Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Health Implications of Heavy Metals in Microplastics from Otuoke Surface Waters

This study investigated the occurrence of heavy metals associated with microplastics in surface waters in Otuoke, Nigeria, finding that MPs adsorb and concentrate toxic metals and may serve as vectors for metal exposure in local communities consuming fish. (Duplicate record of ID 11006.)

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Investigation of Microplastic as a Vector for Heavy Metals in Bye-ma Salt Mine, Wukari, Nigeria

This preliminary study investigated whether microplastics in surface sediments can carry heavy metals, finding that microplastic particles were associated with elevated concentrations of certain metals. This suggests microplastics may act as carriers for toxic heavy metal pollution, compounding the environmental risks they pose.

2021 Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Surface Water and Sediments of Otammiri River, Imo State, Nigeria

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in the surface water and sediments of Otammiri River, characterizing the abundance, morphology, polymer types, and spatial distribution of microplastics to evaluate contamination levels and ecological risks in this Nigerian freshwater system.

2024 Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of micro(meso)plastic-sorbed heavy metals and metalloids in sediments, Gulf of Guinea coast (SE Atlantic)

Researchers analyzed the occurrence and distribution of heavy metals and metalloids associated with micro- and mesoplastics in sediments along the Gulf of Guinea coast in Nigeria. The study found that beach microplastics were dominated by polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, and carried a range of potentially toxic metals, providing baseline data for ecological risk assessment.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating the role of microplastics as a vector in metal cycling within the River Thames

Researchers characterized how microplastics in River Thames water adsorb toxic heavy metals, comparing adsorption capacity across different plastic types and water chemistry conditions. Microplastics consistently adsorbed metals including lead, cadmium, and copper, providing the first data on metal-binding capacity for Thames microplastics and supporting their role as carriers of inorganic pollutants in urban rivers.

2025 UCL Discovery (University College London)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Contamination of Surface Water and Selected Fish Species in Ovia River, Southern Nigeria

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in surface water and two fish species (Notopterus afer and Heterobranchus bidorsalis) from Ovia River in Southern Nigeria, using SEM, FTIR, and EDX to characterize particle size distribution, polymer composition, and elemental contamination. The study provides baseline data on microplastic pollution in a West African river system and documents uptake of plastic particles by commercially important fish species.

2025 Open Journal of Environmental Research (ISSN 2734-2085)
Article Tier 2

Levels of heavy metals in water and Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) of Eleyele Lake in Ibadan, Nigeria

This is not a microplastics study; it measures heavy metals in water and Nile tilapia from a Nigerian lake, finding that lead concentrations in fish tissue exceeded WHO and FAO limits even though water concentrations appeared acceptable, raising food safety concerns for local consumers.

2023 Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the Effects of Heavy Metals on Water from Illegal Crude Oil Refineries: a Case Study of Three Selected Communities in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

This paper is not about microplastics; it measures heavy metal contamination (and associated health risk indices) in surface water near illegal crude oil refineries in three communities of Nigeria's Niger Delta region.

2023 Environmental Contaminants Reviews 1 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of microplastics in the environment: Sampling, separation, characterization and coexistence mechanisms with pollutants

Massive microplastic pollution was documented across Africa, Asia, India, South Africa, North America, and Europe, with MPs acting as carriers of heavy metals that enter organisms and cause harm. The adsorption capacity of organic pollutants onto microplastics correlated with hydrophobicity, surface area, and functional group characteristics.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the Adsorption Behavior and Mechanism of Heavy Metals in Aquatic Environment before and after the Aging of Typical Microplastics

Researchers investigated the adsorption behavior and mechanisms of heavy metals by typical microplastics before and after environmental aging, finding that aging significantly alters microplastics' surface properties and capacity to bind metals such as cadmium and lead in aquatic systems.

2024
Article Tier 2

Micro-nanoplastics and metals : Development of material models and sorption properties in natural environments

This dissertation examines how micro- and nanoplastics interact with heavy metals in natural environments, developing material models to understand their sorption properties. Since plastics can act as carriers for toxic metals — concentrating and transporting them through ecosystems — the research has important implications for understanding combined pollution risks.

2023 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of microplastic contamination by metals in a controlled environment: A risk to be considered

Researchers found that polyethylene terephthalate microplastics readily adsorb nickel, copper, and zinc metals in aquatic environments, demonstrating that degraded plastics can act as carriers for metal contaminants and pose compounded environmental risks.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 7 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic-Toxic Chemical Interaction: A Review Study on Quantified Levels, Mechanism and Implication

This review summarizes quantified levels of heavy metals and hydrophobic organic contaminants sorbed onto microplastics in environmental media, examining adsorption and desorption mechanisms and discussing health implications of ingested microplastics acting as vectors for toxic chemical transport.

2019 Preprints.org 21 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential of microplastics as carriers of metals

Five types of microplastics were tested for their ability to adsorb heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in different water matrices, finding significant adsorption of lead, chromium, and zinc—especially on polyethylene and PVC—with surface area and porosity as key drivers. The study identifies microplastics as potential vectors for heavy metal transport and transfer through aquatic food chains.

2019 Environmental Pollution 642 citations
Article Tier 2

The Unseen Threat of the Synergistic Effects of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Aquatic Environments: A Critical Review

This review examines how microplastics and heavy metals interact in water environments, finding that microplastics can attract and concentrate toxic metals on their surfaces through various chemical forces. This combination effect is a concern for human health because contaminated microplastics carrying heavy metals can be consumed through seafood, delivering a double dose of pollutants.

2024 Current Pollution Reports 81 citations
Article Tier 2

[Research Progress on Trojan-horse Effect of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Freshwater Environment].

This review examines the Trojan-horse effect in freshwater environments where microplastics adsorb and transport heavy metals, significantly increasing their potential ecological harm due to the large surface area and persistence of microplastic particles.

2023 PubMed 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence and Abundance of Microplastics in Benthic Organisms from Some Niger Delta, Nigeria Coastal Rivers

Researchers investigated the presence and abundance of microplastics in benthic organisms collected from coastal rivers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, documenting contamination levels in organisms from these ecologically significant waterways.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Metal adsorption by naturally aged polymers in the river ganga: An environmental assessment

Researchers measured the adsorption of metals onto naturally aged microplastic polymers collected from the Ganga River, examining how plastics weathered under real environmental conditions accumulate heavy metals. Aged microplastics from the river showed significant metal adsorption capacity, suggesting they act as vectors transferring metals to aquatic organisms through the food chain.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the adsorption of heavy metals on airborne microplastics in two coastal cities of portsmouth, uk and lagos, nigeria

Researchers investigated how airborne microplastics from two different environments adsorb heavy metals, examining the influence of varying atmospheric conditions on this interaction. Metal adsorption onto airborne microplastics varied with environmental conditions, affecting their potential toxicity as inhalable combined pollutants.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Metals' Adsorption Onto Environmental Microplastics at Shoreline Sediments

Metal adsorption onto microplastics collected from shoreline environments was measured, revealing that weathered plastic particles accumulate heavy metals like lead, copper, and zinc. The results confirm that shoreline microplastics act as metal-enriched vectors that could pose risks to organisms ingesting them.

2025 X-Ray Spectrometry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Review on the relationship between microplastics and heavy metals in freshwater near mining areas

This review synthesized knowledge on the interaction between microplastics and heavy metals in freshwater environments, covering adsorption mechanisms, combined toxicity, and the role of microplastics as metal vectors. Co-contamination was found to amplify ecological risks beyond what either stressor causes alone.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro Plastic Challenges in River Delimi Due to Its Interaction with Physicochemical Parameters

This Nigerian study examined how microplastics — primarily PET and PVC — interact with heavy metals in River Delimi, where irrigated farmland means contaminated water reaches food crops. Researchers found elevated concentrations of metals like lead and mercury in both water and plants from six sites along the river, suggesting that microplastics act as carriers that concentrate toxic metals. The findings raise direct food safety concerns because residents consume fruits and vegetables grown in these contaminated soils.

2023 Environmental sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in fresh water

Researchers measured the adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in freshwater, finding that pellets accumulate metals from the surrounding water, potentially concentrating metals and altering their bioavailability to aquatic organisms.

2015 Environmental Chemistry 554 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the adsorption of heavy metals on airborne microplastics in two coastal cities of portsmouth, uk and lagos, nigeria

Researchers compared heavy metal adsorption onto airborne microplastics collected from two different environments under varying real-time atmospheric conditions. Environmental factors including humidity and pollution levels significantly influenced how much metal was adsorbed, affecting the combined toxicity of these inhalable pollutants.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)