Influence of Photooxidative Aging on the Aquatic Toxicity of Microplastic Tested on Freshwater Organisms

Everyday life conveniences and activities such as washing clothing made of synthetic fibers, tire wear, and plastic packaging break down in the environment may serve as an abundant source of microplastic (MP). There is plenty of evidence that microplastic is a problem due to its shape, size, and concentration and the fact that it can easily enter the food chain which causes negative impacts on human health and the environment. An important aspect of this problem is also the fact that microplastic and other contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) present in water can interact, in terms of the adsorption of CEC onto the MP surface. The adverse effect of MP in water is therefore influenced by factors affecting adsorption capacity: particle size, specific surface area, hydrophobicity, and polarity of MP as well as CEC.