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Review
. 2021 Jul;50(7):1313-1324.
doi: 10.1007/s13280-020-01496-5. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

Plastic pollution: A focus on freshwater biodiversity

Valter M Azevedo-Santos  1 , Marcelo F G Brito  2 , Pedro S Manoel  3 , Júlia F Perroca  4   5 , Jorge Luiz Rodrigues-Filho  5   6 , Lucas R P Paschoal  7 , Geslaine R L Gonçalves  3 , Milena R Wolf  3 , Martín C M Blettler  8 , Marcelo C Andrade  9 , André B Nobile  10 , Felipe P Lima  10 , Ana M C Ruocco  3 , Carolina V Silva  11 , Gilmar Perbiche-Neves  12 , Jorge L Portinho  13 , Tommaso Giarrizzo  9 , Marlene S Arcifa  14 , Fernando M Pelicice  15
Affiliations
Review

Plastic pollution: A focus on freshwater biodiversity

Valter M Azevedo-Santos et al. Ambio. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Entanglement; Ingestion; Inland waters; Law; Microplastic; Plants.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Examples of plastic pollution in freshwaters ecosystems of South America: a Rocha River (Amazon basin), after crossing urban areas in Cochabamba, Bolivia; b Man removing plastics (e.g., bottles) from Rocha River for recycling; c) polymer pollution in an urban river (Argentina); d plastics accumulated in the margin of the middle Paraná River (Isla Puente, Argentina); e plastic fragments (micro, meso and macro) collected with ichthyoplankton nets in the Paraíba do Sul River basin (Brazil); f remains of fishing nets on the littoral zone of a Brazilian reservoir, after a drawdown event
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of species with records of plastic ingestion in natural or semi-natural freshwater ecosystems of the world (Tables S1 to S6 in Supplementary Material 2)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Main actions needed to reduce (−) plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. All actions are connected (+)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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