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Current status of microplastic pollution in China’s aquatic environment and its interactions with metal pollutants on aquatic organisms
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Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic pollution in China's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters and how microplastics interact with metal pollutants to affect aquatic organisms. They found that microplastics can absorb metals from the water and that the combined exposure is often more harmful to aquatic life than either pollutant alone. The study highlights that tire wear microplastics are a particularly concerning source because they release high levels of metals, creating compounding risks for freshwater and marine ecosystems.
• Microplastic pollution in China varies by location, hydrology, and human activity. • Microplastics adsorb metal pollutants, influenced by particle and environmental factors. • Microplastics and metal pollutants jointly affect aquatic organism survival and reproduction. • Their combined toxicity depends on microplastic internalization potential. • Tire wear microplastics release high levels of metal pollutants, complicating aquatic impacts. Microplastics have become pervasive pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, raising global concerns due to their persistence and ecological risks. Despite increasing attention in China, a comprehensive review of their distribution and interactions with metal pollutants remains lacking. This review summarizes the sources and distribution of microplastics in Chinese rivers and lakes, emphasizing adsorption processes, influencing factors, and combined toxicity with metal pollutants. The findings show that microplastic pollution is widespread in Chinese waters, with river concentrations linked to human activity and lake levels affected by closure and population density. Microplastics adsorb metal pollutants, influenced by type, aging, size, and environment. When adsorption is strong, the outcome hinges on microplastics’ internalization potential (the possibility of microplastics entering organisms or cells). If particles are readily taken up by cells, they deliver metal pollutants directly into organisms, intensifying their combined toxicity. However, if internalization is limited, they may retain metal pollutants in the environment, reducing bioavailability and mitigating toxicity. This review highlights the widespread microplastic pollution in Chinese waters and its role in metal pollutants adsorption, revealing how their combined toxicity depends on microplastics’ internalization potential. These findings provide essential insights into the ecological risks posed by microplastics, particularly through their interactions with metal pollutants, informing targeted pollution mitigation strategies.
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Tire wear particles in different water environments: occurrence, behavior, and biological effects—a review and perspectives
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This review examines tire wear particles, a major but often overlooked source of microplastics in water environments. Tire particles release toxic chemicals as they break down in water and can harm aquatic organisms, but most research has focused only on the chemical leachate rather than the particles themselves. Since tire wear contributes a large share of total microplastic pollution, understanding its full impact on water ecosystems and the food chain is important for human health.
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