Influence of cephalexin on cadmium adsorption onto microplastic particles in water: Human health risk evaluation.

This paper explores the impact of environmental factors on the adsorption of cadmium (Cd) and cephalexin (CEX) onto polyethylene (PE) microplastics. The study focused on Cd adsorption behavior on microplastics (MPs) of various sizes, revealing that particles sized 30-63 µm exhibited the highest adsorption capacity compared to other sizes. Cd sorption was significantly influenced by initial pH and salinity levels. Experimental data closely matched both the Langmuir (R2 > 0.91) and Freundlich (R2 > 0.92) isotherms. Cd adsorption onto PE particles was greater than CEX adsorption, with the maximum Cd uptake capacity measured at 1.8 mg/g. FTIR analysis indicated that Cd and CEX adsorption onto MPs was likely governed by physical interactions, as no new functional groups were detected post-uptake. The desorption rates of Cd and CEX from PE microplastics were evaluated in various liquids, including aqueous solution, tap water, seawater, and synthetic gastric juice. The health risks associated with Cd, in combination with MPs and CEX, for both children and adults were assessed in groundwater and aqueous solutions. This study offers scientific insights and guidelines for examining the environmental behavior, migration, and transformation of microplastics and their related ecological risks in scenarios of combined pollution.

Review of toxicity and global distribution of phthalate acid esters in fish.

Organic additives are incorporated during the manufacturing of plastics, and these additives are gradually released into the environment from plastic debris. Among these, phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are the most prevalent. PAEs can be found in the atmosphere, aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial regions, soil, and within animal and human bodies. They are released from industrial activities and have a significant impact on the natural environment. This study reviews research on PAEs from various regions worldwide, with about 47.8 % of the studies published between 2020 and 2024. The highest concentrations of PAEs were detected in fish samples from rivers in Taiwan, ranging from 13.6 to 70.0 mg/kg dry weight. PAEs tend to accumulate more in benthic organisms and sediments. DEHP was the most prevalent PAE in fish samples, showing the highest levels and detection frequency among the analyzed PAEs. Some studies found a strong correlation (r2 = 0.85) between PAEs concentrations in fish and water. The findings of this study can help in assessing the fate and behavior of PAEs in the environment and provide a basis for developing future management strategies to control phthalate acid esters pollution in aquatic environments.

Co-occurrence of microplastics and organic/inorganic contaminants in organisms living in aquatic ecosystems: A review.

Most studies on microplastics (MPs) and organisms, regardless of the MPs type and their presence in the environment and organisms, have been performed on a laboratory scale. In this review, reports of simultaneous analysis of the abundance of MPs and organic/inorganic contaminants in aquatic organisms in the natural environment have been collected and bibliometric analysis was performed. Biological and environmental factors affecting MPs absorption by organisms were discussed. The majority of microplastics were identified as fibrous and black with a small size (<500 µm). A positive correlation was reported between microplastic numbers and organic/inorganic contaminants in the tissue of some species. The most positive linear relationship between heavy metal and MPs was reported for Heniochus acuminatus from the Gulf of Mannar. To preserve biodiversity and the risks of transferring MPs and contaminants to aquatic organisms and humans, it is necessary to control microplastic contamination.