Microplastics and Nanoplastics Disrupt Food Webs and Harm Organism Health
Microplastics measure less than 5 millimeters. Nanoplastics measure less than 1 micrometer. Both enter ecosystems widely. They come from plastic breakdown, cosmetics, textiles, and industrial waste.
These particles spread through water, soil, and air. Marine animals ingest them easily. Filter feeders like mussels and zooplankton take in high amounts. Larger predators consume contaminated prey.
Trophic transfer occurs across food chain levels. Small organisms absorb microplastics and nanoplastics. Fish eat those organisms. Birds and mammals then feed on the fish. Plastics accumulate upward in the chain.
Bioaccumulation happens in tissues. Particles lodge in guts, livers, and gills. Nanoplastics cross cell membranes more readily. They reach organs and even cross the blood-brain barrier in some species.
Health effects vary by organism. In zooplankton, plastics reduce feeding and reproduction rates. Fish show inflammation and oxidative stress. Gut microbiomes change negatively. Growth slows in many species.
Behavioral changes appear frequently. Affected fish swim abnormally. They respond poorly to predators. Foraging efficiency drops. These shifts weaken populations over time.
Reproductive issues emerge clearly. Plastics interfere with hormones. Egg quality declines in shellfish. Reproductive cell function decreases in some vertebrates. Offspring survival rates fall.
Larger animals face serious risks. Seabirds suffer blocked digestive tracts. Marine mammals show lung and liver damage. Top predators accumulate the highest concentrations.
Humans enter the food web too. Seafood contains detectable microplastics. Nanoplastics may pass into human blood and tissues. Long-term health impacts remain under study.
Scientists track these particles actively. They use advanced microscopy and spectroscopy. Field studies combine with lab experiments. Models predict future spread.
Efforts focus on reduction. Policies limit single-use plastics. Wastewater treatment improves filtration. Research develops biodegradable alternatives.
Microplastics and nanoplastics threaten ecosystem balance. Trophic transfer amplifies the problem. Organism health suffers at every level. Collective action can slow the damage.
CMP Bio World 