Uptake and ingestion are the main pathways for microplastics to enter marine benthos: A review
2020
Pinheiro, Lara M. | Ivar do Sul, Juliana A. | Costa, Monica F.
Microplastics (<5 mm) ingested by species at the base of food webs are potentially biotransferred to higher trophic levels (and to other compartments in the oceans, e.g. nekton). Therefore, assessing microplastic pollution at lower trophic levels, such as the benthic fauna, can help elucidate scenarios that include sediments, which tend to be increasingly contaminated by microplastics over time. Sixty-seven articles (1990 to 2019) were selected and analysed in this critical review. Eighty percent were published within recent years, showing that interest in the topic continues to grow. The majority (60%) of the studies were done in the laboratory under controlled conditions, and there are few reports of realistic microplastic exposure concentrations and the conditions under which interactions with the biota occur. Many different units of measurement have been used in the ingestion studies, impairing comparisons. Molluscs are the most widely studied group due to easy access, handling, rearing, and food safety concerns. Toxicity, biochemical, and physical effects of the uptake of microplastics by benthic species are seldom reported. Most works are concerned with the presence of microplastics in gut contents or gills. It is now important to collect information to identify animal models that can serve as bioindicators for microplastic pollution to help protect the environment and the quality of human food.
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