Scienciometric Review on Microplastics as Chemical Pollutant Vectors in Aquatic Ecosystems

The production and disposal of plastic material has increased exponentially in recent decades. As a result, microplastics resulting from plastic degradation processes are now present in all environmental compartments, in particular, aquatic ecosystems. These microparticles can interact with different chemical pollutants, representing a significant risk to living organisms. In this context, the present study aimed to assess microplastics as chemical pollutant vectors in aquatic ecosystems, evaluating adsorption processes between these particles and both organic and inorganic pollutants. To this end, a scienciometric review was carried out, retrieving a total of 56 scientific articles. The retrieved studies indicate microplastic particles are capable of associating with different environmental chemical contaminants and that interactions depends on abiotic factors such as pH, salinity, light and temperature, the type of polymeric material and its aging characteristics and, finally, the organic matter adhered to the particle. Further studies on this topic are required to understand potential deleterious effects on aquatic biota due to microplastic-adsorbed chemical pollutants and establish measures capable of reducing and controlling these pollutants.