Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microplastics as an Ecological Vector Transport for Pharmaceuticals: Insights into the Interaction Mechanisms

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Microplastics and Pollutants

  • 63 Accesses

Abstract

There is a growing concern about how microplastics could harm human health and ecosystems. The ability of microplastics to transport hydrophobic organic contaminants is well recognized. The potential for hydrophilic compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, to be adsorbed onto plastic substrates has been demonstrated by a recent study on these chemicals. Due to their extensive use, these substances are now pervasively in the environment and coexist with microplastics. Particular matrices’ physical and chemical characteristics control how plastics and pharmaceuticals are distributed and what happens when vectors transport them. This chapter’s objectives were to summarize and assess the various microplastic-pharmaceutical interactions and factors that affect the fate and mobility of hydrophilic chemicals, such as medications and personal care products (PPCPs), as well as their adsorption on microplastic surfaces. Kinetic microplastic investigations that have mostly focused on antibiotics have drawn some attention to a number of PPCP compounds, including steroidal hormones, antibacterial treatments, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The chapter also examines ecological factors that impact medicines, such as the sorption of PPCPs onto microplastics, such as pH, salinity, and dissolved organics. The ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics absorbed by PPCP on ecosystems and human health are also being investigated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alimi OS, Farner Budarz J, Hernandez LM, Tufenkji N (2018) Microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic environments: aggregation, deposition, and enhanced contaminant transport. Environ Sci Technol 52(4):1704–1724

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrady AL (2011) Microplastics in the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 62(8):1596–1605

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aristilde L, Sposito G (2010) Binding of ciprofloxacin by humic substances: a molecular dynamics study. Environ Toxicol Chem 29(1):90–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atugoda T, Wijesekara H, Werellagama D, Jinadasa K, Bolan NS, Vithanage M (2020) Adsorptive interaction of antibiotic ciprofloxacin on polyethylene microplastics: implications for vector transport in water. Environ Technol Innov 19:100971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atugoda T, Vithanage M, Wijesekara H, Bolan N, Sarmah AK, Bank, M. S, You S, Ok YS (2021) Interactions between microplastics, pharmaceuticals and personal care products: implications for vector transport. Environ Int 149:106367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakir A, Rowland SJ, Thompson RC (2014) Transport of persistent organic pollutants by microplastics in estuarine conditions. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 140:14–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barboza LGA, Vethaak AD, Lavorante BR, Lundebye A-K, Guilhermino L (2018) Marine microplastic debris: an emerging issue for food security, food safety and human health. Mar Pollut Bull 133:336–348

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes DK, Galgani F, Thompson RC, Barlaz M (2009) Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Philos Trans R Soc Lond Ser B Biol Sci 364(1526):1985–1998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolan NS, Naidu R, Syers J, Tillman R (1999) Surface charge and solute interactions in soils. Adv Agron 67:87–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolan NS, Adriano DC, Kunhikrishnan A, James T, McDowell R, Senesi N (2011) Dissolved organic matter: biogeochemistry, dynamics, and environmental significance in soils. Adv Agron 110:1–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd CE, Boyd CE (2020) Carbon dioxide, pH, and alkalinity. Water quality: an introduction, pp 177–203

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bradney L, Wijesekara H, Palansooriya KN, Obadamudalige N, Bolan NS, Ok YS, Rinklebe J, Kim K-H, Kirkham M (2019) Particulate plastics as a vector for toxic trace-element uptake by aquatic and terrestrial organisms and human health risk. Environ Int 131:104937

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brennecke D, Duarte B, Paiva F, Caçador I, Canning-Clode J (2016) Microplastics as vector for heavy metal contamination from the marine environment. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 178:189–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bundschuh M, Weyers A, Ebeling M, Elsaesser D, Schulz R (2016) Narrow pH range of surface water bodies receiving pesticide input in Europe. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 96:3–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burkhard LP (2000) Estimating dissolved organic carbon partition coefficients for nonionic organic chemicals. Environ Sci Technol 34(22):4663–4668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caliman FA, Gavrilescu M (2009) Pharmaceuticals, personal care products and endocrine disrupting agents in the environment – a review. CLEAN Soil Air Water 37(4–5):277–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carbery M, O'Connor W, Palanisami T (2018) Trophic transfer of microplastics and mixed contaminants in the marine food web and implications for human health. Environ Int 115:400–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen S, Wang L, Feng W, Yuan M, Li J, Xu H, Zheng X, Zhang W (2020) Sulfonamides-induced oxidative stress in freshwater microalga Chlorella vulgaris: evaluation of growth, photosynthesis, antioxidants, ultrastructure, and nucleic acids. Sci Rep 10(1):8243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Li J, Wang F, Yang H, Liu L (2021) Adsorption of tetracyclines onto polyethylene microplastics: a combined study of experiment and molecular dynamics simulation. Chemosphere 265:129133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choy CA, Robison BH, Gagne TO, Erwin B, Firl E, Halden RU, Hamilton JA, Katija K, Lisin SE, Rolsky C (2019) The vertical distribution and biological transport of marine microplastics across the epipelagic and mesopelagic water column. Sci Rep 9(1):7843

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cincinelli A, Martellini T, Guerranti C, Scopetani C, Chelazzi D, Giarrizzo T (2019) A potpourri of microplastics in the sea surface and water column of the Mediterranean Sea. TrAC Trends Anal Chem 110:321–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole M, Lindeque P, Halsband C, Galloway TS (2011) Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 62(12):2588–2597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole M, Lindeque P, Fileman E, Halsband C, Goodhead R, Moger J, Galloway TS (2013) Microplastic ingestion by zooplankton. Environ Sci Technol 47(12):6646–6655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daugherty M, Conte M, Weber J (2016) Adsorption of organic pollutants to microplastics: the effects of dissolved organic matter. Northwest Univ Semester Environ Sci:1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Derraik JG (2002) The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 44(9):842–852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding L, Mao R, Ma S, Guo X, Zhu L (2020) High temperature depended on the ageing mechanism of microplastics under different environmental conditions and its effect on the distribution of organic pollutants. Water Res 174:115634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duis K, Coors A (2016) Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects. Environ Sci Eur 28(1):1–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebele AJ, Abdallah MA-E, Harrad S (2017) Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the freshwater aquatic environment. Emerg Contam 3(1):1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eerkes-Medrano D, Thompson RC, Aldridge DC (2015) Microplastics in freshwater systems: a review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs. Water Res 75:63–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elizalde-Velázquez A, Subbiah S, Anderson TA, Green MJ, Zhao X, Cañas-Carrell JE (2020) Sorption of three common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to microplastics. Sci Total Environ 715:136974

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endo S, Koelmans AA (2019) Sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds to plastics in the marine environment: equilibrium. Hazardous chemicals associated with plastics in the marine environment, 185–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan X, Gan R, Liu J, Xie Y, Xu D, Xiang Y, Su J, Teng Z, Hou J (2021a) Adsorption and desorption behaviors of antibiotics by tire wear particles and polyethylene microplastics with or without aging processes. Sci Total Environ 771:145451

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan X, Zou Y, Geng N, Liu J, Hou J, Li D, Yang C, Li Y (2021b) Investigation on the adsorption and desorption behaviors of antibiotics by degradable MPs with or without UV ageing process. J Hazard Mater 401:123363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer CF, Godefroid M, Brage T, Jönsson P, Gaigalas G (2016) Advanced multiconfiguration methods for complex atoms: I. Energies and wave functions. J Phys B Atomic Mol Phys 49(18):182004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Xu Y, Ma M, Rao K, Wang Z (2019) Simultaneous passive sampling of hydrophilic and hydrophobic emerging organic contaminants in water. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 178:25–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser JA (2020) The importance of biofilms to the fate and effects of microplastics. In: Bacterial biofilms. IntechOpen, London

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Pleiter M, Pedrouzo-RodrĂ­guez A, VerdĂş I, LeganĂ©s F, Marco E, Rosal R, Fernández-Piñas F (2021) Microplastics as vectors of the antibiotics azithromycin and clarithromycin: effects towards freshwater microalgae. Chemosphere 268:128824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu C, Karthikeyan K, Sibley SD, Pedersen JA (2007) Complexation of the antibiotic tetracycline with humic acid. Chemosphere 66(8):1494–1501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan J, Qi K, Wang J, Wang W, Wang Z, Lu N, Qu J (2020) Microplastics as an emerging anthropogenic vector of trace metals in freshwater: significance of biofilms and comparison with natural substrates. Water Res 184:116205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Wang J (2019a) The chemical behaviors of microplastics in marine environment: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 142:1–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Wang J (2019b) Sorption of antibiotics onto aged microplastics in freshwater and seawater. Mar Pollut Bull 149:110511

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Wang X, Zhou X, Kong X, Tao S, Xing B (2012) Sorption of four hydrophobic organic compounds by three chemically distinct polymers: role of chemical and physical composition. Environ Sci Technol 46(13):7252–7259

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Pang J, Chen S, Jia H (2018) Sorption properties of tylosin on four different microplastics. Chemosphere 209:240–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Chen C, Wang J (2019a) Sorption of sulfamethoxazole onto six types of microplastics. Chemosphere 228:300–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Liu Y, Wang J (2019b) Sorption of sulfamethazine onto different types of microplastics: a combined experimental and molecular dynamics simulation study. Mar Pollut Bull 145:547–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Hu G, Fan X, Jia H (2020) Sorption properties of cadmium on microplastics: the common practice experiment and a two-dimensional correlation spectroscopic study. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 190:110118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guzzetti E, Sureda A, Tejada S, Faggio C (2018) Microplastic in marine organism: environmental and toxicological effects. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 64:164–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich P, Hanslik L, Kämmer N, Braunbeck T (2020) The tox is in the detail: technical fundamentals for designing, performing, and interpreting experiments on toxicity of microplastics and associated substances. ESPR 27:22292–22318

    Google Scholar 

  • Horton AA, Walton A, Spurgeon DJ, Lahive E, Svendsen C (2017) Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Sci Total Environ 586:127–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Liu Q, Jia W, Yan C, Wang J (2020) Agricultural plastic mulching as a source of microplastics in the terrestrial environment. Environ Pollut 260:114096

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang D, Xu Y, Yu X, Ouyang Z, Guo X (2021) Effect of cadmium on the sorption of tylosin by polystyrene microplastics. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 207:111255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HĂĽffer T, Hofmann T (2016) Sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution. Environ Pollut 214:194–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HĂĽffer T, Weniger A-K, Hofmann T (2018) Sorption of organic compounds by aged polystyrene microplastic particles. Environ Pollut 236:218–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeyasanta KI, Sathish N, Patterson J, Edward JP (2020) Macro-, meso-and microplastic debris in the beaches of Tuticorin district, Southeast coast of India. Mar Pollut Bull 154:111055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johansen MP, Prentice E, Cresswell T, Howell N (2018) Initial data on adsorption of Cs and Sr to the surfaces of microplastics with biofilm. J Environ Radioact 190:130–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Junaid M, Wang J (2022) Interaction of micro (nano) plastics with extracellular and intracellular biomolecules in the freshwater environment. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 52(23):4241–4265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kane IA, Clare MA, Miramontes E, Wogelius R, Rothwell JJ, Garreau P, Pohl F (2020) Seafloor microplastic hotspots controlled by deep-sea circulation. Science 368(6495):1140–1145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karapanagioti HK, Werner D (2019) Sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds to plastics in the marine environment: sorption and desorption kinetics. Hazardous chemicals associated with plastics in the marine environment, 205–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson MV, Carter LJ, Agatz A, Boxall AB (2017) Novel approach for characterizing pH-dependent uptake of ionizable chemicals in aquatic organisms. Environ Sci Technol 51(12):6965–6971

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Bansiwal A, Hippargi G, Pophali GR (2018) Effect of hydrophobicity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products for adsorption on activated carbon: adsorption isotherms, kinetics and mechanism. ESPR 25:20473–20485

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazour M, Terki S, Rabhi K, Jemaa S, Khalaf G, Amara R (2019) Sources of microplastics pollution in the marine environment: importance of wastewater treatment plant and coastal landfill. Mar Pollut Bull 146:608–618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koelmans AA, Bakir A, Burton GA, Janssen CR (2016) Microplastic as a vector for chemicals in the aquatic environment: critical review and model-supported reinterpretation of empirical studies. Environ Sci Technol 50(7):3315–3326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • KĂĽmmerer K (2009) The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment due to human use–present knowledge and future challenges. J Environ Manag 90(8):2354–2366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaganĂ  P, Caruso G, Corsi I, Bergami E, Venuti V, Majolino D, La Ferla R, Azzaro M, Cappello S (2019) Do plastics serve as a possible vector for the spread of antibiotic resistance? First insights from bacteria associated to a polystyrene piece from King George Island (Antarctica). Int J Hyg Environ 222(1):89–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Law KL, Thompson RC (2014) Microplastics in the seas. Science 345(6193):144–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Liu H, Gao R, Abdurahman A, Dai J, Zeng F (2018a) Aggregation kinetics of microplastics in aquatic environment: complex roles of electrolytes, pH, and natural organic matter. Environ Pollut 237:126–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhang K, Zhang H (2018b) Adsorption of antibiotics on microplastics. Environ Pollut 237:460–467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Li M, Li Z, Yang L, Liu X (2019) Effects of particle size and solution chemistry on Triclosan sorption on polystyrene microplastic. Chemosphere 231:308–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liebezeit G, Liebezeit E (2013) Non-pollen particulates in honey and sugar. Food Addit Contam 30(12):2136–2140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F-F, Zhao J, Wang S, Du P, Xing B (2014) Effects of solution chemistry on adsorption of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) by graphenes and carbon nanotubes. Environ Sci Technol 48(22):13197–13206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Yang X, Liu G, Liang C, Xue S, Chen H, Ritsema CJ, Geissen V (2017) Response of soil dissolved organic matter to microplastic addition in Chinese loess soil. Chemosphere 185:907–917

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F-F, Liu G-Z, Zhu Z-L, Wang S-C, Zhao F-F (2019a) Interactions between microplastics and phthalate esters as affected by microplastics characteristics and solution chemistry. Chemosphere 214:688–694

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Xu J, Zhao Y, Shi H, Huang C-H (2019b) Hydrophobic sorption behaviors of 17β-Estradiol on environmental microplastics. Chemosphere 226:726–735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu G, Zhu Z, Yang Y, Sun Y, Yu F, Ma J (2019c) Sorption behavior and mechanism of hydrophilic organic chemicals to virgin and aged microplastics in freshwater and seawater. Environ Pollut 246:26–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Wu X, Liu H, Wang H, Lu K, Gao S (2020a) Desorption of pharmaceuticals from pristine and aged polystyrene microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. J Hazard Mater 392:122346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Zhan X, Wu X, Li J, Wang H, Gao S (2020b) Effect of weathering on environmental behavior of microplastics: properties, sorption and potential risks. Chemosphere 242:125193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loke M-L, Tjørnelund J, Halling-Sørensen B (2002) Determination of the distribution coefficient (logKd) of oxytetracycline, tylosin A, olaquindox and metronidazole in manure. Chemosphere 48(3):351–361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LĂłpez-Serna R, Jurado A, Vázquez-Suñé E, Carrera J, Petrović M, BarcelĂł D (2013) Occurrence of 95 pharmaceuticals and transformation products in urban groundwaters underlying the metropolis of Barcelona, Spain. Environ Pollut 174:305–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu X-M, Lu P-Z, Liu X-P (2020) Fate and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes on microplastics in facility vegetable soil. Sci Total Environ 709:136276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu J, Wu J, Wu J, Zhang C, Luo Y (2021) Adsorption and desorption of steroid hormones by microplastics in seawater. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 107:730–735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma J, Zhao J, Zhu Z, Li L, Yu F (2019) Effect of microplastic size on the adsorption behavior and mechanism of triclosan on polyvinyl chloride. Environ Pollut 254:113104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma H, Pu S, Liu S, Bai Y, Mandal S, Xing B (2020) Microplastics in aquatic environments: toxicity to trigger ecological consequences. Environ Pollut 261:114089

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marion GM, Millero F, Camões M, Spitzer P, Feistel R, Chen C-T (2011) pH of seawater. Mar Chem 126(1–4):89–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKeen LW (2017) Film properties of plastics and elastomers. William Andrew

    Google Scholar 

  • MenĂ©ndez-Pedriza A, Jaumot J (2020) Interaction of environmental pollutants with microplastics: a critical review of sorption factors, bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological effects. Toxics 8(2):40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moldoveanu S, David V (2015) Phase transfer in sample preparation. Modern sample preparation for chromatography. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 105–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng E-L, Lwanga EH, Eldridge SM, Johnston P, Hu H-W, Geissen V, Chen D (2018) An overview of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution in agroecosystems. Sci Total Environ 627:1377–1388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oberg G, Leopold A (2019) On the role of review papers in the face of escalating publication rates-a case study of research on contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Environ Int 131:104960

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira M, Ribeiro A, Hylland K, Guilhermino L (2013) Single and combined effects of microplastics and pyrene on juveniles (0+ group) of the common goby Pomatoschistus microps (Teleostei, Gobiidae). Ecol Indic 34:641–647

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng J, Yang Y, Liu Y, Du Y, Meersmans J, Qiu S (2018) Linking ecosystem services and circuit theory to identify ecological security patterns. Sci Total Environ 644:781–790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peters CA, Thomas PA, Rieper KB, Bratton SP (2017) Foraging preferences influence microplastic ingestion by six marine fish species from the Texas Gulf Coast. Mar Pollut Bull 124(1):82–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poole CF (2020) Milestones in the development of liquid-phase extraction techniques. In: Liquid-phase extraction. Elsevier, pp 1–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Prata JC (2018) Microplastics in wastewater: state of the knowledge on sources, fate and solutions. Mar Pollut Bull 129(1):262–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Puckowski A, CwiÄ™k W, Mioduszewska K, Stepnowski P, BiaĹ‚k-BieliĹ„ska A (2021) Sorption of pharmaceuticals on the surface of microplastics. Chemosphere 263:127976

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Razanajatovo RM, Ding J, Zhang S, Jiang H, Zou H (2018) Sorption and desorption of selected pharmaceuticals by polyethylene microplastics. Mar Pollut Bull 136:516–523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richard H, Carpenter EJ, Komada T, Palmer PT, Rochman CM (2019) Biofilm facilitates metal accumulation onto microplastics in estuarine waters. Sci Total Environ 683:600–608

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rillig MC, Leifheit E, Lehmann J (2021) Microplastic effects on carbon cycling processes in soils. PLoS Biol 19(3):e3001130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rizzo L, Manaia C, Merlin C, Schwartz T, Dagot C, Ploy M, Michael I, Fatta-Kassinos D (2013) Urban wastewater treatment plants as hotspots for antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes spread into the environment: a review. Sci Total Environ 447:345–360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seidensticker S, Zarfl C, Cirpka OA, Fellenberg G, Grathwohl P (2017) Shift in mass transfer of wastewater contaminants from microplastics in the presence of dissolved substances. Environ Sci Technol 51(21):12254–12263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seidensticker S, Grathwohl P, Lamprecht J, Zarfl C (2018) A combined experimental and modeling study to evaluate pH-dependent sorption of polar and non-polar compounds to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics. Environ Sci Eur 30(1):1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seth CK, Shriwastav A (2018) Contamination of Indian sea salts with microplastics and a potential prevention strategy. ESPR 25:30122–30131

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soubaneh YD, GagnĂ© J-P, Lebeuf M, Gouteux B, Nikiforov V, Awaleh MO (2014) Sorption behaviors of a persistent toxaphene congener on marine sediments under different physicochemical conditions. Chemosphere 114:310–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stapleton MJ, Ansari AJ, Hai FI (2023) Antibiotic sorption onto microplastics in water: A critical review of the factors, mechanisms and implications. Water Res 119790

    Google Scholar 

  • Stollberg N, Kröger SD, Reininghaus M, Forberger J, Witt G, Brenner M (2021) Uptake and absorption of fluoranthene from spiked microplastics into the digestive gland tissues of blue mussels, Mytilus edulis L. Chemosphere 279:130480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Wang X, Xia S, Zhao J (2021) New insights into oxytetracycline (OTC) adsorption behavior on polylactic acid microplastics undergoing microbial adhesion and degradation. J Chem Eng 416:129085

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Q, Fu L, Yin C, Wu M, Liu H, Niu N, Chen L (2022) Construction of biomass carbon dots@molecularly imprinted polymer fluorescent sensor array for accurate identification of 5-nitroimidazole antibiotics. Sens Actuators B Chem 373:132716

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang Y, Liu Y, Chen Y, Zhang W, Zhao J, He S, Yang C, Zhang T, Tang C, Zhang C (2021) A review: research progress on microplastic pollutants in aquatic environments. Sci Total Environ 766:142572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teuten EL, Saquing JM, Knappe DR, Barlaz MA, Jonsson S, Björn A, Rowland SJ, Thompson RC, Galloway TS, Yamashita R (2009) Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlife. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 364(1526):2027–2045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torres FG, Dioses-Salinas DC, Pizarro-Ortega CI, De-la-Torre GE (2021) Sorption of chemical contaminants on degradable and non-degradable microplastics: recent progress and research trends. Sci Total Environ 757:143875

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tourinho PS, do Sul JAI, Fillmann G (2010) Is marine debris ingestion still a problem for the coastal marine biota of southern Brazil? Mar Pollut Bull 60(3):396–401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tourinho PS, KoÄŤĂ­ V, Loureiro S, van Gestel CA (2019) Partitioning of chemical contaminants to microplastics: sorption mechanisms, environmental distribution and effects on toxicity and bioaccumulation. Environ Pollut 252:1246–1256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Velez JF, Shashoua Y, Syberg K, Khan FR (2018) Considerations on the use of equilibrium models for the characterisation of HOC-microplastic interactions in vector studies. Chemosphere 210:359–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Velzeboer I, Kwadijk C, Koelmans A (2014) Strong sorption of PCBs to nanoplastics, microplastics, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes. Environ Sci Technol 48(9):4869–4876

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verla AW, Enyoh CE, Verla EN, Nwarnorh KO (2019) Microplastic–toxic chemical interaction: a review study on quantified levels, mechanism and implication. SN Appl Sci 1(11):1–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vieira KS, Neto JAB, Crapez MAC, Gaylarde C, da Silva Pierri B, Saldaña-Serrano M, Bainy ACD, Nogueira DJ, Fonseca EM (2021) Occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals accumulation in native oysters Crassostrea Gasar in the Paranaguá estuarine system, Brazil. Mar Pollut Bull 166:112225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waldschläger K, Lechthaler S, Stauch G, SchĂĽttrumpf H (2020) The way of microplastic through the environment–application of the source-pathway-receptor model. Sci Total Environ 713:136584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan T, Lu S, Cheng W, Ren J, Wang M, Hu B, Jia Z, Li Y, Sun Y (2019) A spectroscopic and theoretical investigation of interaction mechanisms of tetracycline and polystyrene nanospheres under different conditions. Environ Pollut 249:398–405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Wang S (2016) Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater: a review. J Environ Manag 182:620–640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Wang J (2018) Comparative evaluation of sorption kinetics and isotherms of pyrene onto microplastics. Chemosphere 193:567–573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Shih KM, Li XY (2015) The partition behavior of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA) on microplastics. Chemosphere 119:841–847

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Liu X, Liu G, Zhang Z, Wu H, Cui B, Bai J, Zhang W (2019) Size effect of polystyrene microplastics on sorption of phenanthrene and nitrobenzene. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 173:331–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Qi M, Jia X, Jin J, Zhou Q, Zhang M, Zhou W, Li A (2020a) Differential adsorption of zwitterionic PPCPs by multifunctional resins: the influence of the hydrophobicity and electrostatic potential of PPCPs. Chemosphere 241:125023

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Wang X, Li Y, Li J, Wang F, Xia S, Zhao J (2020b) Biofilm alters tetracycline and copper adsorption behaviors onto polyethylene microplastics. J Chem Eng 392:123808

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Xian Z, Jin X, Liang S, Chen Z, Pan B, Wu B, Ok YS, Gu C (2020c) Photo-aging of polyvinyl chloride microplastic in the presence of natural organic acids. Water Res 183:116082

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Zhang M, Sha W, Wang Y, Hao H, Dou Y, Li Y (2020d) Sorption behavior and mechanisms of organic contaminants to nano and microplastics. Molecules 25(8):1827

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wardrop P, Shimeta J, Nugegoda D, Morrison PD, Miranda A, Tang M, Clarke BO (2016) Chemical pollutants sorbed to ingested microbeads from personal care products accumulate in fish. Environ Sci Technol 50(7):4037–4044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wegst-Uhrich SR, Navarro DA, Zimmerman L, Aga DS (2014) Assessing antibiotic sorption in soil: a literature review and new case studies on sulfonamides and macrolides. Chem Cent J 8:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright SL, Thompson RC, Galloway TS (2013) The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environ Pollut 178:483–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Writer JH, Ryan JN, Barber LB (2011) Role of biofilms in sorptive removal of steroidal hormones and 4-nonylphenol compounds from streams. Environ Sci Technol 45(17):7275–7283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu C, Zhang K, Huang X, Liu J (2016) Sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to polyethylene debris. ESPR 23:8819–8826

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu G, Ma J, Li S, Guan J, Jiang B, Wang L, Li J, Wang X, Chen L (2018) Magnetic copper-based metal organic framework as an effective and recyclable adsorbent for removal of two fluoroquinolone antibiotics from aqueous solutions. J Colloid Interface Sci 528:360–371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Jiang R, Lin W, Ouyang G (2019) Effect of salinity and humic acid on the aggregation and toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups and charges. Environ Pollut 245:836–843

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu X, Liu P, Huang H, Gao S (2020) Adsorption of triclosan onto different aged polypropylene microplastics: critical effect of cations. Sci Total Environ 717:137033

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu B, Liu F, Brookes PC, Xu J (2018a) Microplastics play a minor role in tetracycline sorption in the presence of dissolved organic matter. Environ Pollut 240:87–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu B, Liu F, Brookes PC, Xu J (2018b) The sorption kinetics and isotherms of sulfamethoxazole with polyethylene microplastics. Mar Pollut Bull 131:191–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu RA, Lin Q, Qiu X, Chen J, Shao Y, Hu G, Lin G (2019) UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of imatinib, voriconazole and their metabolites concentrations in rat plasma. J Pharm Biomed Anal 166:6–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue X-D, Fang C-R, Zhuang H-F (2021) Adsorption behaviors of the pristine and aged thermoplastic polyurethane microplastics in Cu (II)-OTC coexisting system. J Hazard Mater 407:124835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Chen M, Li H, Li H (2018) The degree of crystallinity exhibiting a spatial distribution in polymer films. Eur Polym J 107:303–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yilimulati M, Wang L, Ma X, Yang C, Habibul N (2021) Adsorption of ciprofloxacin to functionalized nano-sized polystyrene plastic: kinetics, thermochemistry and toxicity. Sci Total Environ 750:142370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin L, Wang B, Yuan H, Deng S, Huang J, Wang Y, Yu G (2017) Pay special attention to the transformation products of PPCPs in environment. Emerg Contam 3(2):69–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu F, Li Y, Huang G, Yang C, Chen C, Zhou T, Zhao Y, Ma J (2020a) Adsorption behavior of the antibiotic levofloxacin on microplastics in the presence of different heavy metals in an aqueous solution. Chemosphere 260:127650

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu F, Yang C, Huang G, Zhou T, Zhao Y, Ma J (2020b) Interfacial interaction between diverse microplastics and tetracycline by adsorption in an aqueous solution. Sci Total Environ 721:137729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Chen J, Yang Q, Lan K, Yan Z, Chen J (2018a) Eco-friendly intracellular microalgae synthesis of fluorescent CdSe QDs as a sensitive nanoprobe for determination of imatinib. Sens Actuators B Chem 263:625–633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Wang J, Zhou B, Zhou Y, Dai Z, Zhou Q, Chriestie P, Luo Y (2018b) Enhanced adsorption of oxytetracycline to weathered microplastic polystyrene: kinetics, isotherms and influencing factors. Environ Pollut 243:1550–1557

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Heba M. Hashem, Rania El-Shaheny & Mahmoud H. El-Maghrabey

  2. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Course of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan

    Mahmoud H. El-Maghrabey

Authors
  1. Heba M. Hashem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rania El-Shaheny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mahmoud H. El-Maghrabey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahmoud H. El-Maghrabey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Pachaiyappa’s College (Affiliated to University of Madras), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    V. Sivasankar

  2. Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Pachaiyappa’s College (Affiliated to University of Madras), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    T. G. Sunitha

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Hashem, H.M., El-Shaheny, R., El-Maghrabey, M.H. (2024). Microplastics as an Ecological Vector Transport for Pharmaceuticals: Insights into the Interaction Mechanisms. In: Sivasankar, V., Sunitha, T.G. (eds) Microplastics and Pollutants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54565-8_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation