Environmental behavior and toxic effects of micro(nano)plastics and engineered nanoparticles on marine organisms under ocean acidification: A review

• Published in: Environmental research 2024-12, Vol.263 (Pt 3), p.120267, Article 120267
• Main Authors: Liu, Ling, Yin, Haiyang, Xu, Yanan, Liu, Bin, Ma, Yuqing, Feng, Jianxue, Cao, Zhihan, Jung, Jinho, Li, Ping, Li, Zhi-Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Organisms - drug effects; Climate Change; Engineered nanoparticles; Environmental behavior; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Micro(nano)plastics; Microplastics - toxicity; Nanoparticles - toxicity; Ocean Acidification; Oceans and Seas; Seawater - chemistry; Toxic effects; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120267

Ocean acidification (OA) driven by human activities and climate change presents new challenges to marine ecosystems. At the same time, the risks posed by micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) to marine ecosystems are receiving increasing attention. Although previous studies have uncovered the environmental behavior and the toxic effects of MNPs and ENPs under OA, there is a lack of comprehensive literature reviews in this field. Therefore, this paper reviews how OA affects the environmental behavior of MNPs and ENPs, and summarizes the effects and the potential mechanisms of their co-exposure on marine organisms. The review indicates that OA changes the marine chemical environment, thereby altering the behavior of MNPs and ENPs. These changes affect their bioavailability and lead to co-exposure effects. This impacts marine organisms' energy metabolism, growth and development, antioxidant systems, reproduction and immunity. The potential mechanisms involved the regulation of signaling pathways, abnormalities in energy metabolism, energy allocation, oxidative stress, decreased enzyme activity, and disruptions in immune and reproductive functions. Finally, based on the limitations of existing research, actual environment and hot issues, we have outlined future research needs and identified key priorities and directions for further investigation. This review deepens our understanding of the potential effects of MNPs and ENPs on marine organisms under OA, while also aiming to promote further research and development in related fields.