Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Molecular-Scale Insights into the Interactions between Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Polyethylene

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics can strongly attract and hold onto toxic "forever chemicals" called PFAS, which are already found in drinking water and food. This means microplastics in our environment could act like sponges that collect these harmful chemicals and potentially transport them to new places, including into our bodies. The research helps explain why these two types of pollution might work together to create bigger health risks than either one alone.

2026 The Journal of Physical Chemistry B
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic Insights into PFAS Adsorption on Microplastics: Effects of Contaminant Properties and Water Chemistry

Researchers investigated how two widely detected PFAS compounds, PFOS and PFOA, adsorb onto five common types of microplastics in aquatic environments. The study found that contaminant properties and water chemistry significantly influence adsorption behavior, confirming that microplastics can serve as carriers for PFAS transport in waterways.

2026 Environmental Research
Review Tier 2

Interaction of microplastics with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water: A review of the fate, mechanisms and toxicity

This review examines how microplastics act as carriers for PFAS ("forever chemicals") in water, with the two pollutants interacting through various chemical mechanisms that affect their movement through the environment. The combined presence of microplastics and PFAS raises concerns about increased toxicity, since microplastics can transport these persistent chemicals into organisms and potentially concentrate their harmful effects.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of perfluoroalkyl substances on polyamide microplastics: Effect of sorbent and influence of environmental factors

Researchers studied how perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of persistent industrial chemicals, bind to polyamide microplastics in water. They found that smaller microplastic particles absorbed dramatically more PFAS than larger ones, and that water chemistry conditions like pH and salinity influenced the process. The findings suggest microplastics can concentrate harmful chemicals and potentially increase human and wildlife exposure to PFAS in contaminated environments.

2022 Environmental Research 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of PFAS onto secondary microplastics: A mechanistic study

Researchers investigated how PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) adsorb onto secondary microplastics under different water chemistry conditions. Results showed that PFAS adsorption depended on both the chemical structure of the PFAS compound and the ionic composition of the water. These findings help explain how microplastics in real-world aquatic environments can concentrate and transport PFAS, a group of persistent health-relevant pollutants.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as carriers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic environment: interactions and ecotoxicological effects

Researchers reviewed how microplastics serve as carriers for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes called forever chemicals, in aquatic environments. The study found that PFAS can attach to microplastic surfaces and accumulate in organisms through the food chain, potentially amplifying the toxic effects of both pollutants. The findings suggest that the combined presence of microplastics and PFAS poses a greater environmental and health risk than either pollutant alone.

2023 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the Truth of Interactions between Microplastics and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Microplastics as a Carrier of PFASs and Beyond

Researchers discovered that microplastics in wastewater treatment plants act as carriers for PFAS (forever chemicals), absorbing them from the water and potentially releasing them back into the environment. Commercial plastics were found to leach even more PFAS than environmental samples, with some chemicals releasing more than was originally absorbed. This dual role of microplastics as both carriers and sources of forever chemicals means they could significantly increase human exposure to these persistent, harmful substances.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions between perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics (MPs): Findings from an extensive investigation

This study tested how PFAS ("forever chemicals") interact with 18 different types of microplastic and found that polyamide (nylon) plastics absorbed up to 100% of the PFAS in solution. Since both PFAS and microplastics are widespread environmental pollutants, their ability to bind together means microplastics may act as carriers that concentrate and transport these harmful chemicals into water, soil, and ultimately the human body.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and release of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) from macro and microplastics

Researchers studied how perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, a class of persistent PFAS chemicals, interact with both macro and microplastics in aquatic environments. They found that microplastics can adsorb and later release these harmful chemicals, with the interaction influenced by the amphiphilic properties of the contaminants. The findings suggest that microplastics may serve as carriers for PFAS contamination, potentially increasing exposure pathways for organisms in the environment.

2023 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-accumulation characteristics and interaction mechanism of microplastics and PFASs in a large shallow lake

Researchers examined how microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as forever chemicals, accumulate together in Taihu Lake, China. They found that microplastics can adsorb and concentrate these persistent chemicals on their surfaces, with the interaction strength depending on plastic type and environmental conditions. The study raises concerns that microplastics may act as carriers that spread forever chemicals through freshwater ecosystems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the adsorption mechanism of perfluorooctane sulfonate onto polypropylene nanoplastics: A combined theoretical and experimental investigation

Researchers combined computer simulations with lab experiments to understand how PFOS, a widespread "forever chemical," attaches to polypropylene nanoplastic particles in water. They found that PFOS binds readily to the plastic surface, and the resulting combination moves more easily through water than the plastic particle alone, making it potentially more dangerous. Changes in water acidity (pH) can affect how much PFOS sticks to the plastic, influencing how these pollutants travel together through the environment.

2025 Water Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Microcystins by Virgin and Weathered Microplastics in Freshwater Matrices

Researchers studied whether microplastics can absorb two types of harmful water contaminants: PFAS (so-called forever chemicals) and microcystin toxins produced by algae. They found that weathered microplastics adsorbed significantly more of these pollutants than pristine ones, and that environmental water conditions influenced the absorption process. The study suggests that microplastics in freshwater may concentrate and transport multiple types of dangerous chemicals simultaneously.

2023 Polymers 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of perfluoroalkyl substances on microplastics under environmental conditions

Researchers examined the capacity of three types of microplastics to sorb 18 perfluoroalkyl substances from freshwater and seawater. They found that perfluorosulfonates and sulfonamides had the strongest tendency to adsorb onto microplastics, with polystyrene showing greater affinity for these chemicals than polyethylene. The study suggests that microplastics in aquatic environments can concentrate harmful PFAS compounds, potentially increasing exposure for organisms that ingest them.

2018 Environmental Pollution 342 citations
Article Tier 2

The unheeded inherent connections and overlap between microplastics and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances: A comprehensive review

This review reveals the overlooked connection between microplastics and PFAS (forever chemicals), showing that these two widespread pollutants often come from the same products and interact in the environment. Microplastics can absorb PFAS onto their surfaces and transport them through water systems, potentially increasing exposure for aquatic organisms and humans. Understanding this overlap is important because the combined effects may be more harmful than either pollutant alone.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Review of Recent Computational Research on the Adsorption of PFASs with a Variety of Substrates

This review summarizes recent computer modeling research on how PFAS, sometimes called "forever chemicals," stick to various materials, which could help develop better cleanup methods. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics, both are persistent environmental pollutants that resist breakdown and accumulate in the body. Understanding how these chemicals interact with surfaces at the molecular level could lead to more effective ways to remove them from contaminated water and soil.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 citations
Article Tier 2

In situ biofilm development on microplastics and its impact on PFAS adsorption in aquatic environment

Researchers deployed microplastics in a river system to allow natural biofilm colonization, then assessed how the resulting plastisphere affected PFAS adsorption. Biofilm formation substantially altered PFAS uptake onto microplastics, in some cases increasing adsorption, suggesting that biologically colonized microplastics behave as more effective PFAS carriers than virgin particles in natural water environments.

2025 Water Research
Article Tier 2

Adsorption behaviors of perfluorooctanoic acid on aged microplastics

Researchers studied how PFOA (a type of forever chemical) sticks to aged microplastics and found that weathering did not significantly change the adsorption behavior. The interaction was primarily driven by the water-repelling nature of both the plastics and the chemical. This matters because microplastics in the environment can transport forever chemicals through waterways and potentially into the food chain, increasing human exposure to these persistent pollutants.

2024 Water Environment Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of non-degradable and degradable microplastics on the bioavailability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance in mice: Mechanism exploration

Researchers studied how microplastics in food affect the body's absorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of persistent chemicals found in drinking water. They found that high doses of polystyrene microplastics significantly increased PFAS absorption in mice while reducing the amount excreted, essentially making these harmful chemicals more bioavailable. The study suggests that microplastics in the diet could amplify the health risks posed by co-occurring chemical contaminants.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions between MPs and PFASs in aquatic environments: A dual-character situation

This review examines the interactions between microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water environments, finding that the two pollutants have a complex relationship. Microplastics can absorb PFAS chemicals onto their surfaces, potentially transporting them through aquatic systems and altering their environmental behavior. The study highlights the need to consider these combined effects when assessing pollution risks in waterways.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption and desorption kinetics of PFOS to pristine microplastic

Researchers investigated how the persistent pollutant PFOS sorbs onto polyethylene microplastic particles of different sizes over six months. They found that smaller microplastic particles adsorbed more PFOS due to their greater surface area, and that PFOS could be released from the microplastics under simulated fish gut conditions. The findings suggest that microplastics may act as carriers of chemical pollutants into the digestive systems of aquatic organisms.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 61 citations