A critical review on the evaluation of toxicity and ecological risk assessment of plastics in the marine environment

The increasing production of plastics together with the insufficient waste management has led to massive pollution by plastic debris in the marine environment. Contrary to other known pollutants, plastic has the potential to induce three types of toxic effects: physical (e.g intestinal injuries), chemical (e.g leaching of toxic additives) and biological (e.g transfer of pathogenic microorganisms). This critical review questions our capability to give an effective ecological risk assessment, based on an ever-growing number of scientific articles in the last two decades acknowledging toxic effects at all levels of biological integration, from the molecular to the population level. Numerous biases in terms of concentration, size, shape, composition and microbial colonization revealed how toxicity and ecotoxicity tests are still not adapted to this peculiar pollutant. Suggestions to improve the relevance of plastic toxicity studies and standards are disclosed with a view to support future appropriate legislation.

Automated summary

The increasing production of plastics and insufficient waste management have resulted in serious pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris. Unlike other known pollutants, plastic can cause physical, chemical, and biological toxic effects. This critical review questions our ability to effectively assess the ecological risks associated with plastic pollution, as scientific articles over the past two decades have highlighted toxic effects at all levels of biological integration. Biases in concentration, size, shape, composition, and microbial colonization have revealed that current toxicity and ecotoxicity tests are not adapted to this unique pollutant. The review suggests improvements to plastic toxicity studies and standards to support future legislation.