Current status of microplastics pollution in the aquatic environment, interaction with other pollutants, and effects on aquatic organisms.

Microplastics, as emerging pollutants, have received great attention in the past few decades due to its adverse effects on the environment. Microplastics are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, soil, and water bodies, and mostly reported in aqueous environment. This paper summarizes the abundance and types of microplastics in different aqueous environments and discusses the interactions of microplastics with other contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), antibiotics, and heavy metals. The toxicity of microplastics to aquatic organisms and microorganisms is addressed. Particularly, the combined toxic effects of microplastics and other pollutants are discussed, demonstrating either synergetic or antagonistic effects. Future prospectives should be focused on the characterization of different types and shapes of microplastics, the standardization of microplastic units, exploring the interaction and toxicity of microplastics with other pollutants, and the degradation of microplastics, for a better understanding of the ecological risks of microplastics.

Zhang T ，Jiang B ，Xing Y ，Ya H ，Lv M ，Wang X ... -  《-》

Microplastics and environmental pollutants: Key interaction and toxicology in aquatic and soil environments.

Nowadays, a growing number of microplastics are released into the environment due to the extensive use and inappropriate management of plastic products. With the increasing body of evidence about the pollution and hazards of microplastics, microplastics have drawn major attention from governments and the scientific community. As a kind of emerging and persistent environmental pollutants, microplastics have recently been detected on a variety of substrates in the world. Therefore, this paper reviews the recent progress in identifying the sources of microplastics in soil, water, and atmosphere and describing the transport and fate of microplastics in the terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric ecosystems for revealing the circulation of microplastics in the ecosystem. In addition, considering the persistence of microplastics, this study elucidates the interactions of microplastics with other pollutants in the environment (i.e., organic pollutants, heavy metals) with emphasis on toxicity and accumulation, providing a novel insight into the ecological risks of microplastics in the environment. The negative impacts of microplastics on organisms and environmental health are also reviewed to reveal the environmental hazards of microplastics. The knowledge gaps and key research priorities of microplastics are identified to better understand and mitigate the environmental risks of microplastics.

Xiang Y ，Jiang L ，Zhou Y ，Luo Z ，Zhi D ，Yang J ，Lam SS ... -  《-》

The impact of microplastic pollution on ecological environment: a review.

Microplastic pollution and its impact on the ecological environment have attracted worldwide attention. The strong adsorption capacity of the microplastic surface plays an important role in the migration of microplastics throughout the environment. Synergistic effects between microplastics and persistent organic pollutants increase the toxicity of pollutants to organisms. In addition, microplastics cause different degrees of harm to aquatic organisms with different nutritional levels. However, the toxic effects of microplastics and organic pollutants on organisms, the distribution of microplastics in higher aquatic organisms, and the nutrient transfer in complex aquatic food webs require further research. Therefore, studying the impact of microplastics on the ecological environment would provide insights into controlling microplastic pollution. This paper in-depth discusses the source, distribution, and transmission of microplastics and summarizes the current situation of the impact of microplastics on the ecological environment, including physical, chemical, and biological effects. This paper also suggests topics for further research on the influence of microplastics on various aspects of the ecological environment.

Mao X ，Xu Y ，Cheng Z ，Yang Y ，Guan Z ，Jiang L ，Tang K ... -  《-》

Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms: a review.

Microplastics   ( <5 mm), which are classified based on primary or secondary sources, are widely distributed in the environment and exert significant effects on aquatic life forms; however, evidence regarding the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms is still limited. This research aims at filling a knowledge gap regarding generation sources, distribution, physicochemical properties, and biological behavior of microplastics (MP) in aquatic environments and their interaction with aquatic organisms. The literature indicates that concentrations of MPs observed in such environments are higher than the threshold for safe concentration (6650 buoyant particles/m3). MPs having large specific surface area, low polarity, and hydrophobic properties have been shown to absorb dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), bisphenol A (BPA), polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), antibiotics, and heavy metals. MPs adsorb large amounts of toxic organic chemicals (18,700 ng/g PCBs; 24,000 ng/g PAHs) and heavy metals (0.21-430 μg/g Cr; 0.0029-930 μg/g Cd; 0.35-2.89 μg/g As; 0.26-698,000 μg/g Pb). MPs originating from polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinylchloride (PVC) show greater toxicity toward aquatic organisms, with effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system. Thus, elucidating the cumulative toxic expression of MPs in different polluted environments is critical.

Vo HC ，Pham MH 《-》

Microplastics and associated contaminants in the aquatic environment: A review on their ecotoxicological effects, trophic transfer, and potential impacts to human health.

The microplastic pollution and related ecological impacts in the aquatic environment have attracted global attention over the past decade. Microplastics can be ingested by aquatic organisms from different trophic levels either directly or indirectly, and transferred along aquatic food chains, causing different impacts on life activities of aquatic organisms. In addition, microplastics can adsorb various environmental chemical contaminants and release toxic plastic additives, thereby serving as a sink and source of these associated chemical contaminants and potentially changing their toxicity, bioavailability, and fate. However, knowledge regarding the potential risks of microplastics and associated chemical contaminants (e.g., hydrophobic organic contaminants, heavy metals, plastic additives) on diverse organisms, especially top predators, remains to be explored. Herein, this review describes the effects of microplastics on typical aquatic organisms from different trophic levels, and systematically summarizes the combined effects of microplastics and associated contaminants on aquatic biota. Furthermore, we highlight the research progress on trophic transfer of microplastics and associated contaminants along aquatic food chain. Finally, potential human health concerns about microplastics via the food chain and dietary exposure are discussed. This work is expected to provide a meaningful perspective for better understanding the potential impacts of microplastics and associated contaminants on aquatic ecology and human health.

Huang W ，Song B ，Liang J ，Niu Q ，Zeng G ，Shen M ，Deng J ，Luo Y ，Wen X ，Zhang Y ... -  《-》