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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Toxic metal-adsorbed microplastics threaten human digestive system: A bioaccessibility-based risk assessment
ClearBioaccessibility of microplastic-associated heavy metals using an in vitro digestion model and its implications for human health risk assessment
Researchers evaluated the bioaccessibility of heavy metals associated with microplastics using an in vitro digestion model to assess human health risks. The study found significant adsorption of arsenic, chromium, cadmium, and lead onto polyvinyl chloride microplastics, with varying bioaccessibility across different digestive phases. The findings suggest that incorporating bioaccessibility data into risk assessments may provide more accurate estimates of health risks from ingesting microplastic-associated heavy metals.
How aging microplastics influence heavy metal environmental fate and bioavailability: A systematic review
This systematic review found that environmental aging (UV, weathering) degrades microplastics into smaller particles with higher surface reactivity, increasing their capacity to adsorb heavy metals. These aged microplastic-heavy metal complexes bioaccumulate through the food chain, posing greater ecological and human health risks than either pollutant alone.
Speciation and release risk of heavy metals bonded on simulated naturally-aged microplastics prepared from artificially broken macroplastics
Researchers investigated heavy metal speciation and release risk from naturally aged microplastics in simulated saltwater and gastrointestinal solutions, finding that different metals varied in adsorption capacity and release behavior, posing potential risks to both ecosystems and human health.
Bioaccessibility of Trace Metals and Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Microplastic
Researchers measured the bioaccessibility of trace metals and rare earth elements adsorbed onto beach microplastics using simulated digestive fluid conditions. Metals were released from microplastic surfaces under stomach acid conditions, indicating that plastic ingestion can deliver these contaminants to digestive systems of marine organisms and humans.
Assessment of the potential human health risk derived from metals associated to microplastics from recycled and biopolymer-based plastics
Researchers assessed the human health risk from metals associated with microplastics derived from recycled PET and polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers using oral bioaccessibility testing, finding that intrinsic metal content increased with recycling cycles and that both materials adsorbed metals from the environment, with bioaccessible metal fractions posing potential health risks.
Adsorption of metals on aged microplastics in intensive mariculture areas: Aggravating the potential ecological risks to marine organisms
Researchers used passive samplers in a subtropical mariculture area in China to measure how aged microplastics adsorb metals like iron, manganese, copper, and lead from seawater. They found that PVC microplastics had the highest metal adsorption capacity, and that aging increased the plastics' ability to accumulate metals on their surfaces. The findings suggest that weathered microplastics in aquaculture zones may concentrate toxic metals and pose elevated ecological risks to marine organisms.
The bioaccessibility of adsorped heavy metals on biofilm-coated microplastics and their implication for the progression of neurodegenerative diseases
Researchers examined how microplastics coated with natural biofilms can carry heavy metals into the body and what that might mean for human health. The biofilm layer changes the surface chemistry of microplastics, making them better at attracting and holding onto toxic metals that can then become accessible during digestion. The study raises concerns about the combined exposure to microplastics and heavy metals as a potential contributing factor to long-term health issues.
Assessing potential toxicity and metal bioavailability of secondary microplastics using in-vitro human gastric models
This study assessed the potential toxicity and metal bioavailability of sediment samples from an aquatic environment, evaluating how co-occurring microplastics may influence metal toxicity by altering metal speciation and uptake. The results highlight complex interactions between plastic particles and metal contaminants in sediments.
The evolving interface of aged microplastics and heavy metals: implications for environmental fate and toxicity
This review examined how microplastics interact with heavy metals in the environment, focusing on how plastics serve as carriers that increase metal mobility and bioavailability. Researchers found that factors like polymer aging, biofilm formation, and water chemistry significantly affect how efficiently microplastics absorb metals, and that the combined exposure creates compounded toxicity including oxidative stress and organ damage in organisms. The findings highlight the need for more research on the long-term and multigenerational effects of these combined pollutants.
Interactions between microplastics (MPs) and trace/toxic metals in marine environments: implications and insights—a comprehensive review
This review examines how microplastics interact with trace and toxic metals in ocean environments, finding that plastic particles can adsorb metals onto their surfaces and alter how those metals move through marine ecosystems. These interactions can increase metal toxicity, reduce the availability of essential nutrients for marine life, and disrupt ocean food chains in ways that may ultimately affect seafood safety for humans.
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.
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.
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.
Synergistic human health risks of microplastics and co-contaminants: A quantitative risk assessment in water
This study calculated the combined health risks of ingesting microplastics along with the toxic chemicals they carry, including heavy metals and plastic additives, and found that the combined hazard is far greater than from microplastics alone. Children face especially high risk, and the interaction between microplastics and co-contaminants creates synergistic effects that standard risk assessments may significantly underestimate.
Microplastics aged in various environmental media exhibited strong sorption to heavy metals in seawater
Researchers aged six types of microplastics — including polyamide and PET — in different environments and then measured their adsorption of heavy metals in seawater, finding that aging consistently increased metal sorption capacity and that environmental medium during aging strongly influenced the degree of surface modification.
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.
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.
Microplastics as a vehicle of heavy metals in aquatic environments: A review of adsorption factors, mechanisms, and biological effects
This review summarizes how microplastics in water can absorb and carry toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium, making them more dangerous to aquatic life than either pollutant alone. Environmental factors such as water acidity, salinity, and organic matter influence how much metal sticks to microplastic surfaces. Since contaminated seafood is a major source of human exposure, understanding these interactions is important for assessing health risks.
Assessment of intake and effect of microplastics and its combination with metals in experimental (Daphnia magna) and environmental conditions (freshwater fish)
Researchers assessed the intake and effects of microplastics and their combination with metals using Daphnia magna as an experimental model and freshwater fish under environmental conditions, investigating how microplastics adsorb and transport harmful metals in freshwater systems.
Copper adsorption on microplastics: Investigating toxicity in an in vitro digestive environment
Researchers analyzed how the presence of microplastics affects copper bioaccessibility and toxicity during in vitro digestion, testing naturally weathered particles as a realistic exposure model. Microplastics altered the bioaccessible fraction of copper, with implications for how co-ingested metals behave in the human gut.
Interaction of microplastics with metal(oid)s in aquatic environments: What is done so far?
This review assembled the mechanisms by which microplastics sorb hazardous metals and metalloids in aquatic environments, examining how weathering, biofilm formation, and environmental conditions influence the transport and bioavailability of these contaminants.
Human health risk assessment of metals from bio-based microplastics using a bioavailability gastrointestinal digestion model
This study used an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model to assess human bioavailability of 12 metals—including cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic—from bio-based plastic microplastics made of PLA and polyhydroxybutyrate. Several metals showed significant bioaccessibility under simulated digestive conditions, indicating that bio-based plastics are not necessarily safer than conventional plastics with respect to metal leaching.
Interactions and effects of microplastics with heavy metals in aquatic and terrestrial environments
This review explores how microplastics absorb toxic heavy metals from the environment and what happens when organisms ingest these contaminated particles. In the acidic conditions of an animal's digestive system, metals can separate from the plastic and accumulate in body tissues. Since heavy metals can concentrate on microplastics and then transfer up the food chain, this combination poses a compounded health risk to wildlife and potentially to humans who eat contaminated seafood.
Co-occurrence and Interaction of Microplastics with Heavy Metals
This review examines the co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, synthesizing evidence on how MPs adsorb metals, alter their bioavailability, and facilitate their transfer up food chains, compounding toxicological risks beyond either pollutant alone.