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Toxics
Special Issues
Occurrence and Toxicity of Microplastics in the Aquatic Compartment
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Occurrence and Toxicity of Microplastics in the Aquatic Compartment

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 1969

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Qi Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
Interests: pollution control and remediation of environmental organic pollutants and heavy metals; water resources and water environment safety research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of microplastics in aquatic environments has become a focal point in environmental research over the past two decades. The pervasive distribution of microplastics raises significant concerns regarding their ecological and toxicological effects on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of their behavior, bioavailability, and toxicity within the environment. Despite growing evidence of microplastics’ impacts, uncertainties persist about their interactions in complex aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the need to understand their toxic effects on aquatic systems.

This Special Issue invites contributions that explore all aspects related to the occurrence, fate, and toxicity of microplastics in aquatic systems. Submissions may include studies addressing the following topics:

  • The quantification, distribution, and bioavailability of microplastics in different aquatic systems.
  • The direct and indirect toxicological impacts of microplastics, including behavioral, physiological, and molecular endpoints.
  • The impacts of microplastics on subcellular structures, biomarker responses, and excretion pathways in aquatic species.
  • Comparative analyses of the effects of microplastics across different species, trophic levels, and environmental conditions.
  • The interactions between microplastics and co-contaminants, such as the sorption, desorption, and leaching of hazardous substances.

Further, meta-analyses and reviews synthesizing existing datasets are encouraged to provide broader insights into microplastics in aquatic environments.

Prof. Dr. Qi Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aquatic environment
  • microplastics
  • nanoplastics
  • aquatic ecosystems
  • environmental stressors
  • animals
  • ecological risk

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1280 KB  
Article
Enhanced Toxicity of Polymethylmethacrylate Microparticles on Cells and Tissue of the Marine Mussel Mytilus trossulus After UV Irradiation
by Nadezhda Vladimirovna Dovzhenko, Victor Pavlovich Chelomin, Sergey Petrovich Kukla, Valentina Vladimirovna Slobodskova and Andrey Alexandrovich Mazur
Toxics 2025, 13(10), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13100818 - 26 Sep 2025
Viewed by 729
Abstract
In the marine environment, plastic fragments are constantly engaged in a complex degradation process under exposure to various physical and chemical factors, one of which is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These processes result in the formation of smaller micro- and nano-sized plastic particles, which [...] Read more.
In the marine environment, plastic fragments are constantly engaged in a complex degradation process under exposure to various physical and chemical factors, one of which is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These processes result in the formation of smaller micro- and nano-sized plastic particles, which are highly bioavailable to marine organisms. To clarify the toxicological effects of the exposure of degraded plastic on the marine organisms, the model used in this study was the Pacific mussel Mytilus trossulus and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), which is commonly found in marine debris. Using molecular and biochemical markers (DNA damage, lysosomal membrane stability, integral antiradical activity (IAA) of biological samples, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as a product of lipid peroxidation), the toxicity of pristine PMMA and photoaged (PMMA-UV) particles was assessed. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the characteristics of the macromolecular changes in the chemical structure of PMMA-UV were obtained, with an oxidation index of 6.83 ± 0.46, compared to the pristine PMMA of 5.15 ± 0.54. Using a laser analyzer, the sizes of PMMA particles were determined, and it was found that after UV irradiation, the ratio of size groups changed—the proportion of particles with sizes of 500–1000 μm decreased, and the number of particles with sizes of 50–125 μm increased twofold. Analysis of mussel cell viability showed that after exposure to both types of PMMA microparticles, there was a decrease in the ability to retain neutral red dye in lysosomes: PMMA and PMMA-UV had a similar effect on hemocytes, reducing dye retention in cells to 55.2 ± 3.24% and 61.1 ± 1.99%, respectively. In gill and digestive gland cells, PMMA-UV particles reduced the stability of lysosomal membranes to a greater extent than PMMA. After PMMA and PMMA-UV particle exposure, the levels of DNA damage were as follows: in hemocytes, 10.1 ± 1.4% and 12.7 ± 0.8%, respectively; in gills, 7.8 ± 1.1% and 14.4 ± 2.9%, respectively; and in the digestive gland, 19.0 ± 1.3% and 21.9 ± 2.8%, respectively, according to the control values 3.6 ± 1.3%, 4.6 ± 1.1%, 5.1 ± 1.5%, respectively. According to the results of biochemical markers, the reaction of mussels to the presence of PMMA and PMMA-UV particles in the environment was tissue-specific: in the cells of the digestive gland, the level of IAA increased by 2 and 1.3 times compared to the control group of mussels (76.22 ± 6.77 nmol trolox/g wet weight and 52.43 ± 2.36 nmol trolox/g wet, respectively), while in the gill cells, the non-significant increase in antiradical activity was noted. An increase in MDA content was also observed in gill cells (255.8 ± 9.12 nmol MDA/g wet weight and 263.46 ± 9.45 nmol MDA/g wet weight, respectively) compared with the control group. This study showed that UV irradiation of PMMA microparticles increases their bioavailability and toxicity to M. trossulus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occurrence and Toxicity of Microplastics in the Aquatic Compartment)
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Review

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21 pages, 2013 KB  
Review
Interactions Between Microplastics and Marine-Derived Polysaccharides: Binding Mechanisms and Bioavailability in Aquatic Systems
by Marcin H. Kudzin, Martyna Gloc, Natalia Festinger-Gertner, Monika Sikora and Magdalena Olak-Kucharczyk
Toxics 2025, 13(11), 928; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13110928 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1021
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as persistent pollutants in marine and freshwater systems. Their small size, widespread distribution, and ability to adsorb chemical contaminants raise concerns about ecological impacts and human exposure through aquatic food webs. In parallel, marine polysaccharides such as alginate, [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as persistent pollutants in marine and freshwater systems. Their small size, widespread distribution, and ability to adsorb chemical contaminants raise concerns about ecological impacts and human exposure through aquatic food webs. In parallel, marine polysaccharides such as alginate, chitosan, and carrageenan have drawn interest as natural biopolymers with the capacity to interact with MPs. These interactions occur via electrostatic forces, hydrophobic effects, hydrogen bonding, and physical entrapment, influencing the fate and mobility of MPs in aquatic environments. This review critically examines the current state of knowledge on the binding mechanisms between MPs and marine-derived polysaccharides, emphasizing their role in modulating the transport, aggregation, and bioavailability of plastic particles. Recent efforts to modify these biopolymers for improved performance in sorption and stabilization applications are also discussed. Furthermore, analytical strategies for investigating MP–polysaccharide systems are outlined, and the practical limitations associated with scaling up these approaches are considered. The potential use of such materials in environmentally sustainable remediation technologies is explored, along with future research needs related to safety evaluation, lifecycle impact, and feasibility in real-world conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occurrence and Toxicity of Microplastics in the Aquatic Compartment)
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