Microplastics as a potential risk for aquatic environment organisms – a review
Aneta Hollerová, Nikola Hodkovicová, Jana Blahová, Martin Faldyna, Petr Maršálek, Zdeňka Svobodová
Abstract
In the modern world, plastic has become a major commodity on global scale and is presented in all life aspects. The production of plastics is increasing dramatically throughout the world and is considered to be a serious threat for the aquatic environment. Scientists started to raise questions as to where all the disappeared plastic debris had gone, as the plastic material is a persistent synthetic polymer. The disappearance of plastic suggests that microplastics are generated by fragmentation of larger plastic debris. They also enter the aquatic environment from the cosmetics, clothing, and other industrial manufacturing. Microplastic particles spread in the aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments due to their small size and ubiquity, showing their high bioavailability. The presence of microplastics has been demonstrated in the digestive tracts of most aquatic organisms at various trophic levels. Evidence of negative effects of microplastics has been found in relation to fertility, mortality, oxidative stress, immune system or metabolic processes.