Electrostatic attraction of cationic pollutants by microplastics reduces their joint cytotoxicity. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Cong; Liu, Jian; Wang, Dujia; Kong, Long; Wu, Yanxin; Zhou, Xiaoxia; Jia, Jianbo; Zhou, Hongyu; Yan, Bing
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 282(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Microplastics -- Ionic pollutants -- River water -- Joint cytotoxicity -- Electrostatic attraction; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131121
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastic (MP) pollution causes global concerns regarding the consequential impacts on human health. In particular, MPs may act as vectors for various contaminants to induce adverse effects in human. In this work, the joint cytotoxicity of two different MPs co-exposed with diverse ionic pollutants was investigated in two cell lines from human digestive system: human gastric epithelium (GES-1) and colorectal mucosa (FHC) cell lines. The results indicated that the cytotoxicity of cationic pollutants was alleviated by MPs more significantly than that of anionic pollutants in both culture medium and river water. The electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged MPs and cations was a key factor in determining the ultimate joint toxicity. Our findings indicate that the joint cytotoxicity of MP-pollutant mixtures may be proactively reduced by modulating the surface charge of MPs. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Joint toxicity of microplastics and different ionic pollutants has been investigated. Both polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics shows no obvious cytotoxicity of in GES-1 and FHC cells. The cytotoxicity of cationic pollutants is alleviated by microplastics more significantly than that of anionic pollutants. The electrostatic attraction between microplastics and cations is a key factor in determining their joint cytotoxicity.