Persistence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Microplastics: A Serious Alarm to Human Health and Ecosystems

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and microplastics (MPs) are among the most persistent organic pollutants in the environment, posing significant ecological and human health risks. These compounds exhibit the ability to migrate across air, water, and the soil environment, undergoing transformation processes that contribute to their environmental persistence. MPs have a strong tendency to attract PAHs due to their high surface area and their hydrophobic properties, and act as a platform for accumulating a wide variety of environmental contaminants on their surfaces. The PAHs and MPs have been detected across various ecosystems, including air, water, and soil. These pollutants are also present in living organisms, such as plants, animals, and even in the human body. Experimental studies indicate that chronic exposure to these pollutants is correlated with severe health effects and disrupts critical ecological functions. The United States environmental protection agency (U.S. EPA) has classified 16 specific PAH compounds as environmental hazards, recognizing their carcinogenic potential. This review focuses on the source, adsorption characteristics, and transport dynamics at the interface of PAHs and MPs pollutants. Understanding this interaction is vital for assessing the bioavailability of these combined contaminants to aquatic organisms, as it significantly influences their toxicity profiles and overall environmental consequences. In addition, the review explores how climate-related factors affect the fate, transport, and transformation of these contaminants in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. It also assesses the contributions of PAHs and MPs to climate change and global warming, providing insights into their broader ecological and environmental implications.