Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, 31, Vishvigyan Bhawan, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India.
GLP Test Facility, Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, 31, Vishvigyan Bhawan, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018 May;25(15):14373-14396. doi: 10.1007/s11356-018-1999-x. Epub 2018 Apr 21.
The ubiquitous presence of microplastics in the environment has drawn the attention of ecotoxicologists on its safety and toxicity. Sources of microplastics in the environment include disintegration of larger plastic items (secondary microplastics), personal care products like liquid soap, exfoliating scrubbers, and cleaning supplies etc. Indiscriminate usage of plastics and its poor waste disposal management pose serious concern on ecosystem quality at global level. The present review focused on the ecological impact of microplastics on biota at different trophic levels, its uptake, accumulation, and excretion etc., and its plausible mechanistic toxicity with risk assessment approaches. Existing scientific evidence shows that microplastics exposure triggers a wide variety of toxic insult from feeding disruption to reproductive performance, physical ingestion, disturbances in energy metabolism, changes in liver physiology, synergistic and/ or antagonistic action of other hydrophobic organic contaminants etc. from lower to higher trophics. Thus, microplastic accumulation and its associated adverse effects make it mandatory to go in for risk assessment and legislative action. Subsequent research priorities, agenda, and key issues to be addressed are also acknowledged in the present review.
微塑料在环境中无处不在，其安全性和毒性引起了生态毒理学家的关注。环境中微塑料的来源包括较大塑料物品的分解（次级微塑料）、液体肥皂、去角质磨砂膏和清洁用品等个人护理产品。塑料的滥用及其不良的废物处理管理对全球水平的生态系统质量构成了严重关切。本综述重点关注微塑料对不同营养级生物群的生态影响，及其摄取、积累和排泄等，以及其可能的机制毒性和风险评估方法。现有科学证据表明，微塑料暴露会引发从摄食中断到生殖性能、物理摄入、能量代谢紊乱、肝脏生理学变化、其他疏水性有机污染物的协同和/或拮抗作用等各种毒性损伤，从低营养级到高营养级。因此，微塑料的积累及其相关的不良影响使得进行风险评估和立法行动变得势在必行。本综述还承认了后续研究的优先事项、议程和需要解决的关键问题。
