Microplastics as sorbing materials for hazardous chemicals

Abstract

Microplastics have been shown to be emerging persistent contaminants present in fresh and marine water, soil, atmosphere and city dust, biota, food, and drinking water. They represent an excellent adsorbing material for various toxic substances, known as persisting organic pollutants (POPs), thus serving as a vector for their transfer and accumulation in nature. Some studies have demonstrated the sorption mechanisms of various POPs, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin-like chemicals (DLCs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pesticides, toxic metals, and pharmaceuticals (antibiotics and antidepressants). Though data on microplastic exposure levels in environments and organisms have rapidly increased in recent decades, limited information is available on the chemicals associated with microplastics.

Keywords

• microplastics
• pops
• hazardous substances
• environment
• health