Microplastics-sorbed phenanthrene and its derivatives are highly bioaccessible and may induce human cancer risks

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in environmental media and human diets and can enrich organic contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives. The bioaccessibilities and triggering cancer risks of MP-sorbed PAHs and PAH derivatives are closely linked with human health, which, however, were rarely focused on. This study explored the sorption behaviors of phenanthrene (PHE) and PHE derivatives on polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) MPs, and assessed their bioaccessibilities in gastrointestinal fluids as well as their inducing human cancer risks. PE MPs harbored the highest sorption capacity, secondly the PP MPs, then the PS ones. Sorption of PHE and PHE derivatives on MPs was positively correlated with their hydrophobicities. The bioaccessibilities of sorbed PHE and PHE derivatives could reach 53.59 %+/- 0.46 %-90.28 %+/- 0.92 % in gastrointestinal fluids and 81.34 %+/- 0.77 %-98.72 %+/- 1.44 % in gastrointestinal fluids with the addition of Tenax (more close to the bioavailability). The hydrophobicities also controlled the bioaccessibilities of PHE and PHE derivatives in gastric fluids, and those in intestinal fluids with Tenax for PS MPs. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values for PHE, PHE-Cl, and PHE-NO2 on MPs at tested concentrations were all higher than the USEPA-suggested safety limit (10(-6)), and most of them were even higher than 10(-4), which thus indicates serious cancer risks. This study promoted our understanding of the potential health threats posed by organic pollutant-bearing MPs in the environment.

Automated summary

This study investigated the sorption behaviors of organic pollutants on microplastics and their bioaccessibilities and cancer risks in the human body. The results showed that the sorption capacity of microplastics was related to their hydrophobicity, and the sorbed pollutants had high bioaccessibilities in gastrointestinal fluids. Moreover, the cancer risks posed by these pollutants on microplastics were found to be significant.