1. This article provides a holistic risk assessment framework for microplastics in sediment.
2. Quality criteria and alignment methods were used to assess the risks of microplastics in freshwater sediments worldwide.
3. The Hazardous Concentrations for 5% of the species (HC5) were determined, with exposure concentrations either below or in the margin of uncertainty of the HC5 values.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the risks associated with microplastics in freshwater sediments worldwide. The authors have employed strict quality criteria and alignment methods to assess these risks, which adds to the trustworthiness of their findings. Furthermore, they have provided detailed information on their methodology and results, which allows readers to evaluate their claims objectively.
However, there are some potential biases that should be noted. For instance, the authors do not explore any counterarguments or alternative perspectives on their findings, which could lead to an overly one-sided view of the issue at hand. Additionally, they do not provide any evidence for some of their claims or discuss any possible risks associated with microplastics in freshwater sediments that may not have been considered in their study. Finally, while they acknowledge that further research is needed to fully understand the impacts of microplastics on benthic communities, they do not provide any specific recommendations for future studies or areas for improvement in this field.