Microplastics associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review of the state of the art and its effects on biota Tawany de Mello Souza, Paloma Kachel Gusso Choueri

Abstract

Due to their improper disposal, plastics end up in aquatic ecosystems, representing a threat to biota. From their continuous degradation, microplastics are generated, which become available to a wide variety of organisms and, due to their small size, have a high surface with potential to adsorb hydrophobic organic pollutants from water, such as PAHs. These pollutants have harmful effects on ecosystems and human health, and it is extremely important to understand the mechanism of adsorption of PAHs in microplastics and its effects on ecosystem life. Thus, the objective of this work was, from a bibliographic survey, to evaluate the interactions of MP/PAHs, what is known about their mechanisms and what are the main known effects. The mechanisms of interaction between MPs and organic chemicals are not yet well understood and few studies were found on the impact assessment that MPs/PAHs interaction can cause on ecosystems.