Risk-based integrated framework for evaluating effects of microplastics to aquatic ecosystems and human health

Abstract

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in environments and the food web is a serious concern for both aquatic ecosystems and human health. Most studies have used single tool to assess risks primarily to organisms and humans, leaving gaps in comprehensive risk assessments. This study conducted an investigation of MP abundances in surface water and wild oysters from natural estuaries of major rivers in Taiwan. Additionally, the data also used to develop an integrated risk-based framework for evaluating potential risks from organisms to human MP exposure to seafood consumption. We assessed aquatic ecological risk quotients (RQ), oyster mortality exceedance risk (ER), human MP intake exposure, and human liver damage ER. Our data showed that MP abundances ranged from 0.025 to 4.701 items/m3 and 0.015-2.374 items/g (wet weight) in water and oysters, respectively. Although RQ values indicate negligible risk for aquatic ecosystems, but oyster mortality ER results from oysters exposed to MPs showed a 6 % increase in mortality (10 % risk). The probabilistic representation of risk curves of MPs for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in human serum was found to be low, indicating minimal health risk to humans. Overall, our data suggest that relying on a single risk indicator may underestimate potential risks, multi-faceted tools are recommended for assessing organism and human health.