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Marine & Wildlife
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Exploring the Role of Polystyrene Microplastics in Cu Binding in Sea Surface Waters: An Experimental Perspective for Future Research
Microplastics2025
1 citation
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 43
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Luisa Galgani,
Christina Zeri
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Christina Zeri
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Christina Zeri
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Christina Zeri
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Luisa Galgani,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Luisa Galgani,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Sotirios Karavoltsos,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Luisa Galgani,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Luisa Galgani,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Aikaterini Sakellari,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Stylianos Iliakis,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Manolis Tsapakis,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Luisa Galgani,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Luisa Galgani,
Ioanna Kalantzi,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Aikaterini Sakellari,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Manolis Tsapakis,
Christina Zeri
Christina Zeri
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Eleni Tzempelikou,
Luisa Galgani,
Christina Zeri
Summary
The role of polystyrene microplastics in binding copper (Cu) and altering its environmental mobility and toxicity was investigated, finding that microplastics can both adsorb and release copper depending on environmental conditions. This has implications for how microplastics modulate heavy metal hazards in contaminated environments.
The present study investigates the role of microplastics (MPs) (polystyrene (PS) microbeads) in copper (Cu) binding within the sea surface microlayer (SML) and underlying water (ULW). A mesocosm experiment was conducted, with both SML and ULW samples obtained daily, comparing mesocosms containing MPs with those free of them. The SML enrichment in dissolved Cu (Cu-D) and the Cu-complexing capacity (LT) were found to be significantly higher in the MP-treated mesocosms, with stability values of Cu-ligand complexes (logK′) being higher in the SML of MP treatments. Significant differences in Cu-D and LT between control and MP treatments were found in SML and ULW across treatments and over time. Cu-D was negatively correlated with transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) in the ULW of both treatments, while LT was positively correlated with TEPs in the SML of MP treatments. Experimental data indicate that the co-existence of TEPs and MPs favors Cu binding with organic matter in the SML, suggesting that MPs may enhance this process. The impact of MPs on dissolved Cu complexation is probably attributed to the production of organic ligands, via enhanced TEP production, without excluding direct adsorption onto biofilm-coated MPs. The present study provides insight into the role of microplastics in Cu cycling in marine surface waters, focusing on the microenvironment of the SML.