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Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous and constantly accumulating in the marine environment, especially sediments. Yet, it is not well clarified if and how their carbon backbone could interact with surrounding sediments, eventually impairing key benthic processes. We assessed the effects of a 'pulse' contamination event of MPs on sedimentary organic matter (OM) quantity, quality and extracellular enzymatic activities (EEAs), which are well established descriptors of benthic ecosystem functioning. Marine sediments were exposed for 30 days to environmentally relevant concentrations (~0.2 % in weight) of naturally weathered particles (size range 70-210 μm) of polyurethane, polyethylene, and a mixture of the most common polymers that are documented to accumulate in marine sediments. Despite the low concentration, contaminated sediments showed significantly different composition of OM, showing a decrease in lipid content and increase in protein. Moreover, we document a significant decrease (over 25 %) in quantity of biopolymeric C already after 15 days of exposure, compared to controls. Contaminated sediments showed lower C degradation rates (up to -40 %) and altered EEAs, with alkaline phosphatase being ~50 % enhanced and aminopeptidase being reduced over 35 % compared to control treatments. Overall, the effects generated by the mixture of polymers were smaller than those exerted by the same amount of a single polymer. Our results provide insights on how that MPs can significantly alter marine sedimentary biogeochemistry through altered benthic processes, that could cumulatively impair whole benthic trophic webs by enhancing the accumulation and possible longer-term storage of recalcitrant organic C in the seabed., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Wetlands provide numerous ecosystem services including freshwater purification. Nonetheless, their functionality is continuously impacted by many pollutants. Plastics are considered as an emerging threat for these ecosystems, but only recently have studies began to focus on plastic and microplastic (MP) contamination in wetlands, especially in biota. This study aims to investigate the abundance of MPs in two ubiquitous aquatic insect taxa (i.e. Corixidae (Hemiptera) and Chironomidae (Diptera)) collected in twelve zones within Mediterranean wetlands belonging to three basins located in Andalusia (south-west Spain). We compared MP contamination across basins and tested the proximity to landfills and presence of colonial waterbirds [i.e. white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and gulls (Larus michahellis and L. fuscus)] on MP abundance in aquatic insects. We also performed stable isotope analyses of nitrogen and carbon (δ 15 N and δ 13 C) to evaluate the potential association between MP abundance and isotopic values. We detected 571 suspected MPs (mostly blue fibers) in insects of different developmental stages (i.e., larvae, pupae, nymphs and adults). Polyesters and polypropylene were the most frequent polymers detected. The generalized linear mixed models indicated that MP abundance decreased with increasing distance from landfills; but it also increased in sites with birds that fed on landfills and roost in wetlands. When controlling for landfill effects, sites in the smallest basin (Guadalete) had lower MP contamination than those in Odiel-Tinto and the much larger (>15×) Guadalquivir. Moreover, we found a negative association between MPs items/g (or mean MPs) and 15 N isotopes in adult corixids. Our findings showed that MP pollution is present in all the study areas, including strictly protected wetlands. The use of aquatic insects for biomonitoring of MP pollution can help identify priority areas for management actions to mitigate plastic pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics are small plastic particles with sizes ranging between 1 μm and 5 mm. Microplastics can originate from macro plastics and degrade to a smaller size or be produced directly by manufacturers. Few studies have examined microplastic contamination in freshwater sediment cores to estimate changes in microplastic contamination over time. We present the results of a study that examined sediment cores from four watersheds, Kiskiminetas River, Blacklick Creek, Raystown Lake, and Darby Creek, in Pennsylvania, USA to reveal the history of microplastic accumulation and factors that contribute to microplastic distribution. The abundance and morphology of microplastics varied over time and between these four locations. The highest microplastic abundance was found in Raystown Lake, ranging from 704 to 5397 particles kg -1 with fiber as the dominant microplastic type, while Darby Creek (0-3000 particles kg -1 ), Kiskiminetas River (0-448 particles kg -1 ), and Blacklick Creek (0-156 particles kg -1 ) had lower microplastic concentration. Moreover, Darby Creek had the most diverse microplastic morphology and a trend of decreasing concentration with depth. Although the Darby Creek watershed has the most developed area and highest population density, it did not have the highest microplastic concentration. Averaged over the four cores, microplastic abundance increased as global plastics production increased from the 1950s-2010s. Our findings provide insights into the fate and transport of microplastic contamination in freshwater environments, which is vital to establishing sustainable mitigation strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Nathaniel R. Warner reports financial support was provided by National Science Foundation. JB was supported by a Royal Thai Government Scholarship. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Global plastic production has surged since the 1960s, resulting in the pervasive presence of microplastics in the environment, yet there is a substantial gap in understanding historical trends of plastic pollution in wildlife. Recent discoveries of significant microplastic contamination in fishes have sparked considerable contemporary advancements in analytical methods and hold the potential to fill gaps in historical trends. We measured the presence of microplastics in museum-archived myctophids (Stenobrachius leucopsarus, Diaphus theta, and Tarletonbeania crenularis) collected from 1962 to 2016, to determine if trends in contamination levels over time correspond with the rise in plastics production. Seventy particles were extracted from 57 of the 240 individuals (23.8 % average occurrence across the time series) consisting of primarily blue and black microfibers. Anthropogenically modified cellulose was the dominant material (87 %) identified through μFTIR analysis, with polypropylene and polyethylene particles occurring secondarily. Although the complete time series across a broad geographical range of the North Pacific did not reveal a significant temporal trend, myctophids collected in proximity to the U.S. west coast showed a trend towards increasing incidence of microplastic and microfiber ingestion over time (p ≤ 0.05). Using historical samples of species with higher ingestion levels and consistent collection locations would improve the reliability of future investigations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In French Polynesia, pearl farming represents the second economic resource of the country. The distinctive black pearls produced there are globally recognized and appreciated. However, pearl farms extensively use submerged plastic materials. Through gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry detection (GC/MSMS) analysis, we were able to identify various POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) and additives released after 24 h of leaching into seawater from these "pearl plastics" composed of PE (Polyethylene) and PP (Polypropylene). Subsequently, we tested different concentrations of this plastic leachate on five tropical species commonly raised in the pearl and aquaculture sector in Polynesia: Pinctada margaritifera, Saccostrea cucullata, Holothuria whitmaei, Litopenaeus stylirostris, and Tripneustes gratilla. Monitoring the embryo-larval development of these organisms allowed us to establish a correlation between the decrease in the percentage of normal larvae and the plastic concentration. Through the use of regression models, the EC50 (Effective Concentration) of the plastic leachate for each species was determined, and demonstrated to range from 6.6 to 71.5 g/L, depending on the species. The most sensitive species was the black teatfish Holothuria whitmaei, a tropical sea cucumber used for the first time for ecotoxicological tests. The sensitivity of this species, its large distribution in tropical areas, and the various advantages presented by its cultivation make it an interesting bio-indicator species for monitoring plastic pollution in tropical lagoons., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microplastic (plastics <5 mm; MP) contamination in the marine environment has gained global attention due to its continuous accumulation and serious threats to ecosystems. This review evaluates patterns of MP accumulation in seagrasses, mangroves, and saltmarshes to provide an integrated view of MP pollution. Since 2011, studies have examined the sources, distribution, characterization, and fate of MPs in these habitats. We found an unequal geographic distribution with most studies conducted in the Northern Hemisphere and in mangroves, which have the highest MP concentrations compared to saltmarshes and seagrass beds, particularly near urban centers and fishing zones. Almost 40 % of the outcomes of our meta-analysis show a higher MP accumulation in vegetated than unvegetated sites. Also, degraded and highly-degraded sites exhibited higher amounts of MPs than less-degraded areas. In addition, secondary MPs are the dominant form, with less dense polymers (polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene) being more abundant and blue, black, and transparent the most common colors. Methodological differences in reporting units, sampling depths, and extraction methods reduce study comparability and increase variability. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of MP research in coastal ecosystems, revealing critical knowledge gaps affecting MP distribution, such as vegetation density, diversity, and hydrodynamics, and emphasizes the need for standardized methodologies for accurate comparisons., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In a comprehensive study of microplastic contamination in southern Germany, 1167 individual fish of 22 different species were sampled from 11 rivers and 6 lakes across the state. The microplastic burden of investigated fish was analyzed on the basis of habitat type, location, and a number of abiotic and biotic factors. A particle size distribution analysis of the detected microplastics was carried out. The results showed a relatively low plastic prevalence of 18.8%, with significant differences between rivers (20.6%) and lakes (16.5%). The number of ingested plastic particles ranged between 1 and 4 particles per fish. The majority of abiotic and biotic factors seem to play little or no role in the ingestion of microplastics, suggesting that in most cases uptake is passive or accidental. It is notable that piscivorous fish appeared significantly less burdened, suggesting a low transfer rate and no accumulation in the food web. However, size distribution analysis identified a power law growth fit in particle numbers at the smallest end of the distribution. This carries a worrying implication, that >95% of particles are likely to be smaller than 40 μm and thereby beyond the detection range of this and most other microplastic surveys conducted so far. When the frequency development of small particles is taken into account, the likely microplastic prevalence in the present study increases to 100%, with an average intensity of around 23 predominantly small particles per fish. A striking 70% of those particles would be smaller than 5 μm and therefore eligible for translocation into tissues, with critical implications for fish health and consumer exposure. This raises a question as to whether current estimates of microplastic burden in fishes generally might be overlooking a majority of potential contamination within the critical smaller particle size classes. Unlabelled Image • A comprehensive study to examine microplastic burden in fishes was carried out • Ingested microplastics were detected in around one fifth of examined fishes • Piscivorous fish were significantly less burdened, indicating a excretory effect • Models indicate a hyperbolic increase of particle number with decreasing size • 95% of particles are <40 μm and thus not detectable by current methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]