Microplastics Aggregation, Deposition, and Enhancement of Contaminants Transport

Summary

Researchers examined how microplastics clump together and settle in aquatic ecosystems, finding that these aggregates act as vehicles that transport and concentrate other toxic contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides. This "Trojan horse" effect means microplastics can deliver a cocktail of pollutants to fish and other organisms well beyond what the plastic particles alone would cause.