Trojan horse effects of microplastics: A mini-review about their role as a vector of organic and inorganic compounds in several matrices

Fabiana Carriera; Cristina Di Fiore; Pasquale Avino; Fabiana Carriera; Cristina Di Fiore; Pasquale Avino

doi:10.3934/environsci.2023040

AIMS Environmental Science

2023, Volume 10, Issue 5: 732-742. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2023040

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Trojan horse effects of microplastics: A mini-review about their role as a vector of organic and inorganic compounds in several matrices

1.
Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences (DiAAA), University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, Campobasso, 86100, Italy
2.
Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Division of Rome, c/o Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Rome, 00147, Italy

Received: 25 July 2023 Revised: 07 September 2023 Accepted: 05 November 2023 Published: 15 November 2023

The "Trojan horse effect" of microplastics for organic and inorganic contaminants is an interesting topic. So far, the scientific community has focused on microplastics strictly as contaminants, but their role as vectors is still undefined. Adsorption of pollutants follows the Freundlich model by physisorption mechanism. Furthermore, ages and types of microplastics influence the adsorption of pollutants onto microplastics. Moreover, natural particles, like algae particles, present in the environment can interfere in the adsorption mechanisms. Due to their chemical composition of mainly O and N, it has been suggested that natural particles have a stronger adsorption affinity for some pollutants. Furthermore, microplastic's role as vector of pollutants into organisms is controversial. In fact, it has been suggested that the release is species-specific. In T. japonicus, accumulation of Hg loaded onto microplastics increased by 2.5 times, whereas a reduction of bioavailability of Hg was observed in R. lens.
- microplastics,
- vector,
- pollutants,
- heavy metals,
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
- pesticides
Citation: Fabiana Carriera, Cristina Di Fiore, Pasquale Avino. Trojan horse effects of microplastics: A mini-review about their role as a vector of organic and inorganic compounds in several matrices[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2023, 10(5): 732-742. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2023040

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Abstract

The "Trojan horse effect" of microplastics for organic and inorganic contaminants is an interesting topic. So far, the scientific community has focused on microplastics strictly as contaminants, but their role as vectors is still undefined. Adsorption of pollutants follows the Freundlich model by physisorption mechanism. Furthermore, ages and types of microplastics influence the adsorption of pollutants onto microplastics. Moreover, natural particles, like algae particles, present in the environment can interfere in the adsorption mechanisms. Due to their chemical composition of mainly O and N, it has been suggested that natural particles have a stronger adsorption affinity for some pollutants. Furthermore, microplastic's role as vector of pollutants into organisms is controversial. In fact, it has been suggested that the release is species-specific. In T. japonicus, accumulation of Hg loaded onto microplastics increased by 2.5 times, whereas a reduction of bioavailability of Hg was observed in R. lens.

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