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Interaction of chemical contaminants with microplastics: Principles and perspectives
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This review examines how microplastics interact with chemical contaminants in the environment, acting as carriers that can transport pollutants through aquatic food webs. Researchers describe how polymer structure, weathering, and crystallinity influence a microplastic's ability to absorb and release environmental pollutants. The study notes that most research has relied on pristine laboratory plastics rather than field samples, creating a gap in our understanding of real-world contamination dynamics.
Scientific evidences abound of the occurrence of plastic pollution, from mega- to nano-sized plastics, in virtually all matrixes of the environment. Apart from the direct effects of plastics and microplastics pollution such as entanglement, inflammation of cells and gut blockage due to ingestion, plastics are also able to act as vectors of various chemical contaminants in the aquatic environment. This paper provides a review of the association of plastic additives with environmental microplastics, how the structure and composition of polymers influence sorption capacities and highlights some of the models that have been employed to interpret experimental data from recent sorption studies. The factors that influence the sorption of chemical contaminants such as the degree of crystallinity, surface weathering, and chemical properties of contaminants. and the implications of chemical sorption by plastics for the marine food web and human health are also discussed. It was however observed that most studies relied on pristine or artificially aged plastics rather than field plastic samples for studies on chemical sorption by plastics.
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Interactions between microplastics and organic compounds in aquatic environments: A mini review
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Researchers reviewed the mechanisms of interaction between microplastics and organic compounds in aquatic environments, examining factors related to the plastics themselves, the organic compounds, and environmental conditions. The study found that properties like crystallinity, surface area, and weathering state of microplastics all influence how they adsorb and transport organic pollutants, with implications for environmental and health risk assessments.
Progress on the interaction between microplastics and contaminants
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This review examines the two-way interactions between microplastics and environmental contaminants such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, and microorganisms. Researchers found that microplastics act as carriers that alter contaminant fate and transport, while contaminants in turn change microplastic properties and behaviour.
Microplastics as vectors of contaminants
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This review highlights the emerging role of microplastics as carriers of biological and chemical contaminants in water environments. Researchers note that while microplastic pollution is increasingly well-documented, the interactions between contaminants adsorbed onto microplastic surfaces and aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. The study stresses the need for further investigation into how microplastics may facilitate the transport and bioavailability of pollutants.
Partitioning of chemical contaminants to microplastics: Sorption mechanisms, environmental distribution and effects on toxicity and bioaccumulation
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This review critically examines how chemical contaminants like persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals sorb onto microplastic surfaces in the environment. Researchers found that while microplastics can concentrate pollutants at levels far above surrounding water, the actual contribution of microplastics to contaminant transfer into organisms may be less significant than direct exposure from water and food. The study calls for more realistic experimental designs to clarify the true risk.
Review on microplastic-polymer composite interactions: assessing contaminant adsorption, structural integrity, and environmental impacts
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This review examined how microplastics interact with polymer composites and serve as carriers for heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens. The study assessed how polymer type, surface properties, and environmental conditions influence contaminant adsorption and transport, highlighting the complex role of microplastics in pollutant cycling.
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