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Microplastics as a source of phthalate esters in water: A review on occurrence, release mechanism, and ecological risk assessment
Summary
This review pulls together existing research showing that microplastics floating in rivers and lakes aren't just plastic particles, they're also slowly leaking out chemical additives called phthalates, which are known to disrupt hormones. Even worse, as plastics break down over time from sun and physical wear, they release these chemicals faster and can also carry along other pollutants like heavy metals, potentially making the combined exposure more harmful to fish and other aquatic life that ingest them. While this study focused on water ecosystems rather than direct human health effects, it matters because these contaminated waters and organisms are part of the food chain and water supply humans rely
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized not only as persistent particulate pollutants but also as active sources and vectors of phthalate esters (PAEs) in aquatic environments. Because PAEs are physically incorporated rather than chemically bonded within polymer matrices, they can be progressively released through leaching, photooxidation, mechanical abrasion, and biological interactions. This review synthesizes current understanding of MP-mediated PAE release, their interactions with co-contaminants, and the implications for ecological exposure. Environmental aging enhances polymer fragmentation and surface oxidation, accelerating additive desorption and altering sorption behavior. Field evidence from major river systems shows that high-molecular-weight PAEs, particularly DEHP and DBP, frequently dominate contamination profiles and contribute most significantly to ecological risk, with cumulative risk quotients (∑RQ) reaching up to 59.22 in heavily impacted watersheds. Ingestion of MPs by aquatic organisms further promotes in situ chemical transfer under gastrointestinal conditions, increasing internal exposure beyond dissolved-phase concentrations alone. Moreover, MPs act as multi-contaminant platforms, facilitating the co-transport of PAEs with metals and hydrophobic organic pollutants, thereby intensifying mixture toxicity and trophic transfer. Collectively, these processes demonstrate that MP-associated PAE release represents a dynamic and sustained pathway of chemical pollution requiring integrated risk assessment and source-control strategies.