doi: 10.7763/IJET.2026.V18.1367
Chemical Behaviour and Biological Effects of Microplastics in China’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems
Xinyan Jiang
- Shenzhen College of International Education, Shenzhen, China
- Manuscript received August 11, 2026
- accepted September 28, 2026
- published October 18, 2026
Abstract
Microplastics have been widely found in China’s coastal waters, sediments and marine organisms. This paper reviews studies published mainly between 2020 and 2025 to examine their effects on marine life. It considers not only the presence of microplastics but also how polymer type, particle size and environmental ageing can influence their behaviour and possible toxicity. Weathering can break plastics into smaller particles and change their surface chemistry, affecting their interactions with additives and other pollutants. Studies of plankton, bivalves and fish have reported ingestion, oxidative stress, inflammation and changes in growth or metabolism. However, many of the stronger biological effects have been observed under laboratory conditions. Overall, the evidence shows that marine organisms in China’s coastal regions are widely exposed to microplastics and can experience biological effects, but the long-term consequences for populations and marine food webs remain uncertain.
Keywords
- Microplastics
- China’s coastal regions
- marine organisms
- polymer ageing
- ecotoxicity
- marine pollution
How to Cite
Xinyan Jiang, "Chemical Behaviour and Biological Effects of Microplastics in China’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems," International Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 174-181, 2026. https://doi.org/ 10.7763/IJET.2026.V18.1367
Copyright & License
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).