Otros
Plastic pollution: A focus on freshwater biodiversity
Fecha
2021-02-04Registro en:
Ambio. Dordrecht: Springer, v. 50, n. 7, p. 1313-1324, 2021.
0044-7447
10.1007/s13280-020-01496-5
WOS:000614707300002
Autor
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS)
Univ Estado Santa Catarina
Fac Tecnol Nilo Stefani FATEC
CONICET UNL
Univ Fed Para
Ictiol Consultoria Ambiental Me LTDA
Fac Eduvale Avare
Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar)
Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
Univ Fed Tocantins
Institución
Resumen
Plastics are dominant pollutants in freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Scientific studies that investigated the interaction between plastics and freshwater biodiversity are incipient, especially if compared to the marine realm. In this review, we provide a brief overview of plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems around the world. We found evidence of plastic ingestion by 206 freshwater species, from invertebrates to mammals, in natural or semi-natural ecosystems. In addition, we reported other consequences of synthetic polymers in freshwater ecosystems-including, for instance, the entanglement of animals of different groups (e.g., birds). The problem of plastic pollution is complex and will need coordinated actions, such as recycling programs, correct disposal, stringent legislation, regular inspection, replacement of synthetic polymers with other materials, and ecological restoration. Current information indicates that the situation in freshwater ecosystems may be as detrimental as the pollution found in the ocean, although highly underappreciated.