Potential ecological risk assessment of microplastics in environmental compartments in Mexico: A meta-analysis

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 361; p. 124812
• Main Authors: Dueñas-Moreno, Jaime, Mora, Abrahan, Capparelli, Mariana V., González-Domínguez, Janeth, Mahlknecht, Jürgen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2024
• Subjects: Contamination factor (CF); Mexico; Microplastics; Pollution load index (PLI); Polymer risk index (PRI); Potential ecological risk index (PERI); Mexico; Microplastics; Pollution load index (PLI); Potential ecological risk index (PERI); Contamination factor (CF); Polymer risk index (PRI); Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI); Polymer Risk Index (PRI); Pollution Load Index (PLI); Contamination Factor (CF)
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124812

Microplastic (MP) environmental contamination has been widely studied in Mexico. However, the evaluation of the associated risk to MPs in environmental compartments is scarce. Therefore, this study addresses this issue using diverse indicators such as the Pollution Load Index (PLI), the Polymer Risk Index (PRI), and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). The results of a meta-analysis revealed high MP contamination levels in most of the studied compartments, which included marine and estuarine waters, beach sand, freshwater, sediments, and biota. Regarding the risk assessment indicators, PLIs indicated low (56%), dangerous (22%), moderate (12%), and high (10%) levels across compartments. Meanwhile, PRIs displayed concerning values, with 36%, 35%, 20%, and 9% exhibiting dangerous, high, moderate, and low levels, respectively. Thus, high PRI values emphasized the significant rise in MP pollution, largely attributed to high-hazard polymer compositions. Otherwise, PERIs showed low (56%), very dangerous (29%), moderate (6%), high (5%), and dangerous (4%) levels. Thus, the ecological risk in Mexico is widespread and mainly linked to MP abundance, polymer type, environmental matrix, and characteristics of organisms. This study represents the first attempt at MP ecological risk assessment in Mexico, providing crucial insights for developing mitigation strategies to address concerns about MP contamination. [Display omitted] •First study on MPs' ecological risk in Mexico's environmental compartments.•Spatial distribution of MPs in environmental matrices is widespread.•MP contamination levels were predominantly high in most environmental compartments.•MP risk in Mexico assessed with PLI, PRI, and PERI shows widespread results.•Ecological risk is tied to MP abundance, polymer type, matrix, and organism traits.