A review on microplastics pollution in coastal wetlands

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have been identified as emerging contaminants and have received global attention because they pose a severe threat to wildlife and the human food chain. In recent years, many studies related to the sources, distribution, and effects of MPs in marine, terrestrial, and wastewater environmental compartments have been reported, whereas a comprehensive overview of the presence and characteristics of MPs in unique coastal wetland ecosystems is still lacking. Therefore, this review summarizes the accumulation and sources of MPs in coastal wetlands, as well as their effects on these ecosystems, based on environmental monitoring and laboratory results published in the literature. First, the accumulation of MPs in coastal wetlands is briefly reviewed. Second, the sources of MPs in coastal wetlands are discussed. Third, the ecological effects of MPs on coastal wetlands are summarized. Finally, this review presents gaps in the MPs research and provides an outlook for future research in this field.