Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants
Microplastics are ubiquitous in marine ecosystems, acting as both pollutants and carriers of marine contaminants. This review synthesizes current knowledge through a comprehensive literature search (2000–2024) across Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, prioritizing peer-reviewed studies on interac...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45634/ |
| _version_ | 1848827471463448576 |
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| author | Ho, Chia Min Feng, Weiying Li, Xiaofeng Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian Ngien, Su Kong Yu, Xuezheng |
| author_facet | Ho, Chia Min Feng, Weiying Li, Xiaofeng Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian Ngien, Su Kong Yu, Xuezheng |
| author_sort | Ho, Chia Min |
| building | UMP Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Microplastics are ubiquitous in marine ecosystems, acting as both pollutants and carriers of marine contaminants. This review synthesizes current knowledge through
a comprehensive literature search (2000–2024) across Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, prioritizing peer-reviewed studies on interaction mechanisms, ecological
impacts, and emerging co-contaminants. High surface-area-to-volume ratios, hydrophobicity, and persistent degradation resistance facilitate the accumulation and
transport of diverse contaminants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and dissolved
organic matter (DOM). POPs adsorb onto microplastics through hydrophobic partitioning and π–π interactions, with sorption enhanced by UV aging and biofilm.
Heavy metals interact through electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, and chelation, influenced by pH, salinity, DOM, and biofilm. PPCP-microplastic in�teractions are mediated by hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonding, and ion-exchange mechanisms, depending on polymer type and environmental conditions. DOM
acts as both a sorbent and degradation product, with microplastics promoting DOM humification and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under photo�irradiation. These interactions amplify ecological risks by disrupting microbial communities, promoting antibiotic resistance, and altering nutrient cycles, exacer�bating climate vulnerability in coastal ecosystems per IPCC AR6 findings, with socio-economic impacts on fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, and waste
management. Effective policy frameworks such as source reduction, advanced wastewater treatment, and international cooperation on plastic waste management are
critical for mitigating these risks. Emerging insights into multi-pollutant interactions, including engineered nanomaterials and biotoxins, and recent technological
advances for mechanistic elucidation. It underscores the importance of understanding of microplastic-contaminant interactions to mitigate ecological risks and
protect marine ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T04:01:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | ump-45634 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Pahang |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T04:01:14Z |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | ump-456342025-09-19T04:25:59Z https://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45634/ Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants Ho, Chia Min Feng, Weiying Li, Xiaofeng Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian Ngien, Su Kong Yu, Xuezheng TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering Microplastics are ubiquitous in marine ecosystems, acting as both pollutants and carriers of marine contaminants. This review synthesizes current knowledge through a comprehensive literature search (2000–2024) across Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, prioritizing peer-reviewed studies on interaction mechanisms, ecological impacts, and emerging co-contaminants. High surface-area-to-volume ratios, hydrophobicity, and persistent degradation resistance facilitate the accumulation and transport of diverse contaminants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and dissolved organic matter (DOM). POPs adsorb onto microplastics through hydrophobic partitioning and π–π interactions, with sorption enhanced by UV aging and biofilm. Heavy metals interact through electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, and chelation, influenced by pH, salinity, DOM, and biofilm. PPCP-microplastic in�teractions are mediated by hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonding, and ion-exchange mechanisms, depending on polymer type and environmental conditions. DOM acts as both a sorbent and degradation product, with microplastics promoting DOM humification and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under photo�irradiation. These interactions amplify ecological risks by disrupting microbial communities, promoting antibiotic resistance, and altering nutrient cycles, exacer�bating climate vulnerability in coastal ecosystems per IPCC AR6 findings, with socio-economic impacts on fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, and waste management. Effective policy frameworks such as source reduction, advanced wastewater treatment, and international cooperation on plastic waste management are critical for mitigating these risks. Emerging insights into multi-pollutant interactions, including engineered nanomaterials and biotoxins, and recent technological advances for mechanistic elucidation. It underscores the importance of understanding of microplastic-contaminant interactions to mitigate ecological risks and protect marine ecosystems. Elsevier 2026 Article PeerReviewed pdf en https://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45634/1/1-s2.0-S0025326X25011737-main.pdf Ho, Chia Min and Feng, Weiying and Li, Xiaofeng and Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian and Ngien, Su Kong and Yu, Xuezheng (2026) Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 222, Part 1 (118697). pp. 1-18. ISSN 0025-326X (Print), 1879-3363 (Online). (In Press / Online First) (In Press / Online First) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118697 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118697 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118697 |
| spellingShingle | TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering Ho, Chia Min Feng, Weiying Li, Xiaofeng Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian Ngien, Su Kong Yu, Xuezheng Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants |
| title | Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants |
| title_full | Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants |
| title_short | Exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants |
| title_sort | exploring the complex interactions between microplastics and marine contaminants |
| topic | TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering |
| url | https://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45634/ https://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45634/ https://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45634/ |