Plastic pollution: A focus on freshwater biodiversity

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 50; no. 7; pp. 1313 - 1324
• Main Authors: Azevedo-Santos, Valter M., Brito, Marcelo F. G., Manoel, Pedro S., Perroca, Júlia F., Rodrigues-Filho, Jorge Luiz, Paschoal, Lucas R. P., Gonçalves, Geslaine R. L., Wolf, Milena R., Blettler, Martín C. M., Andrade, Marcelo C., Nobile, André B., Lima, Felipe P., Ruocco, Ana M. C., Silva, Carolina V., Perbiche-Neves, Gilmar, Portinho, Jorge L., Giarrizzo, Tommaso, Arcifa, Marlene S., Pelicice, Fernando M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-07-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic ecosystems; Atmospheric Sciences; Biodiversity; Birds; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Entanglement; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental restoration; Fresh Water; Freshwater ecosystems; Ingestion; Inspection; Invertebrates; Legislation; Marine pollution; Physical Geography; Plastic pollution; Plastics; Plastics - toxicity; Pollutants; Pollution; Polymers; Recycling programs; Review; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Entanglement; Law; Plants; Microplastic; Ingestion; Inland waters
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01496-5

Plastics are dominant pollutants in freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Scientific studies that investigated the interaction between plastics and freshwater biodiversity are incipient, especially if compared to the marine realm. In this review, we provide a brief overview of plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems around the world. We found evidence of plastic ingestion by 206 freshwater species, from invertebrates to mammals, in natural or semi-natural ecosystems. In addition, we reported other consequences of synthetic polymers in freshwater ecosystems—including, for instance, the entanglement of animals of different groups (e.g., birds). The problem of plastic pollution is complex and will need coordinated actions, such as recycling programs, correct disposal, stringent legislation, regular inspection, replacement of synthetic polymers with other materials, and ecological restoration. Current information indicates that the situation in freshwater ecosystems may be as detrimental as the pollution found in the ocean, although highly underappreciated.