1. Plastic pollution is a major issue for aquatic ecosystems, and microplastics are particularly concerning due to their ability to be taken up by freshwater organisms.
2. This review provides one of the largest data sets on microplastics in freshwater, showing contamination in all continents except Antarctica.
3. The main contaminating polymers are polypropylene and polyethylene for sediment and water, while polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate are mainly found in biota.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on microplastics in freshwater ecosystems. It is based on a thorough bibliographic search that collected 158 studies since 2012, providing an extensive data set on the topic. The article also presents potential sources of plastic contamination and discusses the effects of plastics on aquatic biota.
However, there are some points that could be improved upon. For example, the article does not provide any information about possible counterarguments or risks associated with plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, it does not explore alternative solutions or strategies for reducing plastic pollution in these environments. Furthermore, the article does not discuss how different countries or regions may be affected differently by plastic pollution due to varying levels of economic development or access to resources. Finally, there is no discussion of how climate change may affect plastic pollution levels in freshwater ecosystems over time.