Pal Divya, Prabhakar Roshan, Barua Visva Bharati, Zekker Ivar, Burlakovs Juris, Krauklis Andrejs, Hogland William, Vincevica-Gaile Zane
Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, SE-392 31, Kalmar, Sweden.
Department of Ecology Environment & Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Jan;32(1):56-88. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-35741-1. Epub 2024 Dec 13.
Microplastics (MPs) have become a critical pollutant, accumulating in aquatic ecosystems and posing significant environmental and human health risks. Approximately 5.25 trillion plastic particles float in global oceans, releasing up to 23,600 metric tonnes of dissolved organic carbon annually, which disrupts microbial dynamics. MPs arise from the breakdown of larger plastics, degraded by photodegradation, thermal degradation, and biological processes, which are influenced by polymer type and environmental factors. As carriers, MPs absorb and transport contaminants such as heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) across trophic levels, thereby increasing toxicity within food webs. Key aquatic organisms, including microalgae, molluscs, and fish, experience cellular toxicity, oxidative stress, and disruptions in essential functions due to MP ingestion or adhesion, raising concerns about their bioaccumulation in humans through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The complex surface chemistry of MPs enhances their pollutant adsorption, a process modulated by environmental pH, salinity, and contamination levels, while aging and structural attributes further impact their bioavailability and toxicity. This review consolidates knowledge on MPs' occurrence, transformation, pollutant interactions, and methodologies for sampling and analysis, emphasizing advancements in spectroscopy and imaging techniques to improve MP detection in aquatic environments. These insights underscore the pressing need for standardized analytical protocols and comprehensive toxicological research to fully understand MPs' effects on ecosystems and human health, informing future mitigation strategies and policy development.
微塑料已成为一种关键污染物，在水生生态系统中不断累积，对环境和人类健康构成重大风险。全球海洋中漂浮着约5.25万亿个塑料微粒，每年释放多达23600公吨的溶解有机碳，这扰乱了微生物动态。微塑料源自较大塑料的分解，通过光降解、热降解和生物过程而降解，这些过程受聚合物类型和环境因素影响。作为载体，微塑料在营养级之间吸收和运输重金属、全氟和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）以及持久性有机污染物（POPs）等污染物，从而增加食物网中的毒性。包括微藻、软体动物和鱼类在内的关键水生生物，由于摄入或附着微塑料而经历细胞毒性、氧化应激和基本功能紊乱，引发了人们对其通过摄入、吸入和皮肤接触在人体内生物累积的担忧。微塑料复杂的表面化学性质增强了其对污染物的吸附，这一过程受环境pH值、盐度和污染水平的调节，而老化和结构属性进一步影响其生物有效性和毒性。本综述整合了关于微塑料的存在、转化、污染物相互作用以及采样和分析方法的知识，强调了光谱学和成像技术的进展，以改进水生环境中微塑料的检测。这些见解凸显了迫切需要标准化的分析方案和全面的毒理学研究，以充分了解微塑料对生态系统和人类健康的影响，为未来的缓解策略和政策制定提供依据。
