Microplastics In Marine Environment Research Articles

Bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their human health risks depend on the characteristics of microplastics in marine organisms of Sanggou Bay, China

Microplastics pose a threat to marine environments through their physical presence and as vectors of chemical pollutants. However, the impact of microplastics on the accumulation and human health risk of chemical pollutants in marine organisms remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in marine organisms from Sanggou Bay and analyzed their correlations. Results showed that microplastic and PAHs concentration ranged from 1.23 ± 0.23 to 5.77 ± 1.10 items/g, from 6.98 ± 0.45 to 15.07 ± 1.25μg/kg, respectively. The microplastic abundance, particularly of fibers, transparent and color plastic debris, correlates strongly with PAH contents, indicating that microplastics increase the bioaccumulation of PAHs and microplastics with these characteristics have a significant vector effect on PAHs. Although consuming seafood from Sanggou Bay induce no carcinogenic risk from PAHs, the presence of microplastics in organisms can significantly increases incremental lifetime cancer risk of PAHs. Thus, microplastics can serve as transport vectors for PAHs with implications for the potential health risks to human through consumption. This study provides new insight into the risks of microplastics in marine environments. Environmental implicationWe investigated the microplastic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in marine organisms from Sanggou Bay and analyzed their correlations. The microplastic abundance showed significant positive correlation with the total content of PAHs, suggesting that microplastics increase the bioaccumulation of PAHs. Consuming organisms from Sanggou Bay pose no carcinogenic risk associated with PAHs. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the abundance of microplastics in organisms and the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk, suggesting that microplastics enhanced the human health risk of PAHs. This study provides new insight into the risks of microplastics in marine environments.

Occurrence and Distribution of Plastispheres in Coastal Sediments and Waters along the Maharashtra Coast, India

AbstractMicroplastics can promote microbial colonisation and biofilm growth, thus being referred to as “plastispheres”. The global plastic pollution surge is likely to adversely impact ecology and human health by providing a novel habitat for microbial communities. Even though microplastics in marine environments have been the subject of in-depth research, plastispheres have recently received attention. Thus, the current study investigates the prevalence and distribution of plastispheres along the Maharashtra coast of India, considering their plausible implications for ecology and human health. Microplastics were isolated from sediment and water samples obtained from 10 sampling sites. Subsequently, these microplastic particles were subjected to ATR-FTIR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses to ascertain their chemical composition, surface topography, and presence of attached biofilms. The predominant polymers composing the microplastic particles were polypropylene (42.8%), polyethylene (28.6%), polystyrene (14.3%), and polyvinyl chloride (14.3%). SEM analysis revealed the presence of topographical structures and degradation effects, facilitating microbial attachment on the microplastic surface. About 50% of the microplastic particles tested positive for biofilms, with over 66% of those collected from Girgaon and Malvan beaches exhibiting biofilm presence. These positively screened particles also displayed comparatively rough surface structures, likely enhancing microbial colonisation. Microplastic ageing and polymer type could positively affect microbial colonisation. Diatoms and fungal hyphae exhibit varied interactions with microplastic polymers. Notably, microplastics host various reproductive stages of fungi, as evidenced by filamentous networks, mycelia, and conidiophores.

Differential impact of planktonic and periphytic diatoms on aggregation and sinking of microplastics in a simulated marine environment

Aggregation between microalgae and microplastics (MPs) significantly influences the MPs distribution in marine environment. We investigated the effects of two diatoms, the planktonic Pseudo-nitzschia pungens and the periphytic Navicula sp., on the formation and sinking of aggregates when they were cultured with four different types of MPs: small and large polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, and low-density and high-density polyethylene (PE) spheres. Navicula sp. formed aggregates with all MPs within one week, but P. pungens only formed aggregates with PE spheres after 9 weeks. The PE-Navicula sp. aggregates settled about 100 times faster than the PE-P. pungens aggregates (12.2 vs. 0.1 mm s−1), and this difference was most likely due to aggregate shape rather than size. Our findings indicate that the periphytic Navicula sp. had a greater effect on the settling of MPs than the planktonic P. pungens. These findings have implications for understanding the behavior of MPs in marine environments.

Microplastics: Environmental Impacts, Detection Techniques and Mitigation Strategies

Since the development of the first synthetic plastic with the potential for mass production in 1907, plastic has gone from a wonder solution in the packaging, building and construction, electrical and electronics, consumer products, and transportation industries to an environmental and sustainability hazard. Over the past decade, global concern over the impact of plastic pollution has extended to microplastics. Though small in size (1mm-5mm), microplastics are causing extensive damage to the natural environment. They have been isolated as contaminants in soil, tap water, oceans and their ecosystems, plants, animals, and human beings. As microplastics continue to accumulate in different ecosystems, research and studies on their impact on the environment, ways of detecting them, and strategies to prevent their accumulation in the environment are on the rise in efforts to understand their biological and ecological implications. This paper reviews existing knowledge on the environmental impacts of microplastics, their detection techniques, and mitigation strategies. The occurrence of microplastics in marine environments, on land, and in plant, animal, and human cells will be elucidated. Different analytical methods used for the sampling and characterization of microplastics in the environment will be highlighted and current and potential methods for the mitigation of the threat the element poses to the environment discussed. The synthesis of existing knowledge will be used to derive recommendations for future studies to fill knowledge gaps on microplastics

The comparative effects of visible light and UV-A radiation on the combined toxicity of P25 TiO2 nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics on Chlorella sp.

The ubiquitous presence of TiO2 nanoparticles (nTiO2) and microplastics (MPs) in marine ecosystems has raised serious concerns about their combined impact on marine biota. This study investigated the combined toxic effect of nTiO2 (1 mg/L) and NH2 and COOH surface functionalized polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) (2.5 and 10 mg/L) on Chlorella sp. All the experiments were carried out under both visible light and UV-A radiation conditions to elucidate the impact of light on the combined toxicity of these pollutants. Growth inhibition results indicated that pristine nTiO2 exhibited a more toxic effect (38%) under UV-A radiation when compared to visible light conditions (27%). However, no significant change in the growth inhibitory effects of pristine PSMPs was observed between visible light and UVA radiation conditions. The combined pollutants (nTiO2 + 10 mg/L PSMPs) under UV-A radiation exhibited more growth inhibition (nTiO2 + NH2 PSMPs 66%; nTiO2 + COOH PSMPs 50%) than under visible light conditions (nTiO2 + NH2 PSMPs 55%; TiO2 + COOH PSMPs 44%). Independent action modeling indicated that the mixture of nTiO2 with PSMPs (10 mg/L) exhibited an additive effect on the algal growth inhibition under both the light conditions. The photoactive nTiO2 promoted increased production of reactive oxygen species under UV-A exposure, resulting in cellular damage, lipid peroxidation, and impaired photosynthesis. The effects were more pronounced in case of the mixtures where PSMPs added to the oxidative stress. The toxic effects of the binary mixtures of nTiO2 and PSMPs were further confirmed through the field emission electron microscopy, revealing specific morphological abnormalities. This study provides valuable insights into the potential risks associated with the combination of nTiO2 and MPs in marine environments, considering the influence of environmentally relevant light conditions and the test medium.

An advanced analytical approach to assess the long-term degradation of microplastics in the marine environment

Determining the hazards posed by microplastics (MPs, <5 mm) requires an understanding of plastic degradation processes when exposed to environmental weathering forces. However, despite their perceived risks, limited information exists on the natural weathering progression of microplastics in marine environments. Our findings from environmentally realistic conditions reveal that long-term marine weathering resulted in significant degradation of plastic surfaces and bulk-phases, which varied by time and plastic polymer type. Plastics displayed biofouling, and an altered surface morphology, thermal stability and chemical signature. Secondary micronanoplastics (MNPs, <1 µm) were formed from weathered plastic surfaces, supported by a significant reduction in the size of PCL and PVC pellets. Using real world data, we reveal that plastic surfaces can degrade at a rate of up to 469.73 µm per year, 12 times greater than previous estimates. Our time-series data contributes valuable information towards developing plastic specific risk assessment frameworks and future plastics policy.

Microplastic pollution in two remote rivers of Türkiye.

Microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems presents an emerging environmental threat that can have adverse effects on ecology, endanger aquatic species, and result in economic damage. Despite the numerous studies reporting the presence of microplastics in marine environments, research into their presence in freshwater systems or inland waters remains limited. This study aimed to assess the level of microplastic pollution transported by the Munzur and Pülümür Rivers and some small rivers that flow into the Uzunçayır dam lake, which is the confluence of the Munzur and Pülümür Rivers in Türkiye. Samples were collected from 23 stations, with the concentration of microplastics ranging from 0.01 MP/m3 at P-4 station to 28.21 MP/m3 at P-10, a station located near a city. Microplastics comprise four types: fiber, film, fragment, and glitter. The average size of microplastics was 1.46 ± 0.05mm, with the average size of fibers, films, fragments, and glitter-type microplastics being 1.58 ± 0.07mm, 1.23 ± 0.10mm, 1.21 ± 0.11mm, and 0.78 ± 0.16mm, respectively. The most frequent polymers were polyethylene (31.8%), polystyrene (21.1%), and polypropylene (10.5%). Despite being considered remote and less populated rivers compared to other river systems in Türkiye, all sampling sites showed varying concentrations of microplastics.

Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest.

The ingestion of synthetic microfibers, the most prevalent type of microplastics in marine environments, and natural fibers was assessed in Engraulis engrasicolus and Mullus barbatus, two commercially important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. Microfibers were isolated from the fish gastrointestinal tract using a 10% potassium hydroxide solution. For the microfiber characterization, the evaluation of specific morphological features using a light microscope, coupled with the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of a subsample of isolated particles, was applied. The preliminary results showed the occurrence of microfibers in 53 and 60% of European anchovy and Red mullet, respectively. A mean of 6.9 microfibers/individual was detected in anchovies, while on average Red mullet samples contained 9.2 microfibers/individual. The most common colors of fibers in both species were black, blue, and transparent. Visual characterization of fibers allowed the classification of 40% of the items as synthetic microfibers. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the visual classification by fiber morphology. Microfibers were made of different typologies of polymers, represented by cellulose, cotton, and polyester. These findings confirm as the wide distribution of fibrous microplastics, and natural microfibers may impact both pelagic and deep-sea trophic webs. Despite the presence of microfibers in fish species poses a potential risk to human health, the literature is scarce regarding studies on the uptake by commercial marine fish mostly due to methodological issues. The visual characterization, corroborated by spectroscopic techniques, may be useful to differentiate synthetic and natural fibers, representing a fast and easy method to assess fibrous microplastic pollution in commercially important fish species.

The “Journey” of Microplastics across the Marine Food Web in China’s Largest Fishing Ground

Microplastics in marine environments are becoming a hot topic since they can be transferred through the marine food web and may finally be consumed by humans. Here, we investigate the distribution characteristics of microplastics in marine organisms at different trophic levels through their digestive tracts (entire organisms for zooplankton and zoobenthos). A total of 124 fish and 22 crustaceans from 10 fish and 3 crustacean species, as well as a few zooplankton and zoobenthos, were captured from the Zhoushan fishing ground, i.e., China’s largest ocean fishing ground. The abundance of microplastics ranged from 0.74 ± 1.29 to 4.71 ± 2.19 items per sample in fish species and from 0.83 ± 1.07 to 1.00 ± 0.93 items per sample in crustacean species. Among the detected microplastics, fiber was the most dominant type (i.e., 67%), transparent microplastics were the most frequently detected (i.e., 49%), and the majority of the microplastics were identified as natural particles (cellulose). The abundance of microplastics was positively correlated with the trophic level (correlation coefficient = 0.717; p &lt; 0.05). Our results show that microplastics are widespread in the marine organisms of the Zhoushan fishing ground, and they might accumulate in marine organisms at higher trophic levels of the marine food chain.

Effects of weathered polyethylene microplastic ingestion on sexual maturation, fecundity and egg quality in maturing broodstock Atlantic cod Gadus morhua

Microplastics (MPs) have become a global issue as they are omnipresent in the ocean. Fish ingesting MPs through feed could be affected in their physiological function, e.g., disrupted enzyme production and function, reduction of feeding and reproductive failure. This study assessed the effects of feed containing naturally weathered MPs from the Oslofjord (Norway) on the reproductive physiology of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Farmed cod broodstock were fed either control (C-diet) or feeds containing 1% microplastic (MP-diet) starting nine months prior to spawning, from June until May. No major differences were found between diet groups in overall biometrics or gonad histology. Sex steroid levels (testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone and 17β-estradiol) resulted in expected profiles increasing over time without any significant differences between treatments. Gene expression levels of the steroidogenic enzyme 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20β-hsd) and vitellogenin1 (vtg1) showed significant differences between dietary treatments with lower expression in the control group. This can be a direct effect of MPs, but endocrine disrupting effects of potentially leachable plastic additives cannot be completely ruled out. Thus, these enzymes could be indicators of exposure to contaminants that disrupt sexual maturation by affecting the production of primarily maturation-inducing steroid. Although the concentration of MPs employed in this study may not be high enough to elicit any observable short-term biological effects, the observed gene expression suggests that long-term consequences should be considered caused by an expected increase of MPs in marine environments.

Microplastics in Marine Environment: Occurrence, Distribution, and Extraction Methods in Marine Organisms

Microplastics in Marine Environment: Occurrence, Distribution, and Extraction Methods in Marine Organisms

Global occurrence, drivers, and environmental risks of microplastics in marine environments

With an increasing quantity of plastic waste being discharged into the oceans, marine microplastic (MP) pollution has received widespread attention. However, the global occurrence characteristics, environmental risks, driving factors, and source-sink relationships remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 165 articles about marine MP pollution. It was found that the global marine MP abundance displayed a significant spatial heterogeneity, and the distribution pattern was influenced by offshore distance, population density, and economic development. The morphological characteristics of MPs showed a significant difference between seawater and marine sediment, and small-size MPs (<1 mm) accounted for the majority of all MPs in the marine environment. The environmental risk assessment revealed that most of the marine MP pollution still remains at low concentrations in the global context, with the Polyurethane (PU), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) types of MPs showing high environmental-risk contributions. In addition, land-based waste and marine operations, which were considered to be the dominant sources of marine MPs, primarily aggregated at nearshore submarine areas, in the water column, and in the deep-sea bottom environment. This study suggested that the combination of a meta-analysis and Monte Carlo simulation can provide much valuable information regarding the global occurrence characteristics and environmental risks of marine MPs.

Adsorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to microplastics in seawater: a comparison between pristine and aged particles.

Microplastics (MPs) are a widely distributed pollutant and have been attracting global attention. The increasing abundance of MPs in marine environments has raised concern about their adverse effects on marine organisms and influence on the fate of contaminants in seawater. In this study, we investigated the effects of natural aging on the adsorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), one of the most widely used phthalic acid esters (PAEs), in two types of MPs (polyethylene and polystyrene). Biofilm was observed on the surface of MPs after 3-month exposure in seawater. Atomic force microscopy revealed there were significant physical changes in the MPs after aging. Aging in coastal seawater for 3 months significantly reduced the MPs' surface roughness and adhesion, and increased the Young's modulus at the same time. Adsorption isotherms of DEHP indicated that aged MPs had stronger binding capacity of the organic contaminant than pristine MPs. Our data shed some light on the biogeochemical role of MPs in marine environments.

Markovian Models for Microplastic Transport in Open‐Channel Flows

AbstractThe ubiquity of microplastics in marine environments is of growing concern and is increasingly receiving widespread attention. Due to the role of rivers and streams as suppliers of microplastics to the marine environment, it is essential to accurately capture their movements at these scales, but modeling and experimental knowledge in such settings is still limited. In this work, three Markov models, including a continuous time random walk model, Bernoulli model, and spatial Markov model (SMM), are implemented to investigate polyethylene particles transport in open‐channel flows. First, a three‐dimensional high‐resolution direct numerical simulation (DNS) fully resolves a canonical open‐channel flow, and particle transport is simulated using idealized point particles. Then, a series of laboratory transport experiments are conducted in a circulating water tank, and particle image velocimetry methods are used to obtain particle‐tracking data. We find that the correlated Bernoulli model and SMM can successfully reproduce the transport of both DNS and laboratory experiments, particularly in the prediction of measured breakthrough curves, which highlights the importance of correlation between the successive steps. A major benefit of these models is a computational cost that is several orders of magnitude less than, for example, DNS, which demonstrates their high‐efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, this research offers new insights into the transport of microplastics in open‐channel systems like rivers and streams, which is necessary to prevent and reduce the environmental hazards of microplastics.

Effects of pH and Temperature on the Leaching of Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Di-n-butyl Phthalate from Microplastics in Simulated Marine Environment

This study aims to examine the influences of pH and temperature on the leaching of bis(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) from microplastics in pseudo-seawater. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part, DEHP and DBP in three common microplastics (polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) were experimentally leached into pseudo-seawater at pH values of 5, 7, and 9 respectively with simulated waves. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to detect the leached DBP and DEHP in the samples. The concentrations of DBP leached from PE, PVC and PET from Day-4 to Day-16 were in the ranges of 0.558 – 0.711 mg/L, 0.518 – 0.760 mg/L and 0.540 – 0.791 mg/L respectively. The effect of pH on the amount of DBP leached could not be concluded with different polymers having different optimal pH of leaching. In the second part, DEHP and DBP in six common microplastics (PE, PET, PVC, plastic wrap, disposable gloves, disposable plastic bag) were leached into pseudo-seawater at 25℃ and 45℃. DBP and DEHP were not detected at 25°C, and a small amount of DBP was detected at 45°C. Higher temperatures promoted the leaching of DBP. This study provides important insight into the leaching behaviors of phthalates from microplastics in the marine environment, which is currently understudied.

Machine learning to predict dynamic changes of pathogenic Vibrio spp. abundance on microplastics in marine environment

Microplastics are widely found in the marine environment. Recent studies have shown that pathogenic microorganisms can hitchhike on microplastics, which might act as a vector for the spread of pathogens. Vibrio spp. are known to be pathogenic to humans and can cause serious foodborne diseases. In this study, using datasets from an estuary and a mariculture zone in China, five machine learning models were established to predict the relative abundance of Vibrio spp. on microplastics. The results showed that deep neural network (DNN) model and RandomForest algorithm achieved the best predictive performance. Different data sources, data sampling, and processing methods had a little impact on the prediction performance of DNN and RandomForest models. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) indicated that salinity and temperature are the primary factors affecting the relative abundance of Vibrio spp. The prediction performances of the five machine learning models were further improved by feature selection, providing information to support future experimental research. The results of this study could help establish a long-term and dynamic monitoring system for the relative abundance of Vibrio spp. on microplastics in response to environmental factors as well as provide useful information for assessing the potential health impacts of microplastics on marine ecology and humans.

Investigating the Human Impacts and the Environmental Consequences of Microplastics Disposal into Water Resources

During the last decades, one of the most contentious environmental issues has been the investigation of the fate of microplastics (MPs) and detrimental consequences in natural and water resources worldwide. In this respect, it is critical research firstly to track the ways in which MPs are determined as key anthropogenic pollutants in terms of ecological risk and secondly to plan feasible policies under which the role of science and society in tackling this global issue in the future should be prioritized. In this study, a systematic theoretical, technical, and planning analysis was developed in alignment with a Scopus search deployed in the second half of the year 2021 and covering a wide chronological range (from 1970s onwards) and thematic contexts of analysis by using keywords and key phrases organized into two groups. The document results were graphically represented, revealing the main scientific focus of studies. Subsequently, our study investigated the quantitative assessment methods of MPs in marine environments, denoting the range of standard procedures applied for collecting and analyzing samples of water, bottom sediments, and coastal deposits. The technological part of the study includes the presentation of the relevant analytical techniques applied for MPs tracking and monitoring in water resources, determining the wide spectrum of plastic compounds traced. Of particular interest was the determination of environmental depletion and human implications caused, even by extremely low concentrations of MPs, for marine biota, posing potential risks to marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and food availability. Finally, the research proposed the challenges of actions needed to support scientific, industry, policy, and civil society communities to curb the ongoing flow of MPs and the toxic chemicals they contain into water resources, while rethinking the ways of plastics consumption by humanity.

Copper Adsorption to Microplastics and Natural Particles in Seawater: A Comparison of Kinetics, Isotherms, and Bioavailability.

The growing use of plastics has led to microplastics (MPs) being ubiquitously distributed in marine environments. Although previous studies have emphasized MPs as important metal-transport vectors, few have considered the differences between these anthropogenic particles and their coexisting natural counterparts in sequestering metals in seawater. Here, we compared Cu adsorption to pristine and naturally aged MPs (polystyrene and polyethylene) with that to algae particles and sediments and assessed the bioavailability of the adsorbed Cu by a gut juice extraction assay. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms consistently showed that natural particles bound far more Cu to their surfaces than MPs. The rougher surfaces, greater specific surface areas, and lower ζ-potentials of natural particles contributed to their stronger Cu adsorption capacity than pristine or aged MPs. Natural particles also contained more diverse functional groups for binding Cu, with oxygen-containing groups playing a dominant role. Adsorbed Cu on natural particles was less extractable by sipunculan gut juice than that on MPs, indicating their higher Cu affinity. Overall, our study suggests that natural particles outcompete MPs in carrying metals in the water column and transferring them to marine organisms in today's environmental context. This work provides new insights for assessing the risks of MPs in marine environments.

Characterization and source analysis of heavy metals contamination in microplastics by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The increasing presence of microplastics in marine environment is a critical issue and the plastic-metal contamination has received much attention. However, conventional methods for heavy metal determination are time-consuming, need sample pretreatments, require a strict operation environment, or have high limits of detection. In this study, heavy metals contaminated microplastics samples collected from a remote coral island were quantified and analyzed by using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The characters of the trace metals in microplastics were used to determine the sources of the contaminants, and the potential origins of the metals were demonstrated from the statistical analysis. LIBS is a facile and non-destructive trace analysis technique and the strategy led to rapid and multi-metals detection of individual samples. Heavy metals such as copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr) were detected and quantified in the individual microplastics samples. The findings showed that LIBS is a promising strategy for the characterization of microplastics and for the analysis of the source of heavy metals contaminants present in the microplastics particles.

Neustonic microplastics and zooplankton in coastal waters of Cabrera Marine Protected Area (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The high abundance of microplastics in marine environments is becoming a growing threat for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Recent studies have identified microplastics (MP) as having multiple effects on biota, and it is of special interest to highlight their effects on zooplanktonic organisms. These organisms play a key role on local food web structures and there is a need to better understand the accumulation of MPs and associated contaminants within the food web. The present study addresses MP distribution and composition within Cabrera MPA as well as its effects on local zooplanktonic community composition.Neustonic microplastic and zooplankton abundance and composition were determined in the shallow coastal waters of Cabrera MPA during the summer season of 2019. Samples were taken using a sea surface manta-net, with a mesh size of 335 μm. MPs were found in all manta trawl samples for a total of 7047 MP with an overall mean abundance (± SD) of 3.52 (± 8.81) items/m3, a value higher than those reported for the majority of Western Mediterranean Sea basins.Qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses of the local zooplankton community suggest that its composition could be sensitive to MP abundances. Although no correlation was found between overall mean abundance of MP and zooplankton, a positive correlation was found between MP abundance and the abundance of the planktonic stage of the foraminifer Rosalina globularis (Tretomphalus). This species seems to be able to use MP for its dispersion. On the other hand, a negative correlation between MP abundance and Copepoda abundance was detected.This work confirms that the coastal zooplankton community composition within the MPA of Cabrera are not exempt from MP pollution and suggests important and complex interactions between MP and zooplankton organisms in coastal waters.