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Characteristics and Molecular Signatures of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter
Summary
A synthesis of 51 studies found that smaller microplastics, higher temperatures, UV aging, and acidic conditions all increase the amount of dissolved organic matter that microplastics leach into water, with this leaching also acidifying aquatic environments. As microplastics accumulate and weather, the chemicals they release into water may pose additional risks beyond the particles themselves.
Microplastic leaching is increasingly recognized as a significant environmental concern, yet the characteristics of microplastic-dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) remain inadequately understood. This study systematically synthesized data from 51 published studies to quantitatively evaluate the characteristics and controlling factors of MP-DOM release across multiple microplastic types and environmental conditions. The analysis revealed that multiple environmental variables jointly regulate MP-DOM release: smaller particle size, higher temperatures, and UV-induced aging significantly promoted dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leaching, while solution ionic strength and pH also modulated release behavior, and high DOC release was associated. Biodegradable polymers (e.g., PLA, PBAT) and petroleum-based polymers generally exhibited comparable DOC release capacities. Furthermore, high DOC release was linked to aquatic acidification, resulting in significant reductions in pH. The dissolved organic matter was dominated by hydrophilic components and low-aromaticity fractions, with 78.95% of the SUVA254 values being below 3 L/(mg·m). And longer aging times and greater microplastic accumulation favored the release of aromatic and hydrophobic components. Fluorescence characterization demonstrated that microbial byproduct-like substances were predominant, accompanied by humic-like and protein-like fluorophores, indicating both polymer degradation and biofilm activity. A parallel factor analysis applied to data from 20 articles (n = 431) indicated that the dissolved organic matter was composed of 57.54% protein-like substances and 42.46% humic-like substances. Our data analysis offered valuable insights into the behavior and fate of microplastics in ecosystems.