Microplastics and associated emerging contaminants in the environment: Analysis, sorption mechanisms and effects of co-exposure

Microplastics (MPs) and other emerging pollutants exist together in the environment and their co-exposure a source of increasing concern as MPs have been reported to act as carriers of pollutants due to high sorption capacity. The ingestion of contaminated MPs by organisms can enhance the desorption of , increasing their bioavailability and toxicity. This review examines the role of MPs as vectors of emerging contaminants. First, the main tools used to identify and characterise MPs and the methods used for the determination of associated emerging contaminants are discussed. Insightful of the sorption interaction between several groups of emerging pollutants and MPs are provided. type (polarity, crystallinity, size) and aging process together with the environmental conditions and pollutant (hydrophobicity and dissociated forms) are key factors influencing the sorption process. The literature showed that polyethylene and polystyrene were the most commonly studied polymers. Antibiotics, compounds and triclosan showed high sorption capacities onto MPs. Finally, the effect of co- to MPs-emerging pollutants and bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial organisms is discussed. combined exposure may impact the toxic effects in different ways, through synergistic or antagonic in- . Examples of different scenarios are provided, but in general the research conducted on terrestrial is scarce. The results revealed a lack of standardization in laboratory studies and in the testing conditions reflect actual environmental exposure.