Microplastics and chemical contamination in aquaculture ecosystems: The role of climate change and implications for food safety—a review

The aquaculture industry is growing rapidly and plays a huge role in bridging the global demand gap for fish and other aquatic foods. It is a vital contributor of valuable nutrients and economic benefits. Aquaculture and fisheries provide a means of livelihood to an estimated 58.5 million people globally, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. However, the sector is impacted by the ubiquity of microplastics and toxic chemicals. Although many studies have reported plastic pollution in the aquaculture environment, less attention has been paid to the coexistence of toxic chemicals with plastic particles and the role of climate change in aquaculture food contamination. This review evaluates the occurrence of microplastics in organisms, feeds, water, and sediment in the aquaculture ecosystem and the detection and hazardous effects of toxic chemical contaminants. We also highlight novel insights into the role of climate change in plastic and chemical contamination of aquaculture organisms and ecosystems. We report that the extent of aquaculture’s contribution to global climate change and global plastic pollution is yet to be adequately quantified and requires further investigation for appropriate risk assessment and prevention of food safety crisis. Possible mitigation strategies for the highlighted pollution problems were suggested, and some identified gaps for future research were indicated. Overall, this work is one of the first efforts to assess the influence of climate change on aquaculture food contamination, emphasising its effects on food safety and ecosystem health.

Graphical Abstract