Polyvinyl alcohol as a key mediator in the co-transport of polyethylene microplastics and Pb(II): Role of molecular weight and hydrophilicity

Simultaneous adsorption of Pb2+ and tetracycline onto pristine and aged polypropylene microplastics

Transport Mechanism of Microplastic in the Environment

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This review described the physical and chemical mechanisms by which microplastics are transported through air, water, and soil — including atmospheric deposition, hydrological flow, bioturbation, and biofouling — that collectively explain their detection in remote environments from Arctic sea ice to mountain summits. Elucidating these transport mechanisms reveals that no geographic location or ecosystem is isolated from microplastic contamination, underscoring the inevitability of human exposure through air, water, and food globally.

Sorption of Potentially Toxic Elements to Microplastics

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics can adsorb toxic heavy metals from their surrounding environment, effectively acting as vehicles that concentrate and transport harmful elements. This sorption behavior increases the potential risk microplastics pose to organisms that ingest them, including humans.

Sorption of Potentially Toxic Elements to Microplastics

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Microplastics readily sorb potentially toxic elements including heavy metals and metalloids from surrounding water, acting as concentrated carriers of these hazardous substances through aquatic food webs. This sorption capacity amplifies the toxicological risk of microplastic ingestion for organisms, including humans who consume contaminated seafood.

Plastic Pollution Amplified: Adsorption of Contaminants onto Microplastic Surfaces

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This review examined how microplastics act as vectors for co-pollutants — including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and pharmaceuticals — adsorbing these substances onto their surfaces and potentially delivering concentrated doses to organisms that ingest them. The "Trojan horse" effect of microplastics as contaminant carriers significantly amplifies their toxicological risk beyond the particles themselves, with direct implications for human health via contaminated seafood and drinking water.