Interactions Between Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Aquatic Environments: A Review

Overview

Journal Front Microbiol

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2021 May 10

PMID 33967988

Citations 19

Authors

Sitong Liu

Jiafu Shi

Jiao Wang

Yexin Dai

Hongyu Li

Jiayao Li

Xianhua Liu

Xiaochen Chen

Zhiyun Wang

Pingping Zhang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), tiny particles broken down from larger pieces of plastics, have accumulated everywhere on the earth. As an inert carbon stream in aquatic environment, they have been reported as carriers for heavy metals and exhibit diverse interactive effects. However, these interactions are still poorly understood, especially mechanisms driving these interactions and how they pose risks on living organisms. In this mini review, a bibliometric analysis in this field was conducted and then the mechanisms driving these interactions were examined, especially emphasizing the important roles of microorganisms on the interactions. Their combined toxic effects and the potential hazards to human health were also discussed. Finally, the future research directions in this field were suggested. This review summarized the recent research progress in this field and highlighted the essential roles of the microbes on the interactions between MPs and heavy metals with the hope to promote more studies to unveil action mechanisms and reduce/eliminate the risks associated with MP presence.

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