Behaviors and influencing factors of the heavy metals adsorption onto microplastics: A review

Abstract The microplastics (MPs) serving as the “minor but efficient” vector and carriers of the environmental heavy metals (HMs) were broadly disseminated in the freshwater and marine systems. Understanding the adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of the HMs by the MPs is critical to the assessment of potential risks posed by MPs for the environment. In this review, the adsorption behaviors of the common heavy metals (e.g. cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, chromium) by the reported MPs were comprehensively summarized. The critical factors influencing the adsorption behaviors of the MPs were additionally appended. Eventually, the suggestions for forthcoming research and the environmental implications from this review were proposed.