Transport of persistent organic pollutants: Another effect of microplastic pollution?

Abstract

Over the past decade, the number of studies examining the presence and effects of microplastics in the environment has drastically increased. Works seeking to identify these particles have proven beyond doubt that microplastics constitute a generalized pollution affecting all environmental compartments, from inside air to arctic snows. Studies on their potential ecotoxicological impacts were more nuanced but many have shown deleterious effects when these microplastics were associated with persistent organic pollutants. This primer mainly focuses on POP sorption and transport by microplastics in the aquatic environment and the possible toxic effects that result from it. Indeed, the associations between microplastics and persistent organic pollutants are very common in the environment. If the mechanisms of interactions are well known, they depend on many factors and their significance in the environment can be very variable in time and space. Indeed, these interactions depend on both the plastic particle (polymer type, crystallinity, particle size, shape, specific area, and functional groups/ polarity) and the pollutant (hydrophobicity, functional groups) but also environmental factors (microorganism population, salinity/ionic strength, pH, dissolved organic matter concentration, and temperature). Changes in the interactions between pollutants and microplastics can result in pollutant release in the aquatic environment and potential toxic effects. However, apart from specific situations, the role of microplastics as local source of exogenous molecules (PAHs, PCBs, etc.) is rarely significant because the limited amounts of involved pollutants. It is much less negligible for endogenous chemicals that enter into the initial composition of the plastic (phthalates, biocides, etc.).

Journey of micronanoplastics with blood components

“…MNPs have evolved into excellent vehicles for the transport of heavy metals, 89 persistent organic pollutants (POPs), 90 microbial pathogens, 91 and metabolized or unmetabolized pharmaceuticals [92][93][94] from an aquatic environment to other ecosystems. These environmental contaminants are produced through consumerism and commercialism.…”

Micro- and nanoplastics in freshwater ecosystems—interaction with and impact upon bacterivorous ciliates

“…Furthermore, the large surface area to volume ratio of microplastics and their predominantly hydrophobic properties renders them prone to adsorbing organic pollutants, heavy metals, or polymer leaching that may negatively affect the surrounding hydrosphere (Lusher, 2015;Costigan et al, 2022). Microplastics can act as a vector for transporting pollutants to and within the ecosystem via the food chain or by altering the solubility of hydrophobic pollutants when adsorbed onto the plastic particle, which may increase their transport and consequently impact their distribution and bioavailability (Amelia et al, 2021;Gateuille and Naffrechoux, 2022). In addition, microplastics were identified as possible attachment sites and vehicles for bacterial pathogens, increasing their mobility within aquatic ecosystems (Hou et al, 2021;Pham et al, 2021;Beans, 2023).…”

Ingestion and polymeric risk assessment of microplastic contamination in commercially important brachyuran crab Portunus sanguinolentus

“…(Wright et al, 2013). MPs can act as vectors of hazardous chemicals and persistent organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls and pesticides (Gateuille and Naffrechoux, 2022). Ingestion of MPs containing these chemicals can be exposed to higher concentrations of pollutants, leading to potential toxic effects.…”