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Cited by 108Microplastics and Plastic PollutionPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsAdsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal

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Adsorption of a diverse range of pharmaceuticals to polyethylene microplastics in wastewater and their desorption in environmental matrices

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McDougall, Louise, Thomson, Lauren, Brand, Sarah, Wagstaff, Tony Anna, Lawton, Linda A., Petrie, Bruce·2022·Science of The Total Environment
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152071
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Abstract

It is proposed that microplastics discharged from wastewater treatment plants act as a vector of pharmaceuticals. In this study, adsorption of pharmaceuticals to polyethylene microplastics was investigated in municipal wastewater. Pharmaceuticals for study were selected to represent different speciation (anionic, cationic, and neutral) and a range of pH dependant octanol-water distribution coefficients (log D OW). Findings revealed adsorption favoured those in cationic form with the greatest hydrophobicity (e.g., fluoxetine log D OW 2.0 at pH 7.8). Adsorption of anionic pharmaceuticals was restricted due to repulsion with the microplastic's negatively charged surface. Only atorvastatin had any appreciable adsorption due to its comparatively high log D OW value (2.9). Those pharmaceuticals predominantly in neutral form (carbamazepine and ketamine) with log D OW values ≥2.4 had similar adsorption. Freundlich K F values were 3400, 386, 284, 259 and 218 (mg kg-1)(mg L-1)1/n for fluoxetine, propranolol, atorvastatin, ketamine, and carbamazepine, respectively. All pharmaceuticals with log D OW values <1.0 (atenolol, gliclazide, bezafibrate, and ifosfamide) did not adsorb to microplastics, irrespective of their speciation. Changing composition of wastewater (pH, dilution with stormwater and NaCl addition) within the range expected for municipal wastewater had limited influence on adsorption. Pharmaceutical desorption from microplastics was assessed in river water and simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Solution pH was considered the most important factor for pharmaceutical desorption, influencing both pharmaceutical speciation and microplastic surface charge. Greatest desorption was observed for the cationic pharmaceuticals in gastric fluids due to a reduced surface charge of the microplastics under low pH conditions. Up to 50% desorption of fluoxetine occurred in gastric fluid at 37 °C. These findings show that pharmaceuticals adsorbed to microplastics are 'bioavailable'. However, this is often overlooked as an exposure route to aquatic organisms because water samples are normally pre-filtered prior to chemical analysis.

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Metadata

Authors
McDougall, L., Thomson, L., Brand, S., Wagstaff, T. A., Lawton, L. A., & Petrie, B.
Affiliations
Robert Gordon University (GB)
Corresponding author
Petrie, Bruce
ORCID
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-02
Volume
808
Pages
152071
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152071
OpenAlex
W3216689138
Cited by
108
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 18
FWCI
4.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Access Institutional Repository at Robert Gordon University (Robert Gordon University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Royal Society of Edinburgh
  • Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
Keywords
drug adsorption, polyethylene microplastics, municipal wastewater, octanol-water distribution coefficient, Freundlich isotherm, pH effect, gastric juice, intestinal fluid, river water, bioavailability, wastewater treatment plants, fluoxetine, carbamazepine, ketamine, atorvastatin, propranolol
MeSH terms
Microplastics, Adsorption, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Polyethylene, Wastewater

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