Microplastics in soil and water

Abstract

Nowadays, microplastics are common pollutants both in water and soil. Many studies have been conducted on concentrations in these environments, and fewer studies have focused on their role as vectors of other pollutants. Microplastics present in water and soil can adsorb many other micropollutants such as antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals, PAHs, PCBs, or heavy metals. With nondegradable microplastics, the micropollutants mentioned previously can be transported over long distances, accumulated in living organisms, or desorbed. Microplastics can also be a base for the growth of microorganisms, which affects the fates of micropollutants in the environment. The chapter focuses on microplastics as a vector of other micropollutants in the water and soil environment, including effects on living organisms: plants, animals, and humans.