Ecotoxicity of Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystem

Water environments are increasingly becoming contaminated by plastic wastes, and microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is currently gaining considerable attention worldwide. In addition to the direct effects of plastic pollution on aquatic organisms, these pollutants may have potentially adverse impacts on human health, owing to the food chain transfer and substantial reliance on nutrients derived from seafood. Here, we evaluated the adverse effects of microplastics on physical, biochemical, and nutritional aspects of the major species in aquatic ecosystems. These results provide insights into the problem of microplastic pollution of the water environment and focus attention on the food chain transfer, which has direct implications on human health.