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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics serve as a potential vector for the transfer of naphthalene from freshwater to the human gastrointestinal system
ClearAdsorption of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene by polyvinyl chloride microplastics in water and their bioaccessibility under in vitro human gastrointestinal system
Researchers studied how polyvinyl chloride microplastics adsorb organic pollutants including naphthalene and pyrene, and then tested how these pollutants are released in simulated human digestive fluids. The study found that larger aromatic compounds with more rings adsorbed more strongly to microplastics, and that pollutant release rates were higher in human gastrointestinal fluid than in fish intestinal fluid.
Microplastics release phthalate esters and cause aggravated adverse effects in the mouse gut
Researchers investigated whether microplastics can transport and release phthalate esters (PAEs) into the mouse gut, finding that microplastics adsorbed PAEs and carried them into the intestine where they accumulated. The study suggests that microplastics acting as carriers for chemical contaminants may aggravate adverse health effects in the gut beyond what either pollutant causes alone.
Interactions of microplastics with contaminants in freshwater systems: a review of characteristics, bioaccessibility, and environmental factors affecting sorption
This review examined how microplastics act as vectors for environmental contaminants in freshwater systems, analyzing the characteristics, bioaccessibility, and environmental factors that influence pollutant sorption onto plastic particles and their potential transfer to organisms including humans.
Measuring the Effect of Dietary Microplastic on Biomagnification Potential of Environmental Contaminants and Plastic Additives
Researchers measured the effect of dietary microplastic ingestion on the biomagnification potential of hydrophobic organic contaminants and plastic additives in the gastrointestinal tract, testing competing hypotheses about whether microplastics increase, decrease, or negligibly affect contaminant uptake.
Quantifying theEffect of Dietary Microplastics onthe Potential for Biological Uptake of Environmental Contaminantsand Polymer Additives
Researchers modeled how the presence of dietary microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract influences the thermodynamic driving force for diffusion of organic contaminants and polymer additives from the gut lumen into biological tissues, determining whether microplastics act as contaminant vectors or sinks depending on relative contamination levels. The study found that microplastics can either facilitate or inhibit biological uptake of co-ingested contaminants based on the sorptive capacity of the plastic relative to the dietary matrix.
Microplastics’ journey into the gut : human exposure to microplastics and associated chemicals
This thesis investigates lifetime human exposure to microplastics worldwide and explores how plastic particles act as carriers that transport harmful chemicals into the body after ingestion, known as the vector effect. Using mechanistic models and experimental methods, the work quantifies how much microplastic people consume and how significantly this route contributes to chemical bioaccumulation.
Bioaccessibility of plastic-related compounds from polymeric particles in marine settings: Are microplastics the principal vector of phthalate ester congeners and bisphenol A towards marine vertebrates?
Researchers studied whether microplastics are a major pathway for delivering harmful plastic chemicals like phthalates and bisphenol A to marine animals during digestion. They found that while microplastics do release these compounds under simulated gut conditions, the amounts were relatively low compared to other environmental sources. The study suggests that microplastics may not be the primary route of chemical exposure for marine vertebrates, though they still contribute to the overall burden.
Relative importance of microplastics as a pathway for the transfer of hydrophobic organic chemicals to marine life
Researchers assessed the relative importance of microplastics as a pathway for transferring hydrophobic organic chemicals to marine life. The study suggests that while microplastics can carry high concentrations of contaminants, factors like gut surfactants, pH, and temperature influence desorption rates, and modeling indicates other exposure routes may be more significant in natural environments.
How Digestive Processes Can Affect the Bioavailability of PCBs Associated with Microplastics: A Modeling Study Supported by Empirical Data
Researchers used a simulated human digestive model to study whether gut processes change how quickly chemicals like PCBs transfer on and off microplastic particles. They found that digestive enzymes and bile salts significantly accelerated the release of these chemicals from microplastics, suggesting that the human gut environment may increase exposure to plastic-associated pollutants. The study provides new evidence that microplastics could act as carriers that release harmful chemicals more readily during digestion.
The adsorption and desorption behaviors of phenanthrene and pyrene onto microplastics in the aquatic environment and digestive fluids
This study examined how polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like phenanthrene and pyrene adsorb to and desorb from four types of microplastics in both freshwater and simulated digestive fluids. The findings show that PAHs bind strongly to microplastics and can be released under digestive conditions, suggesting that microplastics can deliver organic pollutants to organisms that ingest them.
Desorption of bisphenol A from microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions
Researchers investigated bisphenol A desorption from three types of microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, finding that ingested microplastics can release adsorbed BPA during digestion, posing potential health risks.
Systematic Review of Nano- and Microplastics’ (NMP) Influence on the Bioaccumulation of Environmental Contaminants: Part II—Freshwater Organisms
This systematic review summarizes existing research on how nano- and microplastic particles affect the way freshwater organisms absorb environmental pollutants. The study found that tiny plastics can act as carriers for harmful chemicals like heavy metals and pesticides, potentially increasing their toxicity to fish and other freshwater life. This matters for human health because contaminated freshwater organisms can pass these pollutant-loaded plastics up the food chain to people.
Sorption behaviors of crude oil on polyethylene microplastics in seawater and digestive tract under simulated real-world conditions
Polyethylene microplastics can absorb crude oil from seawater, and once ingested by aquatic organisms, some of that oil can be released in simulated gut conditions. This suggests microplastics could act as vectors that concentrate and deliver toxic hydrocarbons to marine life.
Trophic transfer of microplastics and mixed contaminants in the marine food web and implications for human health
This review examines how microplastics act as vectors for chemical contaminants through marine food webs, discussing the factors influencing ingestion, the biological impacts of sorbed chemicals, and evidence for trophic transfer across multiple trophic levels. Researchers highlight that existing lab studies use unrealistically high concentrations and that no study has yet tracked microplastic-contaminant transfer from seafood to humans.
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.
Vector effects of microplastics on organic pollutants: sorption-desorption and bioaccumulation kinetics
This review synthesizes existing research on whether microplastics act as carriers that increase the bioaccumulation of organic pollutants in aquatic organisms. Researchers found evidence that microplastics can adsorb hydrophobic pollutants from water and release them in the gut of organisms that ingest them, potentially enhancing toxic effects. The study acknowledges the ongoing debate between vector and no-vector perspectives and outlines a consensus based on the available sorption, desorption, and bioaccumulation data.
Microplastics as vectors of contaminants
This review highlights the emerging role of microplastics as carriers of biological and chemical contaminants in water environments. Researchers note that while microplastic pollution is increasingly well-documented, the interactions between contaminants adsorbed onto microplastic surfaces and aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. The study stresses the need for further investigation into how microplastics may facilitate the transport and bioavailability of pollutants.
Microplastics as a Vector of Hazardous Contaminants: Plastic Chemicals, Digestive Physiology and the Need for Chemical Simplification
This review explored how microplastics serve as vectors for hazardous chemicals, distinguishing between plastic-associated chemicals added during manufacturing and environmental pollutants adsorbed onto particle surfaces. The authors argue that the chemical burden of ingested microplastics warrants much more rigorous toxicological assessment.
Microplastics as a Trojan horse for trace metals
Researchers demonstrated that microplastics can absorb toxic metals from surrounding water and release them in conditions mimicking the human gut, essentially acting as a "Trojan horse" that transports heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and chromium into the body alongside the plastic particles.
Microplastics as vectors of chemical contaminants and biological agents in freshwater ecosystems: Current knowledge status and future perspectives
This review examines how microplastics in freshwater ecosystems act as carriers for chemical pollutants and harmful microorganisms. Researchers found that pollutant concentrations on microplastic surfaces can be up to six times higher than in surrounding water, amplifying exposure risks for aquatic life and potentially humans. The findings highlight that microplastics are not just a pollution problem themselves but also a vehicle that spreads other contaminants through the food web.
Microplastic acts as a vector for contaminants: the release behavior of dibutyl phthalate from polyvinyl chloride pipe fragments in water phase
Researchers investigated the release behavior of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) from polyvinyl chloride pipe fragments in water, finding that low concentrations were released under varying conditions, confirming that PVC microplastics act as vectors for phthalate contaminants in aquatic environments.
Trojan horse effects of microplastics: A mini-review about their role as a vector of organic and inorganic compounds in several matrices
This review examines the 'Trojan horse' role of microplastics as vectors for organic and inorganic pollutants, finding that adsorption follows Freundlich models and that contaminant transfer to organisms is species-specific, with some species showing increased and others decreased toxicant bioavailability.
Human Exposure to Microplastics and Its Associated Health Risks
This review examines how microplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin, and have been detected in stool, blood, and tissues. Research in lab animals and human cells shows that microplastics can disrupt digestion, immunity, the nervous system, and reproduction, and can also amplify the toxicity of other environmental pollutants they carry.
Micro(nano)plastics: Unignorable vectors for organisms
This review examines the role of micro- and nanoplastics as vectors for contaminants — including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens — in aquatic and terrestrial environments. It synthesizes evidence on how plastic particles can adsorb, transport, and release harmful substances, amplifying their ecological and health risks beyond the physical effects of the particles alone.