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Microplastics in Freshwater Environments: Sources, Fates and Toxicity

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Abstract

Plastic debris at micro- and nanoscales has been detected in widespread aquatic environments. Accordingly, microplastics primarily pose serious threats to freshwater ecosystems, causing physical and histophysiological damage similar to that in marine environments. The sources, fates, and toxicities of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems are detailed in this review. Additionally, microplastics serve as vehicles, and therefore, the action modes of the combined toxicity of microplastics with other pollutants in biota are discussed in freshwater environments. Finally, the knowledge gaps regarding microplastics that exist between laboratory and realistic environmental studies, such as the sizes, shapes, colors, “ages,” and types of microplastics, are identified for extrapolating laboratory findings to natural aquatic ecosystems. To establish management strategies and assess the environmental risks of MPs in freshwater systems, the sources, fates, and toxicities of microplastics in freshwater environments, particularly in drinking water source areas, should be considered seriously and require future in-depth investigation.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Henan Joint Fund (No. U1804109), the Foundation of the Henan Educational Committee (No. 19A330003), and the Foundation of Nanyang Normal University (No. 2018ZX023).

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  1. Runrun Ding and Ling Tong contributed equally to this work.

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  1. Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-line of South-to-North Diversion Project of Henan Province, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China

    Runrun Ding, Ling Tong & Weicheng Zhang

  2. Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Security for Water Source Region of Mid-line of South-to-North Diversion Project, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China

    Runrun Ding, Ling Tong & Weicheng Zhang

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  1. Runrun Ding
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Ding, R., Tong, L. & Zhang, W. Microplastics in Freshwater Environments: Sources, Fates and Toxicity. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 181 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05081-8

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