic pollution from marine and freshwater habitats on aquatic organisms, and ask for studies discussing current state-of-the-art research addressing the sources and pathways of microplastics, their accumulation, and potential effects on biota from these ecosystems.
Dr. Filipa Bessa
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- microplastics
- ecotoxicological effects
- biota
- marine species
- freshwater species
- aquatic ecosystems
- oceans
- rivers
- pollutants