Microplastics are not important for the cycling and bioaccumulation of organic pollutants in the oceans—but should microplastics be considered POPs themselves?

Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean

Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., Narayan, R., & Law, K. L. (2015) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1260352 · Cited by 13,163 · see citing works

Lost at sea: where is all the plastic?

Thompson, R. C., Olsen, Y., Mitchell, R. P., Davis, A., Rowland, S. J., John, A. W. G., McGonigle, D., & Russell, A. E. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1094559 · Cited by 7,765 · see citing works

Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans: more than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea

Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C. M., Carson, H. S., Thiel, M., Moore, C. J., Borerro, J. C., Galgani, F., Ryan, P. G., & Reisser, J. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111913 · Cited by 4,710 · see citing works

Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlife

Teuten, E. L., Saquing, J. M., Knappe, D. R. U., Barlaz, M. A., Jonsson, S., Björn, A., Rowland, S. J., Thompson, R. C., Galloway, T. S., Yamashita, R., et al. (2009) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0284 · Cited by 2,938 · see citing works

Pathways for degradation of plastic polymers floating in the marine environment

Gewert, B., Plassmann, M. M., & MacLeod, M. (2015) · Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts · doi:10.1039/c5em00207a · Cited by 2,168 · see citing works

Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress

Rochman, C. M., Hoh, E., Kurobe, T., & Teh, S. J. (2013) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep03263 · Cited by 2,063 · see citing works

A global inventory of small floating plastic debris

van Sebille, E., Wilcox, C., Lebreton, L., Maximenko, N., Hardesty, B. D., van Franeker, J. A., Eriksen, M., Siegel, D., Galgani, F., & Law, K. L. (2015) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/10/12/124006 · Cited by 1,713 · see citing works

Uptake and Effects of Microplastics on Cells and Tissue of the Blue Mussel <i>Mytilus edulis</i> L. after an Experimental Exposure

von Moos, N., Burkhardt-Holm, P., & Köhler, A. (2012) · Environmental Science &amp; Technology · doi:10.1021/es302332w · Cited by 1,697 · see citing works

Microplastic as a Vector for Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment: Critical Review and Model-Supported Reinterpretation of Empirical Studies

Koelmans, A. A., Bakir, A., Burton, G. A., & Janssen, C. (2016) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b06069 · Cited by 1,603 · see citing works

Plastic accumulation in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre

Law, K. L., Morét-Ferguson, S., Maximenko, N. A., Proskurowski, G., Peacock, E. E., Hafner, J., & Reddy, C. M. (2010) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1192321 · Cited by 1,377 · see citing works

Potential for plastics to transport hydrophobic contaminants.

Teuten, E., Rowland, S., Galloway, T., & Thompson, R. (2007) · Environmental Science and Technology · doi:10.1021/es071737s · Cited by 1,205 · see citing works

Enhanced desorption of persistent organic pollutants from microplastics under simulated physiological conditions

Bakir, A., Rowland, S. J., & Thompson, R. C. (2013) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.007 · Cited by 1,100 · see citing works

Effects of Microplastic on Fitness and PCB Bioaccumulation by the Lugworm <i>Arenicola marina</i> (L.)

Besseling, E., Wegner, A., Foekema, E. M., van den Heuvel-Greve, M. J., & Koelmans, A. A. (2013) · Environmental Science &amp; Technology · doi:10.1021/es302763x · Cited by 1,012 · see citing works

Long-Term Field Measurement of Sorption of Organic Contaminants to Five Types of Plastic Pellets: Implications for Plastic Marine Debris

Rochman, C. M., Hoh, E., Hentschel, B. T., & Kaye, S. (2012) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es303700s · Cited by 975 · see citing works

Size-Dependent Effects of Micro Polystyrene Particles in the Marine Copepod <i>Tigriopus japonicus</i>

Lee, K.-W., Shim, W. J., Kwon, O. Y., & Kang, J.-H. (2013) · Environmental Science &amp; Technology · doi:10.1021/es401932b · Cited by 923 · see citing works

Organic micropollutants in marine plastics debris from the open ocean and remote and urban beaches

Hirai, H., Takada, H., Ogata, Y., Yamashita, R., Mizukawa, K., Saha, M., Kwan, C. S., Moore, C. J., Gray, H. E., Laursen, D., et al. (2011) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.06.004 · Cited by 862 · see citing works

Accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals in tissues of seabirds ingesting marine plastics

Tanaka, K., Takada, H., Yamashita, R., Mizukawa, K., Fukuwaka, M.-A., & Watanuki, Y. (2013) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.12.010 · Cited by 704 · see citing works

Transfer of benzo[ a ]pyrene from microplastics to Artemia nauplii and further to zebrafish via a trophic food web experiment: CYP1A induction and visual tracking of persistent organic pollutants

Batel, A., Linti, F., Scherer, M., Erdinger, L., & Braunbeck, T. A. (2016) · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · doi:10.1002/etc.3361 · Cited by 594 · see citing works

Transport of persistent organic pollutants by microplastics in estuarine conditions

Bakir, A., Rowland, S. J., & Thompson, R. C. (2014) · Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science · doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2014.01.004 · Cited by 536 · see citing works

Leaching of plastic additives to marine organisms

Koelmans, A. A., Besseling, E., & Foekema, E. M. (2014) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.12.013 · Cited by 501 · see citing works

Microplastics as vectors for bioaccumulation of hydrophobic organic chemicals in the marine environment: A state-of-the-science review

Ziccardi, L. M., Edgington, A. J., Hentz, K. L., Kulacki, K. J., & Driscoll, S. K. (2016) · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · doi:10.1002/etc.3461 · Cited by 496 · see citing works

Assimilation of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers from Microplastics by the Marine Amphipod, <i>Allorchestes Compressa</i>

Chua, E. M., Shimeta, J., Nugegoda, D., Morrison, P. D., & Clarke, B. O. (2014) · Environmental Science &amp; Technology · doi:10.1021/es405717z · Cited by 494 · see citing works

Chemical Pollutants Sorbed to Ingested Microbeads from Personal Care Products Accumulate in Fish

Wardrop, P., Shimeta, J., Nugegoda, D., Morrison, P. D., Miranda, A. F., Tang, M., & Clarke, B. O. (2016) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b06280 · Cited by 491 · see citing works

A Thermodynamic Approach for Assessing the Environmental Exposure of Chemicals Absorbed to Microplastic

Gouin, T., Roche, N. L., Lohmann, R., & Hodges, G. (2011) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es1032025 · Cited by 468 · see citing works

The degradation potential of PET bottles in the marine environment: an ATR-FTIR based approach

Ioakeimidis, C., Fotopoulou, K. N., Karapanagioti, H. K., Geraga, M., Zeri, C., Papathanassiou, E., Galgani, F., & Papatheodorou, G. (2016) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep23501 · Cited by 405 · see citing works

Are marine plastic particles transport vectors for organic pollutants to the Arctic?

Zarfl, C., & Matthies, M. (2010) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.05.026 · Cited by 395 · see citing works

Debromination of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Congeners BDE 99 and BDE 183 in the Intestinal Tract of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Stapleton, H. M., Letcher, R. J., & Baker, J. E. (2004) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es0348804 · Cited by 325 · see citing works

Critical Review of Low-Density Polyethylene’s Partitioning and Diffusion Coefficients for Trace Organic Contaminants and Implications for Its Use As a Passive Sampler

Lohmann, R. (2011) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es202702y · Cited by 325 · see citing works

Polyethylene Devices: Passive Samplers for Measuring Dissolved Hydrophobic Organic Compounds in Aquatic Environments

Adams, R. G., Lohmann, R., Fernandez, L. A., MacFarlane, J. K., & Gschwend, P. M. (2007) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es0621593 · Cited by 287 · see citing works

Negligible Impact of Ingested Microplastics on Tissue Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Northern Fulmars off Coastal Norway

Herzke, D., Anker‐Nilssen, T., Nøst, T. H., Götsch, A., Christensen‐Dalsgaard, S., Langset, M., Fangel, K., & Koelmans, A. A. (2015) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b04663 · Cited by 274 · see citing works

Polymer−Water Partition Coefficients of Hydrophobic Compounds for Passive Sampling: Application of Cosolvent Models for Validation

Smedes, F., Geertsma, R. W., van der Zande, T., et al. (2009) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es9009376 · Cited by 264 · see citing works

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish tissue may be an indicator of plastic contamination in marine habitats

Rochman, C. M., Lewison, R. L., Eriksen, M., Allen, H. L., Cook, A., & Teh, S. J. (2014) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.058 · Cited by 251 · see citing works

Polymer selection for passive sampling: A comparison of critical properties

Rusina, T. P., Smedes, F., Klánová, J., et al. (2007) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.01.025 · Cited by 245 · see citing works

Styrofoam Debris as a Source of Hazardous Additives for Marine Organisms

Jang, M., Shim, W. J., Han, G. M., Rani, M., Song, Y. K., & Hong, S. H. (2016) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b05485 · Cited by 214 · see citing works

Diffuse pollution by persistent organic pollutants as measured in plastic pellets sampled from various beaches in Greece

Karapanagioti, H. K., Endo, S., Ogata, Y., & Takada, H. (2010) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.10.009 · Cited by 208 · see citing works

Desorption kinetics of hydrophobic organic contaminants from marine plastic pellets

Endo, S., Yuyama, M., & Takada, H. (2013) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.018 · Cited by 196 · see citing works

Global Aquatic Passive Sampling (AQUA-GAPS): Using Passive Samplers to Monitor POPs in the Waters of the World

Lohmann, R., & Muir, D. C. G. (2010) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es902379g · Cited by 117 · see citing works

A non-absorbable dietary fat substitute enhances elimination of persistent lipophilic contaminants in humans

Moser, G., & McLachlan, M. S. (1999) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/s0045-6535(99)00219-2 · Cited by 81 · see citing works

Cycling of PCBs and HCB in the Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere of the Open Pacific

Zhang, L., & Lohmann, R. (2010) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es9039852 · Cited by 72 · see citing works

Determination of silicone rubber and low-density polyethylene diffusion and polymer/water partition coefficients for emerging contaminants

Pintado‐Herrera, M. G., Lara‐Martín, P. A., González‐Mazo, E., et al. (2016) · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · doi:10.1002/etc.3390 · Cited by 49 · see citing works

No measurable “cleaning” of polychlorinated biphenyls from Rainbow Trout in a 9 week depuration study with dietary exposure to 40% polyethylene microspheres

Rummel, C. D., Adolfsson‐Erici, M., Jahnke, A., & MacLeod, M. (2016) · Environmental Science Processes & Impacts · doi:10.1039/c6em00234j · Cited by 43 · see citing works

Marine microplastics as vectors of major ocean pollutants and its hazards to the marine ecosystem and humans

Amelia, T. S. M., Khalik, W. M. A. W. M., Ong, M. C., Shao, Y. T., Pan, H.-J., & Bhubalan, K. (2021) · Progress in Earth and Planetary Science · doi:10.1186/s40645-020-00405-4 · Cited by 641 · see citing works

Significance of interactions between microplastics and POPs in the marine environment: A critical overview

Rodrigues, J. P., Duarte, A. C., Santos-Echeandía, J., & Rocha-Santos, T. (2019) · TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.trac.2018.11.038 · Cited by 491 · see citing works

Risks of Plastic Debris: Unravelling Fact, Opinion, Perception, and Belief

Koelmans, A. A., Besseling, E., Foekema, E., Kooi, M., Mintenig, S., Ossendorp, B. C., Redondo-Hasselerharm, P. E., Verschoor, A., van Wezel, A. P., & Scheffer, M. (2017) · Environmental Science &amp; Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b02219 · Cited by 381 · see citing works

Interaction of Environmental Pollutants with Microplastics: A Critical Review of Sorption Factors, Bioaccumulation and Ecotoxicological Effects

Menéndez-Pedriza, A., & Jaumot, J. (2020) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics8020040 · Cited by 381 · see citing works

Evidence of Microplastic Translocation in Wild-Caught Fish and Implications for Microplastic Accumulation Dynamics in Food Webs

McIlwraith, H. K., Kim, J., Helm, P., Bhavsar, S. P., Metzger, J. S., & Rochman, C. M. (2021) · Environmental Science &amp; Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c02922 · Cited by 295 · see citing works

Transfer of PCBs from Microplastics under Simulated Gut Fluid Conditions Is Biphasic and Reversible

Mohamed Nor, N. H., & Koelmans, A. A. (2019) · Environmental Science &amp; Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b05143 · Cited by 186 · see citing works

Glitters as a Source of Primary Microplastics: An Approach to Environmental Responsibility and Ethics

Yurtsever, M. (2019) · Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10806-019-09785-0 · Cited by 115 · see citing works

Modeling the Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification Potential of Microplastics in a Cetacean Foodweb of the Northeastern Pacific: A Prospective Tool to Assess the Risk Exposure to Plastic Particles

Alava, J. J. (2020) · Frontiers in Marine Science · doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.566101 · Cited by 113 · see citing works

Spatial Variability and Influence of Biological Parameters on Microplastic Ingestion by Boops boops (L.) along the Italian Coasts (Western Mediterranean Sea)

Sbrana, A., Valente, T., Scacco, U., Bianchi, J., Silvestri, C., Palazzo, L., de Lucia, G. A., Valerani, C., Ardizzone, G., & Matiddi, M. (2020) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114429 · Cited by 82 · see citing works

Fate of microplastics and emerging contaminants: Mechanisms of interactions, bioaccumulation and combined toxicity to aquatic organisms

Sabri, N. A. A., Razak, M. R., & Aris, A. Z. (2025) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117822 · Cited by 28 · see citing works

Microplastics and Anthropogenic Particles in Recreationally Caught Freshwater Fish from an Urbanized Region of the North American Great Lakes

Milne, M. H., Helm, P. A., Munno, K., Bhavsar, S. P., & Rochman, C. M. (2024) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp13540 · Cited by 15 · see citing works

The bioaccumulation effects of microplastics and associated organic pollutants in the aquatic environment

Yu, H., Chen, Q., & Shi, H. (2021) · Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) · doi:10.1360/tb-2020-1426 · Cited by 7 · see citing works

The interactions of microplastics and chemical pollutants

Crawford, C. B., & Quinn, B. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809406-8.00006-2 · Cited by 121 · see citing works

Bioaccumulation of marine pollutants

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96/05602 A review of dioxin emissions in the UK

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Biomonitoring aquatic pollution with feral eel (Anguilla anguilla) I. Bioaccumulation: biota-sediment ratios of PCBs, OCPs, PCDDs and PCDFs

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