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Microplastics as a vector of hydrophobic contaminants: Importance of hydrophobic additives
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This paper examines the role of hydrophobicity in determining whether organic pollutants sorbed to microplastics pose a meaningful additional risk beyond direct water exposure. The authors argue that for most scenarios, the contribution of microplastics to total pollutant exposure is smaller than commonly assumed and depends heavily on the properties of the specific chemical and polymer.
Abstract Despite a recent boom in research on the environmental fate, distribution, and harmful effects of chemical substances associated with marine plastic debris, no consensus has been reached on whether chemicals originating from microplastics cause serious environmental harm. For the risk assessment of chemical contaminants associated with microplastics, it would be useful to group organic chemicals into 2 categories: additives and nonadditives. Whereas plastic particles are not likely to be diffuse sources of chemicals that are not intentionally added to plastic products, continuous leaching of additives would result in higher concentrations, at least at a local scale. Unlike plasticizers and flame retardants, which have been relatively well investigated, antioxidants and photostabilizers have been rarely studied, even though many of them are highly hydrophobic and are not readily biodegradable. More research on the fate and effects of chemicals via microplastics should focus on those additives. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:494–499. © 2017 SETAC Key Point Because studies are lacking to evaluate potential risks of plastic additives except for plasticizers and brominated flame retardants, we propose that more research on the fate and effects of micropollutants via microplastics should focus on other hydrophobic additives.
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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.
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This review examines how microplastics act as vectors for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in aquatic environments, covering the physical and chemical factors governing pollutant adsorption and desorption. The authors discuss how interactions between microplastics and POPs vary with polymer type, particle properties, and environmental conditions, and when these interactions may result in toxic effects on aquatic organisms.
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Researchers found that surfactants cause hydrophobic microplastics to adsorb ionic organic pollutants at much higher rates than previously recognized, revealing that the typical assumption of minimal interaction between hydrophobic plastics and hydrophilic contaminants underestimates real-world pollutant uptake. The findings indicate that surfactant ubiquity in environmental waters substantially alters microplastic pollutant-carrying capacity.
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