Micro/nanoplastics effects on organisms: A review focusing on ‘dose’

Microplastics have become predominant contaminants, attracting much political and scientific attention. Despite the massively-increasing research on microplastics effects organisms, debate of whether environmental concentrations pose hazard risk continues. This study critically reviews published literatures organisms within context “dose”. It provides substantial evidence common occurrence threshold hormesis dose responses numerous aquatic terrestrial to microplastics. finding along with accumulated indicating capacity for recovery suggests that linear-no-threshold model is biologically irrelevant should not serve as a default assessing risks. The literature does provide sufficient supporting general conclusion doses cause adverse individual organisms. Instead, are smaller than toxicological more likely occur in environment may even induce positive effects, although ecological implications these remain unknown. also shows low can reduce whereas high increase negative other pollutants. mechanisms explaining findings discussed, providing novel perspective evaluating risks environment.