Toxicological review of micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic environments: Risks to ecosystems, food web dynamics and human health

作者：Théogène Habumugisha, Zixing Zhang, Constance Uwizewe, Changzhou Yan, Jean Claude Ndayishimiye, Abdul Rehman, Xian Zhang · 发表于：Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116426 · 被引用次数：144 · 研究领域：Microplastics and Plastic Pollution、Recycling and Waste Management Techniques、Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications

The increase of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) in aquatic environments has become a significant concern due to their potential toxicological effects on ecosystems, food web dynamics, and human health. These plastic particles emerge from a range of sources, such as the breakdown of larger plastic waste, consumer products, and industrial outputs. This review provides a detailed report of the transmission and dangers of MNPs in aquatic ecosystems, environmental behavior, and interactions within aquatic food webs, emphasizing their toxic impact on marine life. It explores the relationship between particle size and toxicity, their distribution in different tissues, and the process of trophic transfer through the food web. MNPs, once consumed, can be found in various organs, including the digestive system, gills, and liver. Their consumption by lower trophic level organisms facilitates their progression up the food chain, potentially leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification, thereby posing substantial risks to the health, reproduction, and behavior of aquatic species. This work also explores how MNPs, through their persistence and bioaccumulation, pose risks to aquatic biodiversity and disrupt trophic relationships. The review also addresses the implications of MNPs for human health, particularly through the consumption of contaminated seafood, highlighting the direct and indirect pathways through which humans are exposed to these pollutants. Furthermore, the review highlig...