Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Species

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastic particles have become a ubiquitous and persistent threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. These particles, from macro to nano sizes, are ingested by a vast range of organisms, yet a comprehensive understanding of their long-term biological consequences remains fragmented. The complexity of microplastics—varying in polymer type, size, shape, and adsorbed chemical contaminants—poses unique challenges for ecotoxicological assessment.

This Special Issue aims to consolidate high-quality research that advances the mechanistic understanding of how microplastics impact the health, behavior, and physiology of aquatic species across all trophic levels. Studies elucidating causal relationships, chronic effects, and multigenerational impacts are welcome, ultimately supporting more accurate environmental risk assessments.

This Special Issue welcomes original research and review articles covering, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Ingestion, uptake, tissue translocation, and elimination dynamics.
• Physiological effects: Inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, and organ pathology.
• Behavioral changes, including feeding, predator avoidance, and reproduction.
• Trophic transfer and impacts on population and community dynamics.
• Interactive effects of microplastics with co-occurring pollutants (e.g., hydrophobic chemicals, and heavy metals).
• Advanced methodologies for detecting, characterizing, and quantifying effects in laboratory and field settings.

Dr. Long Kong
Dr. Chunzhen Fan
Guest Editors

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. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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.