Comparative Ecotoxicological Impacts of Traditional and Emerging Microplastics on Marine Zooplankton: Implications for Aquaculture and Coastal Ecosystem Health

Abstract

Marine ecosystem health is threatened by an increasing worldwide problem when microplastic pollution occurs. The emerging microplastics (MPs), such as biodegradable bioplastics, tire wear particles (TWPs), and synthetic microfibers, introduce distinct risk profiles compared to well-studied legacy petroleum-based polymers (polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene). Marine zooplankton serve as vital primary consumers and key energy links to higher trophic levels, including species of economic importance for aquaculture. This review summarises the current scientific knowledge on the ingestion mechanisms, tissue deposition, and multi-level ecotoxicological effects of traditional and emerging microplastics on marine zooplankton communities. Physiological and physical disruption due to microplastic exposure, such as oxidative stress cascade, neurotoxicity, due to enzyme inhibition, endocrine disruption, and reproductive failure, are discussed. In addition, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals (the “Trojan Horse” effect) are analysed alongside the leaching kinetics of toxic endogenous additives (e.g., phthalates, bisphenols, 6PPD-quinone). Finally, we address the trophic transfer of these particles into coastal aquaculture systems, which negatively affects the seafood safety, sustainability and biological carbon pump, while presenting structural mitigation and legislative solutions.