Co-occurrence and interaction of microplastics with heavy metals

Abstract

Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems face serious concerns regarding the pollution caused by heavy metals and microplastics (MPs). The simultaneous exposure of organisms to these two pollutants could lead to potential health risks, and a complete understanding of these effects is still lacking. It is crucial to accurately identify and quantify metal content within MPs to determine exposure levels and gain insights into their potential environmental toxicity, considering the widespread presence of MPs. To assess the extent of their ecotoxic effects, there is a need for comprehensive data that explores how MPs interact with heavy metals in different environments. Present study aims to examine the occurrence, distribution, and behavior of MPs in relation to heavy metals, as well as their combined toxic effects in different ecosystems. Additionally, the ingestion of MPs integrated with heavy metals can potentially facilitate the transportation of these metals up the food web, potentially causing compounded toxic impacts and posing threats to human health. This study also addresses these concerns and discusses their implications.