The Dual Role of Microplastics in Marine Environment: Sink and Vectors of Pollutants

This review is a follow-up to previous published in Journal of Marine Science and Engineeringon the issues accumulation, transport, effects microplastics (MPs) oceans. The brings together experimental laboratory, mathematical, field data on dual role MPs as accumulators hydrophobic persistent organic compounds (POPs), their release-effect marine ecosystem. It also examines carrier role, besides POPs, new emerging categories pollutants, such pharmaceuticals personal care products (PPCPs). becomes increasingly important significant polymers age surfaces become hydrophilic, increasing toxicity polymer-pollutant associations food webs. was not intention provide too many detailed examples carriers co-contaminants, exposed species, effects. Instead, views two different schools thought are reported summarized: one that emphasizes risks exposure, risk beyond critical thresholds, another downplays this view.