Plastic Pollution Amplified: Adsorption of Contaminants onto Microplastic Surfaces

Summary

This review examined how microplastics act as vectors for co-pollutants — including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and pharmaceuticals — adsorbing these substances onto their surfaces and potentially delivering concentrated doses to organisms that ingest them. The "Trojan horse" effect of microplastics as contaminant carriers significantly amplifies their toxicological risk beyond the particles themselves, with direct implications for human health via contaminated seafood and drinking water.