Aging microplastics enhances the adsorption of pharmaceuticals in freshwater.

Moura, Diana S.; Pestana, Carlos J.; Moffat, Colin F.; Gkoulemani, Nikoletta; Hui, Jianing; Irvine, John T.S.; Lawton, Linda A.

Abstract

Plastic pollution is an increasing environmental concern. Pollutants such as microplastics (< 5 mm) and pharmaceuticals often co-exist in the aquatic environment. The current study aimed to elucidate the interaction of pharmaceuticals with microplastics and ascertain how the process of photo-oxidation of microplastics affected the adsorption of the pharmaceuticals. To this end, a mixture containing ibuprofen, carbamazepine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine and ofloxacin (16 μmol L−1 each) was placed in contact with one of six either virgin or aged microplastic types. The virgin microplastics were acquired commercially and artificially aged in the laboratory. Polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride microparticles were evaluated at two sizes, described as small (D50 < 35 μm) and large (D50 95–157 μm). Results demonstrated that the study of virgin particles may underestimate the adsorption of micropollutants onto microplastics. For virgin particles, only small microparticles of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and both sizes of polyamide adsorbed pharmaceuticals. Aging the microplastics significantly increased the adsorption of pharmaceuticals by microplastics. Fluoxetine adsorbed onto all aged microplastics, from 18% (large polyethylene terephthalate) to 99% (small polypropylene). The current investigation highlights the potential of microplastics to act as a vector for pharmaceuticals in freshwater, especially after aging.

Citation

MOURA, D.S., PESTANA, C.J., MOFFAT, C.F., GKOULEMANI, N., HUI, J., IRVINE, J.T.S. and LAWTON, L.A. 2024. Aging microplastics enhances the adsorption of pharmaceuticals in freshwater. Science of the total environment [online], 912, article number 169467. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169467

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 16, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 22, 2023
• Publication Date: Feb 20, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 3, 2024
• Journal: Science of the total environment
• Print ISSN: 0048-9697
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-1026
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 912
• Article Number: 169467
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169467
• Keywords: Water pollution; Polymers; Plastics weathering; Photo-oxidation; Carboxyl index
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2193508