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Bioaccessibility of Trace Metals and Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Microplastic
Summary
Researchers measured the bioaccessibility of trace metals and rare earth elements adsorbed onto beach microplastics using simulated digestive fluid conditions. Metals were released from microplastic surfaces under stomach acid conditions, indicating that plastic ingestion can deliver these contaminants to digestive systems of marine organisms and humans.
The ubiquity of microplastics on beaches worldwide is well-known and represents a global concern, as the durability of these materials is associated with potential risks to aquatic organisms and human health. When ingested by marine organisms, contaminants adsorbed onto microplastics can become bioavailable. However, there is a lack of data on the potential exposure of animals and humans to these contaminants through ingestion. Therefore, it is essential to understand how these contaminants behave in the digestive system. To address this, samples of virgin microplastic pellets—both ungrounded (UG) and grounded (G)—were separated into fractions >1 mm and
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