Microplastic in tissue of marine organisms

Abstract

Plastic microwaste pollution poses a significant threat to biodiversity and the health of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics (MPs) are synthetic polymers less than 5mm in size and currently classified as emerging contaminants. They are considered a global problem due to their ubiquity, infeasibility of substantial removal from the environment and exposure, and almost irreversible effects. Marine filter-feeding organisms are widely used in analyzing the occurrence of MPs due to their ecological and commercial importance. This work presents a literature review on the effects of bioaccumulation of plastic microwaste in the tissues of aquatic filter-feeding organisms, mainly bivalves. The data analyzed in the present study conclude that MPs have a high capacity for contamination and bioaccumulation, negatively influencing the quality of life of the biota. Its effects are related not only to physiological buffering in organisms but also to toxicity due to the release of compounds present in incorporated plastic particles, and the transport of various pollutants into the environment.