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Interactions between perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics (MPs): Findings from an extensive investigation
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This study tested how PFAS ("forever chemicals") interact with 18 different types of microplastic and found that polyamide (nylon) plastics absorbed up to 100% of the PFAS in solution. Since both PFAS and microplastics are widespread environmental pollutants, their ability to bind together means microplastics may act as carriers that concentrate and transport these harmful chemicals into water, soil, and ultimately the human body.
• Comprehensive insight into PFAS-microplastic interactions • Workflow optimization shows significant adsorption behavior of PFAS onto glass vials and nylon filter • Among 18 polymers, polyamides exhibit the highest PFAS uptake up to 100 % • PFAS uptake onto Polymers with functional groups such as carbonyl and carbamate functions are highly pH dependent • Experimental data is validated via computational modeling Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant environmental and health concerns due to their widespread use and persistence in ecosystems and living beings. The same applies to microplastics (MPs), making PFAS and MPs two of the most widespread contaminants worldwide. The presented study aims to investigate the complex interactions between those two contaminants in order to deepen our understanding of their behavior under environmental conditions. Utilizing advanced analytical techniques, such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we conducted a series of experiments, including 18 polymer types and eight PFAS, to explore the adsorption kinetics, influence of pH, and impact of polymer type and PFAS properties on their interaction. Within a pre-experimental design, we evaluated the suitability of used HPLC vials and syringe filters for undesired loss of PFAS. Main experiments at a concentration of 100 µg L⁻¹ showed that polyamide (PA) polymers adsorbed up to 100% of PFAS (equivalent to 8 mg per gram polymer in the context of this work). Moreover, the polarity of PFAS compounds significantly influenced their adsorption behavior. pH variation studies showed that functional groups in polymers, particularly amide functionalities, play a crucial role in PFAS uptake, emphasizing the importance of chemical composition and environmental conditions in evaluating PFAS –MP interactions. In order to verify the findings of the experimental study, computational modeling using a global optimization (MACE-OFF23) neural network potential and GFN2-xTB re-optimization was conducted for representative molecules. Yielded interaction energies of -126 kJ mol⁻¹ for polyamide-perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and -117 kJ mol⁻¹ for polyamide-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), compared to weaker interactions of -32 and -39 kJ mol⁻¹ for polyethylene with PFBA and PFOA, respectively, underscoring the experimental results. These findings advance our understanding of the interaction behavior between two of the most prominent environmental contaminants.
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Microplastics as carriers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic environment: interactions and ecotoxicological effects
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics serve as carriers for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes called forever chemicals, in aquatic environments. The study found that PFAS can attach to microplastic surfaces and accumulate in organisms through the food chain, potentially amplifying the toxic effects of both pollutants. The findings suggest that the combined presence of microplastics and PFAS poses a greater environmental and health risk than either pollutant alone.
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This review examines how microplastics act as carriers for PFAS ("forever chemicals") in water, with the two pollutants interacting through various chemical mechanisms that affect their movement through the environment. The combined presence of microplastics and PFAS raises concerns about increased toxicity, since microplastics can transport these persistent chemicals into organisms and potentially concentrate their harmful effects.
The unheeded inherent connections and overlap between microplastics and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances: A comprehensive review
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This review reveals the overlooked connection between microplastics and PFAS (forever chemicals), showing that these two widespread pollutants often come from the same products and interact in the environment. Microplastics can absorb PFAS onto their surfaces and transport them through water systems, potentially increasing exposure for aquatic organisms and humans. Understanding this overlap is important because the combined effects may be more harmful than either pollutant alone.
Molecular-Scale Insights into the Interactions between Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Polyethylene
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics can strongly attract and hold onto toxic "forever chemicals" called PFAS, which are already found in drinking water and food. This means microplastics in our environment could act like sponges that collect these harmful chemicals and potentially transport them to new places, including into our bodies. The research helps explain why these two types of pollution might work together to create bigger health risks than either one alone.
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Researchers studied how perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of persistent industrial chemicals, bind to polyamide microplastics in water. They found that smaller microplastic particles absorbed dramatically more PFAS than larger ones, and that water chemistry conditions like pH and salinity influenced the process. The findings suggest microplastics can concentrate harmful chemicals and potentially increase human and wildlife exposure to PFAS in contaminated environments.
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