A review of current approaches for the study of microplastic contamination in crustaceans

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in marine environment, and a growing body of evidence suggests that they pose a threat to marine ecosystems. The ingestion of MPs causes a false sense of satiation and decline in nutritional status. After animal ingestion, MPs fragment into nanoplastics, returning to the environment through egestion and thereby becoming vectors of contaminant exposure (organic and inorganic) into marine food webs. Crustacea is one invertebrate group frequently investigated in studies of MP ingestion. Through a critical review of the current literature, we provide an overview of techniques utilized in research on the contamination of MPs on members of the Crustacea subphylum and thereby identify methodological limitations and future research needs.