Enhanced Ecological Risk of Plastic-Associated Chemicals by Microplastics in the Riverine Benthic Food Web
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) can be ingested by organisms and influence the bioavailability of plastic-associated chemicals (PACs), which may subsequently be transferred and biomagnified through food webs. Understanding their trophic transfer in benthic ecosystems is essential for ecological risk evaluation. This study examined the accumulation of MPs and PACs in benthic organisms of the lower Yangtze River, assessed their biomagnification and dietary intake, and evaluated PAC-related ecological risks across trophic levels. MPs and PACs widely co-occurred in benthic fauna, with concentrations of 63.04–1.55 × 10 3 items/g and 304.91–1.84 × 10 5 ng/g dry weight, respectively. MPs were predominantly
Fields of Study & Subjects
Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 8120–8132
- Publication date
- 3 March 2026
- Language
- EN