Toward an ecotoxicological risk assessment of microplastics: Comparison of available hazard and exposure data in freshwaters.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics have been detected in freshwaters all over the world in almost all samples, and ecotoxicological studies have shown adverse effects of microplastics on organisms. However, no risk assessment of microplastics has been performed specifically in freshwater so far. The aim of the present study was therefore to review all exposure and ecotoxicity data available for microplastics in freshwaters and to perform a preliminary probabilistic risk assessment. The exposure probability distribution was based on 391 concentrations measured in Asia, Europe, and North America. Because exposure data are mainly available in particle number-based metrics but results from hazard studies are mostly mass-based, the hazard results were converted into particle number concentrations. A statistical ana

SUBMITTER: Adam V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6849787 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature