We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluating the potential of microplastics and natural organic matter for sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants based on selected properties
AI summary Read the abstract
This review compared how microplastics and natural organic particles in the environment sorb hydrophobic chemical pollutants, finding that particle properties such as size, surface area, and age all influence their capacity to act as contaminant carriers. The authors conclude that microplastics are just one of many particulate types competing to carry pollutants in aquatic systems.
Interest in microplastic behaviour as vectors for hydrophobic organic pollutants has increased in the literature over recent years, however these materials constitute only one of many organic particulate groups in the environment able to compete for pollutants. This review examines particle characteristics including size, surface area, porosity, and age, and how these may influence natural organic particle and microplastic sorption capacity. The impacts these particles manifest as contaminant vectors to biota are also discussed, along with additional chemical and environmental factors that play a role in favour of each particle type. Microplastics are primarily considered to behave as more ideal sorbent due to their hydrophobic nature and acceptable size range below that considered as “particulate” organic matter, however the abundance of these anthropogenic pollutants in comparison to their natural counterparts and their initial hydrophobicity makes their risk as a vector far less prominent than the latter group.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic properties and their interaction with hydrophobic organic contaminants: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the physical and chemical properties of microplastics that determine how they interact with hydrophobic organic contaminants in the environment. Researchers found that factors like polymer type, particle size, weathering, and surface chemistry all influence how strongly microplastics bind to co-occurring pollutants. The findings suggest that microplastics can serve as carriers for harmful chemicals, potentially increasing exposure risks for organisms that ingest them.
Microplastics as vectors for environmental contaminants: Exploring sorption, desorption, and transfer to biota
AI summary Read the abstract
This review explores how microplastics interact with hydrophobic organic chemicals in aquatic environments, examining the processes of chemical sorption onto and desorption from plastic particles. Researchers discuss the factors that influence whether microplastics act as significant carriers of environmental contaminants into living organisms compared to natural pathways. Understanding these processes is essential for accurately assessing the real-world risk that microplastics pose as chemical transport vehicles.
Adsorption behaviour and interaction of organic micropollutants with nano and microplastics – A review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review analyzed the adsorption behavior of organic micropollutants — including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals — onto nano- and microplastics, finding that adsorption is governed by pollutant hydrophobicity, particle surface area, and aging state, and that microplastics can act as vectors delivering co-contaminants to aquatic organisms.
Investigation of sorption of environmental pollutants to virgin and aged microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This research investigated how environmental pollutants such as persistent organic chemicals adsorb onto virgin and weathered plastic particles in natural systems, examining factors such as plastic type, surface aging, and chemical properties. The study contributes to understanding how microplastics act as carriers for toxic contaminants in aquatic environments.
Microplastics and organic contaminants: Investigation of the sorption process on different polymer types
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated sorption of organic contaminants onto microplastics collected from environmental samples, finding that real-world MPs had different sorption capacities than laboratory-prepared particles due to surface aging, biofouling, and co-sorption of natural organic matter.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.