Papers

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Article Tier 2

Sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by microplastics

This study measured sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) onto four types of microplastics under varying temperature, pH, and salinity conditions, finding that sorption capacity differed substantially by polymer type and environmental conditions.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 173 citations
Article Tier 2

[Sorption of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers by Virgin and Aged Microplastics].

This study examined how environmental aging under UV light changes the ability of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics to adsorb polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), common flame retardant chemicals. Aged microplastics showed altered sorption capacity compared to virgin particles, affecting how these toxic chemicals are transported in aquatic environments.

2020 PubMed 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of tetrabromobisphenol A onto microplastics: Behavior, mechanisms, and the effects of sorbent and environmental factors

The sorption of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) onto four types of microplastics — polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride — was studied in aqueous environments. Results revealed that polymer type, surface area, and hydrophobic interactions were key factors controlling how much TBBPA accumulates on microplastic surfaces.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the desorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from polyethylene microplastics to sediment

Researchers investigated how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) desorb from polyethylene microplastics under simulated gut conditions, finding that digestive fluids with surfactants significantly enhanced PBDE release, raising concerns about gut-mediated transfer of flame retardants from ingested plastic particles.

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

Leaching of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from microplastics in fish oil: Kinetics and bioaccumulation

The leaching kinetics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from microplastics into fish oil were characterized to estimate chemical transfer to organism tissues upon ingestion. Leaching rates were contaminant- and polymer-dependent, providing mechanistic data for assessing how ingested microplastics increase exposure to inherent flame retardant additives.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption and Desorption Behaviour of Polychlorinated Biphenyls onto Microplastics’ Surfaces in Water/Sediment Systems

Researchers evaluated the adsorption and desorption behavior of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) onto polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics of varying sizes in marine water/sediment systems. Results showed that polymer type and particle size influenced PCB binding capacity, with microplastics acting as potential vectors for transferring persistent organic pollutants to marine biota through the food chain.

2020 Toxics 86 citations
Article Tier 2

An Overview of the Sorption Studies of Contaminants on Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Microplastics in the Marine Environment

This review examines how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics adsorb and release both organic and metallic contaminants in the marine environment. Researchers analyzed the sorption mechanisms and kinetic models used to study how pollutants bind to PET particles. The study underscores the growing concern that PET microplastics, one of the most common plastics found in ocean pollution, may serve as carriers for toxic chemicals in marine ecosystems.

2021 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Releases of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from microplastics in aqueous medium: Kinetics and molecular-size dependence of diffusion

This study measured the release kinetics of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from microplastics into water, finding that release rates depended on the molecular size of the BFR compound and water temperature. The results suggest that flame retardant-laden microplastics can leach toxic chemicals into aquatic environments, increasing the chemical hazard beyond the physical presence of the particles.

2018 Water Research 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Leaching of PBDEs from microplastics under simulated gut conditions: Chemical diffusion and bioaccumulation

This study examined how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) leach from microplastics under simulated gut conditions, finding that chemical diffusion rates were strongly influenced by gut fluid composition and that hydrophobic contaminants could transfer to organisms at levels posing potential bioaccumulation risks.

2021 Environmental Pollution 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative analysis of kinetics and mechanisms for Pb(II) sorption onto three kinds of microplastics

The sorption kinetics and mechanisms of lead (Pb(II)) onto three types of microplastics were compared to understand how plastic debris concentrates heavy metals in aquatic environments. The study found polymer-specific differences in sorption capacity and mechanism, with implications for how microplastics alter the distribution and bioavailability of lead in contaminated water.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 158 citations
Article Tier 2

Leachability of microplastic from different plastic materials

This study tested the leachability of microplastics from several common plastic materials under environmental conditions, finding that plastic type and degradation state influence how readily microplastic particles are released.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption capacity of plastic debris for hydrophobic organic chemicals

This study measured the sorption of a suite of hydrophobic organic chemicals onto different types of marine plastic debris and found that sorption capacity varied widely by polymer type and chemical. The results provide a comparative dataset that helps predict which plastic types are most likely to act as significant vectors for toxic chemical transport in the ocean.

2013 The Science of The Total Environment 537 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption Mechanisms and Behavior of Benzene Series Compounds by Microplastics in Aqueous Solution

Microplastics don't just passively accumulate in the environment — they actively absorb toxic chemicals, and this study examined how three common plastic types (polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC) take up benzene-related compounds found in fuels and industrial solvents. Polypropylene showed the highest absorption capacity, while the mechanisms differed between plastic types: polyethylene absorbed chemicals throughout its bulk, whereas PP and PVC relied more on surface adsorption. This matters because plastics acting as chemical sponges can concentrate pollutants and then release them when ingested by animals or humans.

2026 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Leaching kinetics and bioaccumulation potential of additive-derived organophosphate esters in microplastics

Researchers studied the leaching kinetics of organophosphate ester additives from microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that these flame retardants and plasticizers are released at rates that depend on temperature and water chemistry, with implications for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions between microplastics and phthalate esters as affected by microplastics characteristics and solution chemistry

The sorption of two phthalate esters onto polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics was studied under varying conditions, finding that sorption was influenced by polymer type, phthalate structure, temperature, salinity, and dissolved organic matter. The results provide mechanistic insight into how microplastics accumulate endocrine-disrupting phthalates from the environment.

2018 Chemosphere 278 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution

This study measured the sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution, finding that different polymer types varied significantly in their ability to accumulate hydrophobic contaminants.

2016 Environmental Pollution 634 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative evaluation of sorption kinetics and isotherms of pyrene onto microplastics

This study compared how quickly and how much pyrene — a common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon — is absorbed by different types of microplastics in aquatic environments. The results indicate that microplastic polymer type significantly affects how well it concentrates and potentially transports toxic organic chemicals.

2017 Chemosphere 354 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption behaviors of tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate and hexabromocyclododecanes on polypropylene microplastics

Researchers examined the sorption of tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) onto polypropylene microplastics in simulated seawater, finding that particle size, temperature, salinity, and concentration all influenced adsorption behavior and the potential for microplastics to act as vectors for these brominated flame retardants.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as potential bisphenol carriers: role of adsorbents, adsorbates, and environmental factors

Laboratory experiments showed that four common microplastic types — polystyrene, polypropylene, polyamide, and PVC — all readily adsorb bisphenols (BPA, BPB, BPF, BPS), with polyamide showing the highest capacity. Adsorption was strongly influenced by polymer surface chemistry, bisphenol hydrophobicity, temperature, and salinity. Because bisphenols are potent endocrine disruptors, microplastics acting as their environmental carriers could amplify human and wildlife exposure through contaminated seafood and drinking water.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

A Thermodynamic Approach for Assessing the Environmental Exposure of Chemicals Absorbed to Microplastic

Researchers used thermodynamic and multimedia modeling to assess how microplastics influence the transport and bioavailability of persistent toxic substances in marine environments. The study suggests that chemicals with high hydrophobicity may partition to polyethylene microplastic, but overall, microplastic is likely of limited importance as a vector for delivering toxic substances to marine organisms compared to other exposure pathways.

2011 Environmental Science & Technology 461 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of selected pharmaceutical compounds on polyethylene microplastics: Roles of pH, aging, and competitive sorption

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics adsorb pharmaceutical compounds including an antibiotic, a beta-blocker, and an antidepressant, with sorption capacity influenced by pH, aging of the plastic, and competition between compounds — raising concern about microplastics as carriers of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments.

2022 Chemosphere 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-water partitioning of two states halogenated PAHs: Solute and sol

This study examined how halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) partition between microplastics and water, finding that plastic type and contaminant chemistry both influence sorption behavior. Understanding how microplastics absorb and transport toxic chemicals is important for assessing the ecological risks they pose.

2021 Environmental Research 7 citations
Review Tier 2

The chemical behaviors of microplastics in marine environment: A review

This review summarized interactions between microplastics and organic pollutants and metals in the marine environment, covering sorption behavior across polymer types, the role of degradation in altering sorption capacity, and global monitoring data on pollutant concentrations on marine plastics. The authors conclude that microplastic type, pollutant properties, and environmental conditions all strongly influence chemical accumulation on plastic surfaces.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 654 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 12 citations