The effects of microplastic pollution on aquatic organisms

Microplastic debris in aquatic ecosystems has become an important global pollution issue because of their ubiquitous presence in freshwater and marine environments. The abundance of microplastics, combined with their small size and subsequent association with plankton in the water column, allows for direct ingestion by aquatic biota at different trophic levels. The plastic particles may cause direct physical or nutritional problems when ingested, and these problems may be exacerbated by the presence of plasticizers in the particles or by the presence of other toxic pollutants that have adhered to the surface. This chapter summarizes current research on the topic and attempts to address the questions related to how these particles affect aquatic organisms at the individual and population levels.