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

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