Adsorption of Emerging Contaminants on Microplastics\nin the Environment: A Systematic Review

Emerging contaminants such as synthetic\norganic compounds, personal\ncare products, heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, natural organic\nmatter, and other compounds can adsorb onto microplastic (MP) surfaces.\nThese microplastics and microplastic-bound emerging contaminants have\nbecome a global concern, as they may pose significant risks to human\nhealth, aquatic ecosystems, and environmental sustainability. The\npartitioning of emerging contaminants between microplastics and the\naquatic environment and their fate and transport in the aqueous environment\nare influenced by different environmental conditions and physicochemical\ncharacteristics. Polymer properties, such as surface area and aging,\nplay critical roles in the fate and transport of MPs and emerging\ncontaminants. Emerging contaminants and MPs interact primarily through\nvan der Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic partitioning,\nand pore-filling mechanisms. Further, biofilm formation on MPs significantly\nenhances contaminant adsorption. MPs can act as carriers for toxic\ncontaminants, leading to bioaccumulation and potential health risks,\nincluding reproductive and digestive disorders as well as antibiotic\nresistance. We finally recommend several future research directions,\nparticularly in understanding the long-term environmental fate of\ncontaminant-bound MPs, their bioaccumulation in organisms, and the\nsynergistic effects of co-contamination.