0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Food & Water Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

Understanding the Adsorption Behavior of Heavy Metals onto the MPs and Their Impact

ACS symposium series 2024 6 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Vijaykumar Sekar, Sheha Shaji, Baranidharan Sundaram

Summary

This review examines how microplastics adsorb heavy metals from soil and aquatic environments and how this adsorption affects the transport, bioavailability, and toxicity of both contaminants. The authors synthesize evidence showing that microplastics act as effective carriers for heavy metal transport through freshwater and marine systems, amplifying the ecological hazard of metal contamination.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) contamination of soils and streams is a growing global environmental problem. Environmental heavy metals (HMs) are transported by "minor but effective" vectors and carriers, known as MPs, and are widely distributed in freshwater and marine systems. To determine the transportation, fate, and environmental impact of HMs, it is essential to comprehend their adsorption behaviors onto MPs. Physical and chemical characteristics including surface (chemistry and area) and the presence of functional groups on MPs surfaces essentially control the HMs’ adsorption onto them. Electrostatic interactions, exchange of ions, surface complexation, and coordination bonding are a few examples of adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption process is influenced by the type and concentration of HMs together with aqueous solution factors (such as temperature, pH, salinity, DOM, and particular matter). Beyond their transit in aquatic systems, HM adsorption onto MPs has a significant influence. The fate and behavior of MPs may change as a result of the adsorbed HMs, which may have an impact on their bioavailability and ecological effects. Furthermore, as MPs can be consumed by a variety of organisms and move up the food chain, the presence of HMs on them might result in secondary contamination. This book chapter also examines the difficulties in characterizing MP surfaces, the intricate interactions between various contaminants, and the requirement for standardized procedures for analyzing the adsorption of HMs onto MPs. Additionally, the possible environmental dangers and ecological effects brought on by MPs loaded with HMs are emphasized, highlighting the significance of additional research in this area.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Co-occurrence and Interaction of Microplastics with Heavy Metals

This review examines the co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, synthesizing evidence on how MPs adsorb metals, alter their bioavailability, and facilitate their transfer up food chains, compounding toxicological risks beyond either pollutant alone.

Article Tier 2

Influence of Microplastics on the Mobility, Bioavailability, and Toxicity of Heavy Metals: A Review

This review examines how microplastics interact with heavy metals in the environment, potentially influencing the metals' mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity to living organisms. Researchers found that microplastics can adsorb heavy metals and transport them to new locations, but the interactions depend on the type of plastic, metal, and environmental conditions. The study highlights that microplastics acting as carriers for toxic metals represents an underappreciated environmental and health risk.

Article Tier 2

Research Progress on the Adsorption and Their Mechanisms of Heavy Metal in Soil By Microplastics

This review examines how microplastics adsorb heavy metals in soil environments, summarizing mechanisms including electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, and hydrophobic interactions that make MPs effective vectors for metal transport and bioavailability.

Article Tier 2

Microplastic-mediated environmental behavior of metal contaminants: mechanism and implication

This review examines how microplastics interact with heavy metals across water, soil, and air environments, acting as carriers that concentrate and transport toxic metals. Researchers found that microplastics can increase the bioavailability and toxicity of metal contaminants to living organisms. The study highlights major gaps in current analytical methods and calls for better tools to understand these complex pollutant interactions.

Review Tier 2

Microplastic-Toxic Chemical Interaction: A Review Study on Quantified Levels, Mechanism and Implication

This review summarizes quantified levels of heavy metals and hydrophobic organic contaminants sorbed onto microplastics in environmental media, examining adsorption and desorption mechanisms and discussing health implications of ingested microplastics acting as vectors for toxic chemical transport.

Share this paper