Gaps in aquatic toxicological studies of microplastics
Abstract
The contamination of aquatic environments with microplastics (MPs) has spurred an unprecedented interest among scientific communities to investigate their impacts on biota. Despite the rapid growth in the number of studies on the aquatic toxicology of MPs, controversy over the fate and biological impacts of MPs is increasingly growing mainly due to the absence of standardized laboratory bioassays. Given the complex features of MPs, such as the diversity of constituent polymers, additives, shapes and sizes, as well as continuous changes in the particle buoyancy as a result of fouling and defouling processes, it is necessary to modify conventional bioassay protocols before employing them for MP toxicity testings. Moreover, several considerations including quantification of chemicals on/in the MP particles, choice of test organisms, approaches for renewing the test solution, aggregation prevention, stock solution preparation, and units used to report MP concentration in the test solution should be taken into account. This critical review suggests some important strategies to help conduct environmentally-relevant MP bioassays.
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Nonstandardized laboratory bioassays and unrealistic exposure scenarios impede understanding of microplastic risks.
“The use of nonstandardized laboratory bioassays and unrealistic exposure scenarios hinders the understanding of the risks associated with microplastics.9,22,23”
From Microplastic Effect Thresholds for Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates (2018) · cites this paper as [23]
Concerns have been raised about the quality, reliability, and usability of the limited ecological effect data on microplastics.
“Current studies have mainly focused on the ingestion of microplastics;3 however, the quality, reliability, and usability of the few ecological effect data published have been put into question.22,23”
From Microplastic Effect Thresholds for Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates (2018) · cites this paper as [23]
To date, reviews on microplastics in the environment have focused on summarizing properties, sources, fate and occurrence, concentrations, analytical methods and effects on organisms.
“To date, reviews on MPs in the environment have focused on summarizing properties (e.g.Karimi, 2017), sources, fate and occurrence (e.g.Cole et al., 2011;Andrady, 2011;do Sul and Costa, 2014;Auta et al., 2017;Cesa et al., 2017;Horton et al., 2017), concentrations (Horton et al., 2017), analytical methods (e.g.Cole et al., 2011;Hong et al., 2017) and effects on organisms (e.g.Cole et al., 2011;Wr”
From Studies of the Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Organisms: What Do We Know and Where Should We Focus Our Efforts in the Future? (2018) · cites this paper as Karimi, 2017
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References 80 · Cited by 118
- Authors
- Karami, A.
- Affiliations
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (MY)
- Corresponding author
- Karami, Ali
- ORCID
- Karami, Ali
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-10
- Volume
- 184
- Pages
- 841-848
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2626268397
- Cited by
- 118
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- microplastics, aquatic toxicology, bioassay standardization, particle buoyancy, polymer additives, aggregation prevention
- MeSH terms
- Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Toxicity Tests, Ecotoxicology, Biota
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