A critical review on interaction of microplastics with organic contaminants in soil and their ecological risks on soil organisms.

The pollution of microplastics (MPs) in soil has become a global environmental problem. Due to high sorption capacity and persistence in environment, the MPs exhibit combined effects with organic pollutants in soil, thereby posing a potential risk to soil ecology and human health. However, limited reviews are available on this subject. Therefore, in response to this issue, this review provides an in-depth account of interaction of MPs with organic contaminants in soil and the combined risks to soil environment. The sorption of organic contaminants onto MPs is mainly through hydrophobic and π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, pore filling and electrostatic and van der Waals forces. The intrinsic characteristics of MPs, organic contaminants and soil are the key factors influencing the sorption of organic pollutants onto MPs. Importantly, the presence of MPs changes the sorption, degradation and transport behaviors of organic contaminants in soil, and affects the toxic effects of organic contaminants on soil organisms including animals, plants and soil microorganisms through synergistic or antagonistic effects. Source control, policy implementation and plastic removal are the main preventive and control measures to reduce soil MPs pollution. Finally, priorities for future research are proposed, such as field investigations of co-pollution, contribution of plastisphere to organic contaminant degradation, and mechanisms of MPs effects on organic contaminant toxicity.

Chang J ，Fang W ，Liang J ，Zhang P ，Zhang G ，Zhang H ，Zhang Y ，Wang Q ... -  《-》

Sorption Behavior and Mechanisms of Organic Contaminants to Nano and Microplastics.

Wang F ，Zhang M ，Sha W ，Wang Y ，Hao H ，Dou Y ，Li Y ... -  《MOLECULES》

Microplastic properties and their interaction with hydrophobic organic contaminants: a review.

Microplastics (MPs) have been defined as particles of size < 5 mm and are characterized by hydrophobicity and large surface areas. MPs interact with co-occurring hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) via sorption-desorption processes in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Ingestion of MPs by living organisms may increase exposure to HOC levels. The key mechanisms for the sorption of HOCs onto MPs are hydrophobic interaction, electrostatic interaction, π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, and Van der Waals forces (vdW). Polymer type, UV-light-induced surface modifications, and the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups have a greater influence on electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. In contrast, the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups negatively influences hydrophobic interaction. MP characteristics such as crystallinity, weathering, and surface morphology affect sorption capacity. Matrix properties such as pH, ionic strength, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) also influence sorption capacity by exerting synergistic/antagonistic effects. We reviewed the mechanisms of HOC sorption onto MPs and the polymer and matrix properties that influence the HOC sorption. Knowledge gaps and future research directions are outlined.

Prajapati A ，Narayan Vaidya A ，Kumar AR 《-》

Interactions of microplastics and soil pollutants in soil-plant systems.

In recent years, increasing studies have been reported on characterization and detection of microplastics (MPs), and their interactions with organic pollutants (OPs) and heavy metals (HMs) in soils. However, a comprehensive review on the characteristics and factors that influence MPs distribution in soils, the sorption characteristics and mechanisms of soil contaminants by MPs, especially the interactions of MPs and their complexes with pollutants in the soil-plant systems remains rarely available at present. This review focuses on the sorption features and mechanisms of pollutants by MPs in soil and discussed the effects of MPs and their complexing with pollutants on soil properties, microbe and plants. The polarity of MPs significantly influenced the sorption of OPs, and different sorption mechanisms are involved for the hydrophobic and hydrophilic OPs. The sorption of OPs on MPs in soils is different from that in water. Aging of MPs can promote the sorption and migration of contaminants. The enhanced effects of biofilm in microplastisphere on the sorption of pollutants by MPs are critical, and interactions of soil environment-MPs-microbe-HMs-antibiotics increase the potential pathogens and larger release of resistance genes. The coexistence of HMs and MPs affected the growth of plants and the uptake of HMs and MPs by the plants. Moreover, the type, dose, shape and particle size of MPs have important influences on their interactions with pollutants and subsequent effects on soil properties, microbial activities and plant growth. This review also pointed out some knowledge gaps and constructive countermeasures to promote future research in this field.

He S ，Wei Y ，Yang C ，He Z ... -  《-》

Interactions of microplastics with contaminants in freshwater systems: a review of characteristics, bioaccessibility, and environmental factors affecting sorption.

Avazzadeh Samani F ，Meunier L 《-》