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Peer-reviewedCC BYMolecules

Microplastics–Pollutant Interactions in Environmental Systems: Mechanisms, Ecological Effects, and Implications for Sustainable Management

  • Lei Wu1,2
  • Xuerong Zhou3
  • Cui Lai1,2
  • Mingyang Ma1,2
  • Lei Qin1,2
  • Wenjun Wang4
4 affiliations
  1. 1College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
  2. 2Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
  3. 3Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan 430010, China
  4. 4School of Resources and Environment, Hunan University of Technology and Business, Changsha 410205, China
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Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are persistent contaminants widely distributed across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Previous reviews have shown that MPs can carry pollutants and change their environmental behavior, but the field is now broad enough that a simple repetition of sources, adsorption mechanisms, and toxicity would add limited value. This review therefore organizes MPs-pollutant-interactions as a connected chain from sources and environmental pathways to interaction mechanisms, biological effects, and management actions. It summarizes the major MPs input pathways and representative polymer types across water, soil, and air, and then explains how partitioning, surface adsorption, desorption, and pore filling control the binding and release of pollutants. The review further discusses how MPs properties, pollutant characteristics, pollutant mixtures, biofilms/plastisphere, and environmental factors jointly regulate these processes. In addition, it evaluates the consequences of MPs-pollutant coupling for pollutant mobility, bioavailability, biodegradation, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, ecological toxicity, and human exposure. Finally, the review links these processes with practical management needs, including wastewater treatment, sludge reuse, agricultural plastic control, atmospheric monitoring, environmental education, and long-term risk assessment. By bringing these topics into one framework, this review provides a clearer basis for understanding and managing MPs-associated mixed pollution in environmental systems.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wu2026microplasticspollutant,
  title = {{Microplastics–Pollutant Interactions in Environmental Systems: Mechanisms, Ecological Effects, and Implications for Sustainable Management}},
  author = {Lei Wu and Xuerong Zhou and Cui Lai and Mingyang Ma and Lei Qin and Wenjun Wang},
  journal = {Molecules},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.3390/molecules31111852},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31111852},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Microplastics–Pollutant Interactions in Environmental Systems: Mechanisms, Ecological Effects, and Implications for Sustainable Management
AU  - Lei Wu
AU  - Xuerong Zhou
AU  - Cui Lai
AU  - Mingyang Ma
AU  - Lei Qin
AU  - Wenjun Wang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/28
JO  - Molecules
DO  - 10.3390/molecules31111852
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31111852
AB  - Microplastics (MPs) are persistent contaminants widely distributed across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Previous reviews have shown that MPs can carry pollutants and change their environmental behavior, but the field is now broad enough that a simple repetition of sources, adsorption mechanisms, and toxicity would add limited value. This review therefore organizes MPs-pollutant-interactions as a connected chain from sources and environmental pathways to interaction mechanisms, biological effects, and management actions. It summarizes the major MPs input pathways and representative polymer types across water, soil, and air, and then explains how partitioning, surface adsorption, desorption, and pore filling control the binding and release of pollutants. The review further discusses how MPs properties, pollutant characteristics, pollutant mixtures, biofilms/plastisphere, and environmental factors jointly regulate these processes. In addition, it evaluates the consequences of MPs-pollutant coupling for pollutant mobility, bioavailability, biodegradation, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, ecological toxicity, and human exposure. Finally, the review links these processes with practical management needs, including wastewater treatment, sludge reuse, agricultural plastic control, atmospheric monitoring, environmental education, and long-term risk assessment. By bringing these topics into one framework, this review provides a clearer basis for understanding and managing MPs-associated mixed pollution in environmental systems.
SN  - 1420-3049
SN  - 1433-1373
ER  -