Distribution of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems and Their Impacts on Aquatic Organisms, with Emphasis on Microalgae

Jun-Kit Wan; Wan-Loy Chu; Yih-Yih Kok; Choy-Sin Lee

doi:10.1007/398_2018_14

Distribution of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems and Their Impacts on Aquatic Organisms, with Emphasis on Microalgae

Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 2018 Jun 6. doi: 10.1007/398_2018_14. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jun-Kit Wan¹, Wan-Loy Chu², Yih-Yih Kok³, Choy-Sin Lee⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. wanjunkit@gmail.com.
² School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Applied Biomedical Science and Biotechnology Division, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁴ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PMID: 29872923
DOI: 10.1007/398_2018_14

Abstract

Plastics, with their many useful physical and chemical properties, are widely used in various industries and activities of daily living. Yet, the insidious effects of plastics, particularly long-term effects on aquatic organisms, are not properly understood. Plastics have been shown to degrade to micro- and nanosize particles known as microplastics and nanoplastics, respectively. These minute particles have been shown to cause various adverse effects on aquatic organisms, ranging from growth inhibition, developmental delay and altered feeding behaviour in aquatic animals to decrease of photosynthetic efficiency and induction of oxidative stress in microalgae. This review paper covers the distribution of microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems, focusing on their effects on microalgae as well as co-toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics with other pollutants. Besides that, this review paper also discusses future research directions which could be taken to gain a better understanding of the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on aquatic ecosystems.

Keywords: Aquatic ecosystem; Co-toxicity; Copper; Daphnia magna; Dunaliella tertiolecta; Endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Fish; Food chain; Heavy metals; Leaching process; Metal oxide nanoparticles; Microalgae; Microplastics; Nanoplastics; Persistent organic pollutants (POP); Phytoplankton; Plasticizers; Plastics; Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC); Polyethylene; Polystyrene; Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata; Sediment-water interface; Shellfish; Tetraselmis chui.