Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems: Trophic Transfer, Biomagnification, and Implications for Human Gut Microbiomes

Abstract

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental challenge, particularly in freshwater ecosystems, where the continuous accumulation of plastic particles threatens aquatic biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and potentially human health. Microplastics, generally defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, originate from the fragmentation of larger plastic materials and the direct release of synthetic particles from industrial, agricultural, domestic, and urban sources. Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and freshwater wetlands act as important pathways and reservoirs for microplastic contamination, facilitating their uptake by aquatic
organisms and subsequent movement through food webs. This study examines the ecological dynamics of microplastic contamination, emphasizing trophic transfer, biomagnification potential, and possible implications for human gut microbiomes.