Advances in Aquatic Plastics

Dear Colleagues,

Plastic has become a hot topic for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems in the Anthropocene era. Aquatic ecosystems are important environments that provide ecosystem services such as water supply, food resources, biodiversity conservation, dilution of pollutants, recreation services and aesthetic values, but are vulnerable to many threats, including plastic pollution. Plastics are synthetic organic polymers whose production has been steadily increasing for decades due to their countless uses, low cost, and high durability. Plastic contamination is widespread globally in all aquatic ecosystems, and therefore is considered one of the main concerns in the environmental protection and management of aquatic resources. Plastics enter aquatic systems through diffuse (e.g., wind deposition and run-of) or point (e.g., wastewater treatment plants and improper disposal of litter) sources, which are often difficult to identify. Once plastics are released into aquatic environments, they are exposed to environmental factors (e.g., UV radiation, current, temperature) that can fragment the larger plastics into smaller ones (macro-, meso-, micro-, and nanoplastics). All the different sizes of plastic can have detrimental effects on aquatic biota: entanglement; ingestion, and consequent internal physical and chemical damage; trophic transfer and biomagnification; adsorption of other contaminants to plastic surfaces (e.g., heavy metals, antibiotics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated bisphenols); and the carriage of pathogens and alien species. Additionally, plastic additives can have impacts on biota because they may be toxic and can be released into the gut and absorbed by the organism.

In this context, understanding and providing solutions to plastics pollution is mandatory. The aim is to advance our knowledge to protect and conserve ecosystems, as well as human health and safety by advancing methodology, experimentally investigating multilevel impacts on understudied taxa and new toxic chemicals, defining and modeling plastic transport routes, and planning policies and management actions for remediation activities.

Specifically, we are seeking laboratory and field studies on the transport and impacts of macro/meso/micro/nanoplastics. Transport studies may include the role of abiotic and biotic factors, by using also remote sensing or modeling approaches. Regarding the impacts of plastics, two main research areas are the focus of this Special Issue. The first research area includes a wide range of topics aiming to assess the impacts of plastics on the plastisphere and understudied taxa (e.g., freshwater mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and plants); different levels of the trophic web to evaluate biomagnification and bioaccumulation and identify good bioindicators (e.g., comparison between freshwater arthropods and bivalves); and ecosystem services. We also welcome reports of micro- or nanoplastics in the liver or muscle of fish collected from nature; mesocosm experiments; ecotoxicological studies on species never investigated and on new endpoints; and definitions of thresholds of contamination. Another research area of interest focuses on the interactions between plastics and additives, rare earth elements, and heavy metals. A holistic perspective on the biogeochemical cycle of plastic is sought. Methodological articles are welcome, especially if they focus on advanced and economical techniques for the detection and analysis of plastics, most of all micro- and nanoplastics, from environmental samples. In conclusion, we would also appreciate policy and action plans for plastic management to provide an interdisciplinary output.

Within this framework, for the Special Issue on “Advances in Aquatic Plastics”, we encourage authors to submit a wide range of contributions (research articles, reviews, methodological articles, opinions) related to the following topics:

• Macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics;
• Plastic transport in freshwater, transitional, and marine ecosystems;
• Spatial planning, environmental modelling;
• Biomonitoring;
• Methodological advances;
• Ecotoxicology;
• Evidence and effects of plastics as vectors of additives, metals, and rare earth elements;
• Field and laboratory studies on the impacts on trophic webs, communities and ecosystem functioning;
• Ecosystem services;
• Mitigation and remediation activities.

Prof. Dr. Massimiliano Scalici
Dr. Alessandra Cera
Guest Editors

Giulia Cesarini
Luca Gallitelli
Guest Editor Assistants

Manuscript Submission Information

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• ecosystem services
• plastic transport
• plastic impacts
• ecotoxicology
• biomonitoring
• methods
• trophic webs
• habitat restoration