Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know

Autor: Ralph Urbatzka, Margrethe Winther-Nielsen, Nicole Brennholt, Diana Álvarez-Muñoz, Cécile Grosbois, Sebastian Buchinger, Martin Wagner, Teresa Marti, Elke Fries, Sara Rodríguez-Mozaz, Xavier Bourrain, Georg Reifferscheid, Christian Scherer, Jörg Klasmeier, A. Dick Vethaak
Přispěvatelé: Department of Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Biological Sciences Division, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Instituto Catalán de Investigación del Agua - ICRA (SPAIN) (ICRA), Agence de l'Eau Loire Bretagne (AELB), Agence de l'Eau Loire Bretagne, Department Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Federal Institute of Hydrology, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) (BRGM), GéoHydrosystèmes COntinentaux (GéHCO EA6293), Université de Tours, Institute of Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrueck, CIIMAR (Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental), Chemistry and Biology, Amsterdam Global Change Institute, Université de Tours (UT)
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Environmental Science Europe
Environmental Science Europe, Springer, 2014, 26 (1), pp.12. ⟨10.1186/s12302-014-0012-7⟩
Environmental Sciences Europe, 26(12):open access, 1-9. Springer Verlag
Wagner, M, Scherer, C, Alvarez-Muñoz, D, Brennholt, N, Bourrain, X, Buchinger, S, Fries, E, Grosbois, C, Klasmeier, J, Marti, T, Rodriguez-Mozaz, S, Urbatzka, R, Vethaak, A D, Winther-Nielsen, M & Reifferscheid, G 2014, ' Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know ', Environmental Sciences Europe, vol. 26, no. 12, open access, pp. 1-9 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-014-0012-7
Environmental Sciences Europe
ISSN: 2190-4715
DOI: 10.1186/s12302-014-0012-7⟩
Popis: Background: While the use of plastic materials has generated huge societal benefits, the "plastic age" comes with downsides: One issue of emerging concern is the accumulation of plastics in the aquatic environment. Here, so-called microplastics (MP), fragments smaller than 5 mm, are of special concern because they can be ingested throughout the food web more readily than larger particles. Focusing on freshwater MP, we briefly review the state of the science to identify gaps of knowledge and deduce research needs. State of the science: Environmental scientists started investigating marine (micro)plastics in the early 2000s. Today, a wealth of studies demonstrates that MP have ubiquitously permeated the marine ecosystem, including the polar regions and the deep sea. MP ingestion has been documented for an increasing number of marine species. However, to date, only few studies investigate their biological effects. The majority of marine plastics are considered to originate from land-based sources, including surface waters. Although they may be important transport pathways of MP, data from freshwater ecosystems is scarce. So far, only few studies provide evidence for the presence of MP in rivers and lakes. Data on MP uptake by freshwater invertebrates and fish is very limited. Knowledge gaps: While the research on marine MP is more advanced, there are immense gaps of knowledge regarding freshwater MP. Data on their abundance is fragmentary for large and absent for small surface waters. Likewise, relevant sources and the environmental fate remain to be investigated. Data on the biological effects of MP in freshwater species is completely lacking. The accumulation of other freshwater contaminants on MP is of special interest because ingestion might increase the chemical exposure. Again, data is unavailable on this important issue. Conclusions: MP represent freshwater contaminants of emerging concern. However, to assess the environmental risk associated with MP, comprehensive data on their abundance, fate, sources, and biological effects in freshwater ecosystems are needed. Establishing such data critically depends on a collaborative effort by environmental scientists from diverse disciplines (chemistry, hydrology, ecotoxicology, etc.) and, unsurprisingly, on the allocation of sufficient public funding.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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