 Introduction  What is microplastic and how it formed?  Fate of microplastics  Factor influencing microplastics ingestions.  How microplastics and mixed contaminants transfer trophically in marine food web?  Main effect of microplastics in trophic transfer.  Implications of human health  Conclusion and recommendations.

1. A Presentation On
Prepared by
Mohammad Rashidul Islam (1808912)
Course Title: Biological and Chemical Oceanography
Course Code: MFOG-351

2.  Introduction
 What is microplastic and how it formed?
 Fate of microplastics
 Factor influencing microplastics
ingestions.
 How microplastics and mixed
contaminants transfer trophically in
marine food web?
 Main effect of microplastics in trophic
transfer.

3. • Plastic is the most prevalent type of marine
debris.
• Every year 8 million tons plastic waste enters
ocean.
• Over 690 marine species have been impacted
by plastic debris. Physical and chemical
properties of microplastics
facilitate the sorption of
contaminants to the
particle surface and
serving as a vector.

4. Any plastic materials which measures less
than 5 mm in size. Types of microplastics :
Tiny particles
designed for
commercial use.
Created from breakdown
of larger plastic item.

5. Microplastics are
formed by:
• The deterioration
of larger plastic
fragments
• Over time
• UV radiation
• Mechanical forces in the seas, or
• Through biological activity.

6. • Exist as fibres and fragments.
• Coastal food webs organisms are more likely to
ingest microplastics than offshore habitats due
to greater input of plastic from land.
• Organisms, inhabiting oceanic gyres and deep
sea sediments are more likely to encounter
microplastics particles than pelagic environment
due to greater concentration of microplastics.
Spatial
Distribution

7. Assimilation by Marine
Organisms
• Nanoplastics may enter
the food web via algae
or bacteria or
assimilated by filter
feeding organisms.
• Their small size enables to permeate
membrane.
• More difficult to detect nanoplastics.
• So, through feeding strategies or other way

8. Physical Properties
• Biological uptake dependent on size of
particles.
• Particle density determine the position in water
column.
• Surface water organisms encounter the plastic
which density less than sea water such as
polypropylene, polyethylene
• Over time, particles may be suspended
through bioturbation, storms or upwelling and

9. Presence of Biofilms
Biofilms are a
collective of one or
more types of
microorganisms that
can grow on many
different surfaces.
• Biofouling may play a major role in the
mistaken identity of plastic.
• Formation of biofilms attract the organisms

10. • Bioaccumulation:
Accumulation of a
toxic chemical in the
tissue of a particular
organism.
• Biomagnification: Increased concentration of
a toxic chemical the higher an animal is on
the food chain

11. Marine animals
eat microplastics when
they mistake it for food.
When they themselves
are eaten,
the microplastics are
unintentionally ingested
by the predator.
Then gradually the microplastics trasfer to the top
predator of trophic level. This process is called
the 'trophic transfer' of microplastics.

12. • Physical disruption
• Reduce dietary intake
• Energy depletion
• Oxidative stress
• Slower metabolic rate
• Inhibited growth
• Reduced reproductivity.

13. When human eat
microplastic contained sea
food, very fine particles are
capable of crossing cell
membranes, create adverse
effect like:
• Oxidative stress
• Cell damage
• Inflammation
• Respiratory problem
• Skin irritation

14. • The toxicity of microplastic
dependent on its size.
• Difficult to remove
microplastics due their
size and continuous
breakdown.
• Greater awareness on the
effects of microplastics.
• Promote reduction, re-use
and recycling of plastics.