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Journal ArticleDOI

Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs

15 May 2015-Water Research (Water Res)-Vol. 75, Iss: 75, pp 63-82
TL;DR: The issue of microplastics in freshwater systems is reviewed to summarise current understanding, identify knowledge gaps and suggest future research priorities.
About: This article is published in Water Research.The article was published on 2015-05-15. It has received 1688 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Microplastics.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review critically evaluates the current literature on the presence, behaviour and fate of microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments and, where appropriate, draws on relevant studies from other fields including nanotechnology, agriculture and waste management.

1,864 citations


Cites background from "Microplastics in freshwater systems..."

  • ...Through such 585 consumption, mobile organisms such as fish, mammals and birds may also contribute to the dispersal 586 of microplastics over long distances following the ingestion and subsequent egestion of consumed 587 microplastics (Eerkes-Medrano et al., 2015)....

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  • ...…pertinent in freshwaters inland, especially those in close proximity 731 to industrialised and populated areas with a high discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater, 732 where small dispersal areas can lead to high pollutant concentrations (Eerkes-Medrano et al., 2015; 733 Free et al., 2014)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is potential for microplastics to impact human health, and assessing current exposure levels and burdens is key to guide future research into the potential mechanisms of toxicity and hence therein possible health effects.
Abstract: Microplastics are a pollutant of environmental concern Their presence in food destined for human consumption and in air samples has been reported Thus, microplastic exposure via diet or inhalation could occur, the human health effects of which are unknown The current review article draws upon cross-disciplinary scientific literature to discuss and evaluate the potential human health impacts of microplastics and outlines urgent areas for future research Key literature up to September 2016 relating to accumulation, particle toxicity, and chemical and microbial contaminants was critically examined Although microplastics and human health is an emerging field, complementary existing fields indicate potential particle, chemical and microbial hazards If inhaled or ingested, microplastics may accumulate and exert localized particle toxicity by inducing or enhancing an immune response Chemical toxicity could occur due to the localized leaching of component monomers, endogenous additives, and adsorbed enviro

1,515 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The sources and global distribution of microplastics in the environment, the fate and impact on marine biota, especially the food chain are described and the control measures discussed are those mapped out by both national and international environmental organizations for combating the impact from microplastic pollution.

1,487 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This Critical Review provides a critical review of the current knowledge vis-à-vis nanoplastic (NP) and microplastic (MP) aggregation, deposition, and contaminant cotransport in the environment and highlights key knowledge gaps that need to be addressed.
Abstract: Plastic litter is widely acknowledged as a global environmental threat, and poor management and disposal lead to increasing levels in the environment. Of recent concern is the degradation of plastics from macro- to micro- and even to nanosized particles smaller than 100 nm in size. At the nanoscale, plastics are difficult to detect and can be transported in air, soil, and water compartments. While the impact of plastic debris on marine and fresh waters and organisms has been studied, the loads, transformations, transport, and fate of plastics in terrestrial and subsurface environments are largely overlooked. In this Critical Review, we first present estimated loads of plastics in different environmental compartments. We also provide a critical review of the current knowledge vis-a-vis nanoplastic (NP) and microplastic (MP) aggregation, deposition, and contaminant cotransport in the environment. Important factors that affect aggregation and deposition in natural subsurface environments are identified and c...

1,338 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Efforts to reverse global trends in freshwater degradation now depend on bridging an immense gap between the aspirations of conservation biologists and the accelerating rate of species endangerment.
Abstract: In the 12 years since Dudgeon et al. (2006) reviewed major pressures on freshwater ecosystems, the biodiversity crisis in the world’s lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams and wetlands has deepened. While lakes, reservoirs and rivers cover only 2.3% of the Earth’s surface, these ecosystems host at least 9.5% of the Earth’s described animal species. Furthermore, using the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Living Planet Index, freshwater population declines (83% between 1970 and 2014) continue to outpace contemporaneous declines in marine or terrestrial systems. The Anthropocene has brought multiple new and varied threats that disproportionately impact freshwater systems. We document 12 emerging threats to freshwater biodiversity that are either entirely new since 2006 or have since intensified: (i) changing climates; (ii) e-commerce and invasions; (iii) infectious diseases; (iv) harmful algal blooms; (v) expanding hydropower; (vi) emerging contaminants; (vii) engineered nanomaterials; (viii) microplastic pollution; (ix) light and noise; (x) freshwater salinisation; (xi) declining calcium; and (xii) cumulative stressors. Effects are evidenced for amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, microbes, plants, turtles and waterbirds, with potential for ecosystem-level changes through bottom-up and top-down processes. In our highly uncertain future, the net effects of these threats raise serious concerns for freshwater ecosystems. However, we also highlight opportunities for conservation gains as a result of novel management tools (e.g. environmental flows, environmental DNA) and specific conservation-oriented actions (e.g. dam removal, habitat protection policies,managed relocation of species) that have been met with varying levels of success.Moving forward, we advocate hybrid approaches that manage fresh waters as crucial ecosystems for human life support as well as essential hotspots of biodiversity and ecological function. Efforts to reverse global trends in freshwater degradation now depend on bridging an immense gap between the aspirations of conservation biologists and the accelerating rate of species endangerment.

1,230 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mechanisms of generation and potential impacts of microplastics in the ocean environment are discussed, and the increasing levels of plastic pollution of the oceans are understood, it is important to better understand the impact of microPlastic in the Ocean food web.

4,706 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
07 May 2004-Science
TL;DR: It is shown that microscopic plastic fragments and fibers are also widespread in the marine environment and may persist for centuries.
Abstract: Millions of metric tons of plastic are produced annually. Countless large items of plastic debris are accumulating in marine habitats worldwide and may persist for centuries ([ 1 ][1]–[ 4 ][2]). Here we show that microscopic plastic fragments and fibers ([Fig. 1A][3]) are also widespread in the

4,067 citations


"Microplastics in freshwater systems..." refers background or methods in this paper

  • ...Sampling methods similar to those used in marine systems (e.g., Thompson et al., 2004), are used to detect microplastics in freshwater systems (e.g., Eriksen et al., 2013; Imhof et al., 2013)....

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  • ...Benthic marine invertebrates that ingest microplastics include sea cucumbers (Graham and Thompson, 2009), mussels (Browne et al., 2008; Farrell and Nelson, 2013), lobsters (Murray and Cowie, 2011), amphipods, lugworms, and barnacles (Thompson et al., 2004; Browne et al., 2013; Wright et al., 2013a)....

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  • ...In such cases, density separation by the NaCl method (Thompson et al., 2004), which may be less complete in its extraction efficiency, but is simple, inexpensive, rapid and does not use hazardous chemicals, may be most appropriate....

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  • ..., 2008; Farrell and Nelson, 2013), lobsters (Murray and Cowie, 2011), amphipods, lugworms, and barnacles (Thompson et al., 2004; Browne et al., 2013; Wright et al., 2013a)....

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  • ...These particles are ingested by a variety of marine organisms from invertebrates to fish with various consequences (e.g., Thompson et al., 2004; Lusher et al., 2013) and there is evidence that particles smaller than the current level of detection in the environment are also ingested by aquatic…...

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Global plastics production and the accumulation of plastic waste are documented, showing that trends in mega- and macro-plastic accumulation rates are no longer uniformly increasing and that the average size of plastic particles in the environment seems to be decreasing.
Abstract: One of the most ubiquitous and long-lasting recent changes to the surface of our planet is the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics. Within just a few decades since mass production of plastic...

4,044 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Ingestion of microplastics has been demonstrated in a range of marine organisms, a process which may facilitate the transfer of chemical additives or hydrophobic waterborne pollutants to biota.

3,643 citations


"Microplastics in freshwater systems..." refers background in this paper

  • ...In oceans, the small size and low density of microplastics contributes to their widespread transport across large distances particularly by ocean currents (Cole et al., 2011; Ballent et al., 2012; Eriksson et al., 2013)....

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  • ...Primary sources include manufactured plastic products such as scrubbers in cleaning and cosmetic products, as well as manufactured pellets used in feedstock or plastic wat e r r e s e a r c h 7 5 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 6 3e8 2 65 production (Gregory, 1996; Fendall and Sewell, 2009; Cole et al., 2011)....

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  • ...Secondary sources of microplastics include fibres or fragments resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items (Browne et al., 2011; Cole et al., 2011)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review of 68 studies compares the methodologies used for the identification and quantification of microplastics from the marine environment and suggests standardized sampling procedures which allow the spatiotemporal comparison ofmicroplastic abundance across marine environments.
Abstract: This review of 68 studies compares the methodologies used for the identification and quantification of microplastics from the marine environment. Three main sampling strategies were identified: selective, volume-reduced, and bulk sampling. Most sediment samples came from sandy beaches at the high tide line, and most seawater samples were taken at the sea surface using neuston nets. Four steps were distinguished during sample processing: density separation, filtration, sieving, and visual sorting of microplastics. Visual sorting was one of the most commonly used methods for the identification of microplastics (using type, shape, degradation stage, and color as criteria). Chemical and physical characteristics (e.g., specific density) were also used. The most reliable method to identify the chemical composition of microplastics is by infrared spectroscopy. Most studies reported that plastic fragments were polyethylene and polypropylene polymers. Units commonly used for abundance estimates are “items per m2” ...

3,119 citations


"Microplastics in freshwater systems..." refers background or methods in this paper

  • ...…the cost and difficulties of samplingmicroplastics frombenthic and pelagic habitats limit present knowledge of spatial and temporal distributions (Hidalgo-Ruz et al., 2012; Galgani et al., 2013; NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, 2013); techniques are generally time consuming and unable to…...

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  • ...In marine investigations, the techniques for sampling microplastics vary, with approaches differing in collection method, identification, and enumeration (Hidalgo-Ruz et al., 2012)....

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  • ...line fibres, films, industrial raw materials, consumer products and household items, and pellets or polymer fragments from degradable plastic, which are designed to fragment in the environment (Hidalgo-Ruz et al., 2012; Free et al., 2014)....

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  • ...These fragments can originate from fishing nets, line fibres, films, industrial raw materials, consumer products and household items, and pellets or polymer fragments from degradable plastic, which are designed to fragment in the environment (Hidalgo-Ruz et al., 2012; Free et al., 2014)....

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  • ...Manufactured pellets may be especially common in the environment near plastic processing plantswhereas scrubbers or microbeads may be present in industrial and domestic wastewater, where they enter the system via rivers and estuaries (Colton, 1974; Hidalgo-Ruz et al., 2012)....

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