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Sorption of Pharmaceuticals onto Polyethylene Terephthalate and Medium-Density Polyethylene: Influence of Plastic Polymer Type and Water Medium
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Tiny plastic particles floating in the ocean can act like magnets for medications, soaking them up and potentially carrying them through marine environments and up the food chain. This study found that one common plastic type (used in bags and containers) absorbs drugs more readily than another (used in bottles), especially medications that don't mix well with water, meaning the type of plastic pollution matters when it comes to spreading pharmaceutical contamination through our oceans and, ultimately, our food.
The growing accumulation of microplastics in marine ecosystems, coupled with the presence of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, represents an environmental problem that has received little attention to date. The present study evaluates the potential of microplastics to act as transport vectors for pharmaceuticals through their adsorption onto two plastic polymers widely used today: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) in seawater. As a control, the same experiments were conducted in ultrapure water (Milli-Q). Both plastics were exposed to a mixture of 29 pharmaceuticals belonging to different therapeutic classes over a 28-day period, with sampling conducted at various time intervals. The identification, quantification, and characterization of the compounds were performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection. Statistical analysis was performed using R-Studio software. Outcomes reveal that the type of polymer significantly influences adsorption, with MDPE being more efficient than PET. In contrast, the type of water and the therapeutic class of the drugs were not identified as determining factors. Furthermore, a positive, albeit moderate, correlation was observed between the hydrophobicity of the pharmaceutical and its adsorption efficiency on MDPE. These findings suggest that hydrophobic interactions play a key role in the adsorption of drugs onto microplastics, providing a solid foundation for future research, such as predictive models or mitigation strategies in aquatic ecosystems.
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Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics adsorb pharmaceutical compounds including an antibiotic, a beta-blocker, and an antidepressant, with sorption capacity influenced by pH, aging of the plastic, and competition between compounds — raising concern about microplastics as carriers of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments.
Adsorption of a diverse range of pharmaceuticals to polyethylene microplastics in wastewater and their desorption in environmental matrices
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics adsorb pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater and release them in environmental and biological fluids. They found that drug adsorption depended heavily on the compound's charge and hydrophobicity, with cationic and hydrophobic drugs adsorbing most readily. The study suggests that microplastics could act as vectors for certain pharmaceuticals, potentially transporting them through waterways and into organisms.
Influence of type and size of microplastics on adsorption of pharmaceutics
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This Croatian thesis examined how microplastic type and size affect the adsorption of pharmaceuticals onto plastic surfaces. The study found that adsorption capacity varied significantly depending on polymer type and particle size, with implications for pharmaceutical transport in aquatic environments.
Sorption of pharmaceuticals on the surface of microplastics
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Researchers tested the ability of four common microplastic types to adsorb nine pharmaceutical compounds frequently found as water pollutants. They found that sorption involved both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, but under natural environmental conditions the binding was relatively weak. The study suggests that while microplastics can interact with pharmaceutical residues, their role as carriers of these contaminants in real aquatic environments may be more limited than previously assumed.
Adsorption of Macrolide Antibiotics and a Metabolite onto Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polyethylene Microplastics in Aquatic Environments
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Researchers studied how four macrolide antibiotics and a metabolite adsorb onto polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene microplastics in water. They found that antibiotic adsorption followed a linear model, with PET showing higher adsorption capacity than polyethylene. The study suggests that microplastics in aquatic environments may serve as carriers for antibiotics, potentially affecting how these pharmaceutical pollutants are distributed in water systems.
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