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Adsorption Behavior of Nonylphenol on Polystyrene Microplastics and Their Cytotoxicity in Human Caco-2 Cells
Summary
Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics adsorb the endocrine disruptor nonylphenol and evaluated the cytotoxicity of the combined system in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Smaller microplastic particles (0.1 micrometers) had greater nonylphenol adsorption capacity, and both the microplastics and nonylphenol together were more cytotoxic than either alone.
As two environmental pollutants of great concern, polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and nonylphenol (NP) often coexist in the environment and cause combined pollution. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out by varying parameters such as pH, the particle sizes of the PS-MPs, the initial concentration of NP, and metal ion content. The results showed that the particle size of the PS-MPs in the range tested (0.1, 1, 10, 50, and 100 μm) had a significant effect on their NP adsorption capacity. The NP adsorption process of the PS-MPs was best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model, while the intraparticle diffusion and Bangham models were also involved in determining the NP adsorption process of 0.1 μm PS-MPs. Both PS-MPs and NP significantly affected cell proliferation, which had been confirmed by reduced cell viability, a blocked cell cycle G1 phase, and elevated apoptosis by affecting the basic cell functions. Furthermore, the negative effects of 0.1 μm PS-MPs on cell proliferation and function were aggravated after the adsorption of NP. Further research on the potential health risks of PS-MPs combined with NP or other environmental contaminants is needed.