Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Organisms: An Ecotoxicological Perspective

Abstract

Plastic is used in a variety of human endeavours such as automobiles, textile and clothing industries, packaging, cosmetic products, agriculture, and fisheries sectors. However, it has become a menace to our society due to its prolonged degradation in nature and continuous rise in production and consumption with the increasing human population. Microplastics (MPs) can enter both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (soil) through various pathways such as river flow, stormwater, surface runoff, and wastewater discharge. The presence and ingestion of microplastics have become a serious global concern as a potential threat to aquatic life. These small-sized plastic particles release toxic additives and also adsorb several chemicals, acting as sinks for hazardous compounds and increasing their bioavailability, toxicity, and transportation. Furthermore, MPs have a high risk due to their trophic transfer or bioaccumulation in various aquatic organisms. Microplastics can cause severe health consequences in aquatic organisms, such as decreased feeding intensity, physical effects, gill function, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, genotoxicity, and reproductive injury.