Purpose of Review

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a global concern due to its prevalence and persistence in the environment. Aquatic sediments, particularly marine sediments, are considered as the potential final sink of this pollution. This review summarizes (1) the fate and transport of microplastics (MPs) in waters and aquatic sediments and (2) the ecological impact of MPs, including the interactions between MPs and microbiome, and the effects of MPs on living organisms in aquatic sediments.

Recent Findings

Characteristics of MPs, water movement, and weathering conditions determine the fate and transport of MPs. These factors influence MPs’ travel and inclination to settle. The interactions of MPs and microbiome can alter bacterial communities, cause MPs’ biodegradation, and facilitate biofouling that subsequently changes the fate and transport of MPs. MP presence poses exposure risks to benthic organisms through direct ingestion or trophic transfer, negatively affecting not only individual organisms but also the fauna.

Summary

The destiny of MPs is affected by many factors, from MPs’ characteristics to water movement and weathering. Thus, future research is warranted to develop comprehensive modeling tools that include all the key factors to better understand and predict the fate and transport of MPs in aquatic environments and sediments. The potential impact from the exposure to MPs on the ecosystem of aquatic sediments is relatively less studied. More research is needed in this area, particularly from a systematic level, to understand how different biotic and abiotic factors will interact together and what the consequential impact of these interactions on ecological and human health are.

中文翻译：

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水生沉积物中微塑料的综述：发生，命运，运输和生态影响

审查目的

由于其在环境中的普遍性和持久性，微塑料（MP）污染已成为全球关注的问题。水生沉积物，特别是海洋沉积物，被认为是这种污染的潜在最终汇入点。这篇综述总结了（1）水和水生沉积物中微塑料（MPs）的命运和运输，以及（2）MP的生态影响，包括MPs和微生物组之间的相互作用，以及MPs对水生沉积物中生物的影响。

最近的发现

国会议员的特征，水流和风化条件决定了国会议员的命运和运输。这些因素影响国会议员的出行和定居的意愿。MPs和微生物组的相互作用可以改变细菌群落，引起MPs的生物降解，并促进生物结垢，从而改变MPs的命运和运输。MP的存在通过直接摄入或营养转移对底栖生物构成了暴露的风险，不仅对单个生物而且对动物群都产生了负面影响。

概要

国会议员的命运受到诸多因素的影响，从国会议员的特征到水的流动和风化。因此，有必要进行进一步的研究，以开发综合的建模工具，其中应包括所有关键因素，以更好地理解和预测水生环境和沉积物中MP的命运和运输。相对于MPs暴露对水生沉积物生态系统的潜在影响的研究相对较少。为了进一步了解不同的生物和非生物因素如何相互作用，以及这些相互作用对生态和人类健康的影响，需要在这一领域进行更多的研究，尤其是从系统的角度。