Microplastics in marine fish: a mini-review on presence, classification, and impacts.

Ecotoxicology

Unidad de Tecnología de Alimentos, Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit. Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.

Published: November 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • Plastic production has rapidly increased due to its affordability and versatile uses, but this has led to significant environmental challenges as plastic waste breaks down into microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems.
  • Microplastics are found throughout water bodies and can be ingested by various aquatic organisms, including fish, which serve as key indicators for measuring the presence and toxicity of these pollutants.
  • While lab studies show microplastics can cause damage to fish, such as physical and immune system harm, it's crucial to conduct more research that reflects natural conditions to understand their true impact on wild fish populations.

Article Abstract

Plastic production has experienced exponential growth in recent years due to its diverse industrial applications, low cost, and high availability, also causing issues, since plastic waste in aquatic ecosystems transforms into microplastics (MPs) through mechanical and weathering processes. Microplastics are distributed ubiquitously in water bodies, where they can be ingested by a wide aquatic organism range, including fish, which have been used as bioindicators to assess microplastic presence and toxicity. Research has revealed microplastic presence in various fish species worldwide; the most common characteristics are fibers and fragments of blue, black, and transparent colors, and polyethylene, terephthalate, polypropylene and cellophane chemical composition. Experimental studies under laboratory conditions have demonstrated microplastics impact on fish, showing physical, immunological, and hematological damage, and oxidative stress ultimately leading to organisms' death. However, laboratory results do not necessarily predict impacts on wild fish due to different conditions to which the organisms are exposed. Therefore, further research needs to simulate real scenarios faced by wild fish in the marine environment, providing greater certainty about microplastic impacts and negative effects.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10646-024-02837-wDOI Listing

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