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Antidote or Trojan horse for submerged macrophytes: Role of microplastics in copper toxicity in aquatic environments
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Researchers investigated whether polyethylene microplastics act as an antidote or a Trojan horse for copper toxicity to submerged aquatic plants. The study found that microplastics reduced dissolved copper concentrations through adsorption but could then release copper-loaded particles that were taken up by plants. The results suggest that microplastics may initially reduce copper toxicity in water but ultimately serve as carriers that deliver copper directly into plant tissues.
Due to their unique surface structures and physicochemical properties, microplastics (MPs) can adsorb other contaminants, thus impacting their toxicity and fate in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the adsorption and transportation of copper ions (Cu) in polyethylene (PE, 5 and 150 μm) and their combined effects on four submerged macrophyte species were assessed. Results demonstrated that the addition of PE reduced the Cu concentration in copper sulfate (CuSO) solution and the adsorption of Cu in PE (10 mg/L) increased with CuSO concentration (100-600 μmol/L). PE alone exhibited no inhibitory effects on macrophytes, while Cu showed fatal toxicity toward the macrophytes. However, the combination of PE and Cu showed lower inhibitory effects on macrophytes and the toxicity attenuation varied among species. Additionally, PE may act as a carrier (like a Trojan horse) for the environmental transfer of Cu, thereby hosting Cu toxicity against macrophytes in the imported environment. Our findings indicate that PE acts as both an antidote to and carrier of Cu toxicity in macrophytes. This study should help in clarifying the combined effects and risk assessments of MPs and heavy metals in future studies.
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Researchers investigated the adsorption and desorption of copper (II) ions onto polyethylene microplastics in aquatic systems, varying operational parameters such as equilibrium time, pH, temperature, and initial metal concentration. They found that polyethylene microplastics can act as vectors for copper transport in water, with sorption behavior governed by multiple physicochemical factors.
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Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics affect the toxicity of copper to two freshwater microalgae species over extended exposure periods. They found that microplastics generally reduced copper toxicity by adsorbing copper ions, while nanoplastics had more variable effects depending on concentration and algal species. The study highlights that the size of plastic particles plays an important role in how they modify the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic environments.
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Researchers characterized polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and measured their ability to adsorb heavy metals, finding that both types can bind copper and iron ions from water — raising concern that microplastics may act as carriers that transport toxic metals deeper into aquatic ecosystems and food chains.
Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Microplastics on Copper Ions in Aqueous Solution
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This study investigated how microplastics of different types and surface chemistry adsorb and release copper ions in water. The findings show that microplastics can pick up and later release heavy metals depending on environmental conditions, acting as vectors that transport toxic metals through aquatic ecosystems.
Heavy Metal-Loaded Microplastic Mixtures Alter Contaminant Availability and Sublethal Responses in Aquatic Plants
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Tiny plastic particles in water, like those from tires, can carry heavy metals such as copper and lead, and this study found that these "metal-coated" microplastics release their toxic cargo into water and get absorbed by aquatic plants, disrupting the plants' internal chemistry even though it didn't stunt their growth. This matters because these plants sit at the base of aquatic food webs, so contaminated waterways could be a hidden pathway for metals and microplastics to work their way up toward the fish and water supplies humans rely on.
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