Search Results (232)

Sudden tailings dam breaches trigger large-scale heavy metal compound pollution in coupled surface water–groundwater systems, requiring systematic full-cycle ecological damage quantification tools applicable to diverse contamination types. This study constructs an integrated full-cycle ecological damage assessment framework for sudden water pollution accidents, integrating three core modules: multi-model pollutant migration prediction, multi-scale aquatic biological damage diagnosis, and three-dimensional ecological-economic loss accounting. The framework adopts a modular design that can potentially accommodate heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, Pb) and organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with standardized molecular, individual, and population-level biological endpoints and corresponding pollutant dose–response templates reserved as reference calculation modules. However, applicability beyond this case has not been validated and requires case-specific calibration. To verify the operability and accuracy of the proposed integrated system, a typical tailings dam leakage incident dominated by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and arsenic (As) pollution was selected as the practical validation case; all field monitoring, pollutant simulation, and final economic loss quantification in this case exclusively rely on on-site measured Cr(VI) and As data, while Cd and PAH-related biological response curves and remediation cost formulas retained in the manuscript only serve as illustrative universal template components of the framework rather than case-measured results. For the Cr(VI)/As pollution case, the advection–diffusion model simulation revealed that the Cr(VI) contamination plume horizontally spread 250 m within 48 h and extended to 560 m after seven days, and anaerobic groundwater environments drove the transformation of toxic mobile trivalent arsenic (As(III)) from primary pentavalent arsenic. The calibrated SWAT model achieved Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) coefficients of 0.75 for dissolved Cr(VI) and 0.68 for particulate As. The graph theory-based rapid prediction model cut computation duration down to minutes; when validated against independent field monitoring data, it yielded an average relative error of 14.2%, and its consistency with the SWAT model reached 10.5% relative deviation, satisfying the accuracy requirement for emergency early warning. Field biological monitoring demonstrated substantial ecological impairment: metallothionein (MT) expression in fish tissues was markedly elevated (the reported 6.2-fold induction value derives from standard Cd exposure template tests within the framework, with analogous MT upregulation also observed for field Cr(VI)/As co-stress), and benthic community Shannon diversity declined by over 50% in polluted river reaches. The standardized Ecological Damage Index (EDI) of the case was calculated as 480.2, indicating severe aquatic ecosystem damage, with total comprehensive ecological and economic losses reaching 17.25 million CNY. This study innovatively couples high-precision physical transport models with fast emergency prediction algorithms and establishes a complete multi-tier biological indicator chain linking molecular biomarkers to community integrity metrics; the three-dimensional loss accounting system integrating ecosystem service impairment, restoration expenditure, and post-pollution recovery loss realizes closed-loop full-cycle damage evaluation. The proposed framework, demonstrated for Cr(VI) and As pollution, has a modular design that may potentially be extended to other pollutants such as Cd and PAHs by adjusting model parameters, providing a quantitative reference for emergency disposal, pollution remediation, and ecological compensation of water contamination accidents, although further validation across different pollutants and hydrological settings is required. Full article

Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) rubber production in southern Thailand relies extensively on rubber-wood combustion, potentially generating substantial emissions of fine particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Despite the economic importance of this sector, systematic characterization of biomass-derived PAHs under tropical monsoonal and coastal conditions remains limited. This study investigates the particle size distribution, concentration levels, seasonal variability, and atmospheric dynamics of PAHs associated with RSS production in Chumphon Province, Thailand. Size-segregated particulate matter was collected using an eight-stage Andersen cascade impactor at two contrasting sites during a seven-month monitoring period from March to September 2025, covering the transition from the late dry/summer season to the rainy season in southern Thailand. Fifteen priority PAHs were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Results indicate that emissions from rubber-wood combustion inside smokehouses exhibit a unimodal distribution dominated by submicron particles (MMAD = 0.85 µm; GSD = 2.71). Ambient aerosols displayed a bimodal structure, with an accumulation-mode peak (~0.6 µm) associated with combustion processes and a coarse-mode peak (~4 µm) linked to mechanical and marine aerosol sources. Particle-bound PAHs were predominantly associated with fine particles (~0.59 µm), although seasonal hygroscopic growth under high humidity shifted modal diameters toward ~1.8 µm during the rainy season. PAH profiles were dominated by 3–4 ring compounds characteristic of biomass combustion. Total PAH concentrations exhibited a strong positive correlation with monthly RSS production, while precipitation demonstrated an exponential scavenging effect. Monsoonal circulation and sea spray aerosol (SSA) interactions were identified as key regulators of gas–particle partitioning, transport pathways, and removal efficiency. The findings reveal that the coastal atmosphere of southern Thailand functions as a dynamic multiphase system in which emission intensity, hygroscopic particle growth, monsoonal transport, and wet deposition collectively govern PAH behavior. This study provides the first integrated assessment linking rubber-sheet production dynamics to size-resolved PAH distributions under tropical coastal conditions and offers a scientific foundation for emission mitigation strategies in biomass-dependent agro-industrial regions. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil are recognized cardiotoxicants in fish; however, all electrophysiological evidence to date derives from acute exposure experiments. This study examined the effects of prolonged (5–8 h) incubation of isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes from the navaga cod (Eleginus nawaga, Walbaum, 1792) with 10% WSF (total dissolved tricyclic-PAH concentration in the tens-of-nM), 3 µM phenanthrene (Phe), or 3 µM 3-methylphenanthrene (3-MP) on action potential (AP) parameters and the underlying ionic currents using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. WSF and 3-MP reduced AP amplitude and maximum rate of depolarization through suppression of the fast sodium current (I_Na), whereas Phe and 3-MP shortened AP duration, associated with decreased density and a hyperpolarizing shift in steady-state activation of the rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (I_Kr). The L-type calcium current and inward rectifier potassium current remained unaffected by all treatments. Notably, the effects of prolonged incubation differed qualitatively from previously reported acute responses to the same compounds, suggesting the involvement of indirect mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species production and activation of intracellular signaling cascades. These findings demonstrate that subchronic PAH exposure produces distinct and potentially proarrhythmogenic alterations in fish cardiac electrophysiology that cannot be predicted from acute exposure data alone. Full article

Background: Variant interpretation in clinical genomics requires integration of population-specific allele frequencies, curated database annotations, and phenotype evidence. However, variants annotated as pathogenic or likely pathogenic in reference databases may have different allele frequencies across populations, and electronic medical record (EMR) data may provide useful but incomplete clinical context. Methods: In this study, we used the China Medical University Hospital Genetic Biobank (CMUH-GB) and linked EMRs to evaluate ClinVar-annotated candidate variants in a Taiwanese Han population. Genotyped array variants were filtered by quality control, mapped to ClinVar, and prioritized if annotated as pathogenic or likely pathogenic and observed with an alternative allele frequency greater than 0.0001 in CMUH-GB. Results: After an updated annotation review, EMR linkage, exclusion of known rare-disease cases or ineligible loci, and retention of variants with clinically relevant EMR phenotypes, 11 candidate variants were analyzed. These variants were located in SCN5A, KCNH2, FBP1, PAH, ACADS, TBX6, BRCA1, LDLR, GP6, and SLC4A11. Several candidate variants showed substantially higher allele frequencies in CMUH-GB and the Taiwan Biobank than reported in some external population datasets. Genotype–phenotype association analyses were performed using additive genetic models with covariate adjustment and Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction. No interpretable association remained statistically significant after correction. SCN5A rs794728912 models for long QT syndrome and cardiac conduction defects were not estimable because no cases were observed among alternative-allele carriers, resulting in sparse-event separation. A nominal GP6 association with coagulation defects did not remain significant after correction. These findings support population-specific reassessment prioritization of selected ClinVar-annotated variants but do not constitute formal ACMG/AMP reclassification. Conclusions: Our study highlights the value and limitations of integrating hospital-based genotyping data with EMR-derived phenotypes for ancestry-aware variant interpretation in underrepresented populations. Full article

Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease leading to right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy and failure. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of combining the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/systolic pulmonary artery pressure (TAPSE/sPAP) ratio with right ventricular myocardial work (RVMW) parameters in patients with PAH, to improve early risk stratification. Methods: A total of 43 PAH patients diagnosed via right heart catheterization were enrolled. Echocardiography-derived TAPSE/sPAP ratio and RVMW parameters, including right ventricular global work efficiency (RVGWE), global work index (RVGWI), global constructive work (RVGCW), and global wasted work (RVGWW), were measured. Clinical worsening events were recorded during a median 515-day follow-up. Statistical analyses included correlation tests, Firth penalized logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: The TAPSE/sPAP ratio correlated negatively with RVGCW (r = −0.346, p = 0.023) and RVGWW (r = −0.417, p = 0.005), but not with RVGWE or RVGWI. Clinical worsening events occurred in 25.6% of patients, with significantly lower TAPSE/sPAP ratio (0.16 vs. 0.24 mm/mmHg), RVGWE (72.0% vs. 88.5%), and RVGWI (431.0 vs. 641.0 mmHg%) in the Event group (all p < 0.05). Multivariate Firth penalized logistic regression was used for combining TAPSE/sPAP ratio with RVGWE. ROC analysis demonstrated that the combination of TAPSE/sPAP and RVGWE yielded superior predictive power (AUC = 0.949, p < 0.001) compared to individual parameters. Conclusion: Non-invasive assessment of TAPSE/sPAP ratio and RVGWE provides significant prognostic value in PAH. Their combination enhances early risk prediction, offering a practical tool for clinical management. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their halogenated derivatives are important targets in environmental monitoring and pollution control because of their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential carcinogenicity. Reliable strategies for detecting these pollutants remain essential for environmental risk assessment. In recent years, microbial whole-cell biosensors have attracted increasing attention as analytical tools for pollutant detection and toxicity evaluation. These biosensors employ living cells to recognize target compounds and generate measurable signals through endogenous metabolic pathways and transcriptional regulatory networks. As a result, they can reflect biologically relevant responses and operate in complex environmental matrices, making them suitable for in situ monitoring. This review summarises recent advances in whole-cell biosensors for detecting PAHs and their halogenated derivatives. We discuss the design strategies for constructing these whole-cell biosensors and outline their technological development. Recent efforts to improve biosensor performance are also highlighted. Current research trends indicate a shift from optimizing individual genetic components to improving overall system robustness, standardized evaluation, and practical field deployment. These developments provide important insights for designing reliable and engineerable whole-cell biosensing platforms for monitoring PAHs and related pollutants. Full article

Military burn pits used during post-9/11 U.S. military deployments functioned as uncontrolled combustion systems and were widely utilized to dispose of large volumes of outdoor waste by burning. Burn pits involved heterogeneous waste materials burned under variable temperature and oxygen conditions. These combustion environments generated complex, toxic, multipollutant airborne emission mixtures that included particulate matter (PM_2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This narrative review synthesizes epidemiologic, experimental, and mechanistic evidence linking burn pit emissions to disruption of the lung–brain axis and adverse neurological outcomes. We specifically aim to address a critical gap in understanding how combustion-derived toxicants impact brain health and are associated with unfavorable neuropsychiatric outcomes, including increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Combustion-related exposures promote pulmonary inflammation and system-wide immune signaling that propagate to the central nervous system, contributing to neuroinflammation and dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. These interconnected mechanisms are associated with toxic encephalopathy and related cognitive and mood disturbances, underscoring the need to integrate fire science with military and environmental health services research to better define the systemic and neurological consequences of acute and chronic fire-derived inhalation exposures. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water are readily adsorbed onto microplastics, posing a combined threat to aquatic ecosystem safety. However, the role of microplastics in altering the toxicity of PAH derivatives remains largely unexplored. This study was conducted to investigate the individual and combined toxic effects of polystyrene (PS, 2 µm) microplastics with pyrene (Pyr) and its four derivatives, including 1-methylpyrene (Pyr–CH₃), 1-hydroxypyrene (Pyr–OH), 1-aminopyrene (Pyr–NH₂), and 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid (Pyr–COOH), on blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). After a seven-day exposure experiment, the variations in five biomarkers—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)—were measured in the hemolymph. Our results indicated a com-pound-specific toxicological profile: all derivatives exhibited higher toxicity than the parent Pyr. Specifically, Pyr–CH₃ primarily induced oxidative stress, whereas Pyr–OH, Pyr–NH₂, and Pyr–COOH mainly affected neuroregulatory function. More importantly, PS microplastics acted as a differential modulator under the mixture conditions: they exacerbated the neuroregulatory dis-turbance caused by parent Pyr but conversely alleviated the oxidative damage induced by all four derivatives. Notably, PS exacerbated the neuroregulatory disturbance induced by Pyr–CH₃. These compound-specific interactions highlight that microplastics alter the toxic effects of organic pollutants, thereby modifying environmental risk profiles. Our findings provide new insights for the ecological risk assessment of PAHs in aquatic environments. Full article

Residential solid fuels are widely used for cooking and heating, but the atmospheric evolution of their particulate emissions remains insufficiently characterized. To address this gap, we constructed an integrated quartz-tube furnace–dilution–oxidation flow reactor (OFR) system for direct comparison of fresh and OFR-aged emissions across fuel types and combustion temperatures. Six biomass fuels and six coals were burned at 500 °C and 800 °C. Organic carbon (OC) subfractions and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including 16 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pPAHs) and 9 oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (oPAHs), were quantified. In fresh emissions, increasing temperature reduced OC emission factors for both fuel types, whereas PAC emission factors increased for biomass but decreased for coal. OFR aging generally increased particulate OC and shifted OC toward less volatile or more thermally stable fractions. For coal burned at 500 °C, pPAHs decreased by 64%, whereas oPAHs increased by 127%. Although the overall quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR)-derived carcinogenicity indicator of PACs decreased by 46%, the oPAH contribution increased from 7% to 18%. These findings show that metrics based only on fresh emissions cannot fully capture the chemical evolution and toxicity-related implications of residential solid fuel emissions. Full article

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, fatal disease of the pulmonary vasculature characterized by obliterative remodeling of small pulmonary arteries, leading to sustained elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular failure, and premature death. The diagnostic gold standard remains right heart catheterization, requiring a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 20 mmHg at rest, a pulmonary arterial wedge pressure of 15 mmHg or below, and a pulmonary vascular resistance exceeding 2 Wood units. PAH is an autosomal dominant disorder with markedly incomplete penetrance of approximately 20–30%, indicating that germline mutations alone are insufficient to cause disease. Disease manifestation requires additional “second hits”, including chronic hypoxia, systemic inflammation, hemodynamic stress, hormonal influences, and common genetic modifiers such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This genetic and environmental complexity underpins the broad clinical heterogeneity observed across PAH subtypes, which include idiopathic PAH, heritable PAH, and disease associated with connective tissue disorders, HIV infection, portal hypertension, congenital heart disease, schistosomiasis, and drug or toxin exposure. This review provides a comprehensive and critical appraisal of the molecular-genetic architecture of PAH. Thirty genes have now been implicated in disease pathogenesis, spanning seven functional categories: receptors of the TGF-β/BMP signaling family (BMPR2, ACVRL1, ENG, BMPR1B); circulating BMP ligands (GDF2, BMP10); transcription factors (TBX4, SOX17, KLF4, FOXF1, SMAD1, SMAD4, SMAD9); membrane and polyamine transporters (ATP13A3, AQP1); potassium channel regulators (KCNA5, KCNK3, ABCC8); metabolic and mitochondrial genes (EIF2AK4, NFU1, GGCX); signaling receptors and structural proteins (NOTCH3, KDR, CAV1, PLEKHH2); vasoactive and extracellular matrix regulators (KLK1, CBLN2, CD248); and epigenetic regulators (TET2, TOPBP1). Among these, BMPR2 is the dominant contributor, accounting for 53–86% of heritable PAH and 14–35% of idiopathic cases. The remaining genes each account for fewer than 5% of cases individually, collectively reflecting a broad landscape of rare and ultra-rare genetic contributions. For each gene, we critically evaluate the strength of genetic evidence, pathogenic mechanisms, degree of mechanistic resolution, and clinical relevance. We further discuss the contribution of emerging technologies, including whole-genome sequencing, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, multi-omics integration, iPSC-derived vascular models, and artificial intelligence, to expanding the PAH genetic architecture beyond single-gene discovery. A key theme across this landscape is convergence: despite mechanistic diversity at the gene level, most PAH-associated variants ultimately impair endothelial quiescence, promote smooth muscle proliferation, and drive apoptosis resistance through disruption of BMP signaling amplitude, transcriptional stability, ion channel homeostasis, metabolic integrity, or epigenetic regulation. This convergence supports both a unified therapeutic rationale and a precision medicine framework for genotype-stratified intervention in PAH. Full article

Organic compounds in fossil fuels (coal, petroleum), particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), serve as significant molecular fossils to reveal paleoenvironments, paleoclimates, and major geological events and have become the focus of multidisciplinary research. Inertinite-rich coals are widely distributed in the Jurassic coal of Xinjiang, yet the organic geochemical significance and their paleoenvironment implications remain underexplored. This study elucidates the indicative significance of organic compounds in inertinite-rich coals from the Yihua mine of the Zhundong Coalfield, Xinjiang, China, aiming to reveal the coal-forming mechanisms and paleoenvironmental implications of Jurassic low-rank coals in the Zhundong Coalfield. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 36 coal-seam samples, including maceral identification, vitrinite reflectance measurement, Soxhlet extraction, and GC-MS analysis of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. The results show the coal is dominated by inertinite (69.6%), with vitrinite (23.7%) and trace liptinite (0.7%), and classified as low-rank bituminous coal (R_o = 0.42%). Extractable organic matter yield is low (0.20%), with aromatic hydrocarbons (35.19%) far exceeding saturated hydrocarbons (10.57%). PAHs are dominated by high-ring (4–6 ring) compounds, such as benzofluoranthene and retene. The molecular geochemical parameters suggest these PAHs are primarily derived from biomass combustion, recording significant wildfire activity during the Middle Jurassic. Terpenoid biomarkers (cadalene and dehydroabietane) confirm terrestrial higher plant inputs, while isoprenoid parameters suggest an oxidizing coal-forming environment. This research demonstrates that organic compounds, especially PAHs, serve as reliable tracers for paleowildfires and inertinite genesis, providing critical geochemical evidence for understanding coal-forming processes in arid-semiarid regions. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic pollutants in marine ecosystems, necessitating efficient remediation. This study synthesized magnesium phthalocyanine (MgPc) and its modified derivatives, magnesium azaphthalocyanine (NMgPc) and methyl-substituted magnesium azaphthalocyanine (MeNMgPc), as visible-light-driven photocatalysts for PAH degradation. To enhance efficiency and recoverability, these photosensitizers were immobilized onto coconut shell activated carbon (AC) via multiple ultrasonic impregnation. Characterizations (UV-Vis, SEM, EDAX, BET) confirmed successful active component deposition; nitrogen substitution and peripheral methyl groups synergistically tuned the electronic structure and suppressed aggregation. Under xenon lamp irradiation, the MeNMgPc/C composite exhibited superior activity, degrading 90.55% of naphthalene. Box-Behnken response surface optimization identified optimal conditions (13.18 g/L dosage, 20 A, 2.28 h), yielding 96.67% experimental removal and adhering to pseudo-first-order kinetics. Mechanistic studies via electron spin resonance identified hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide radicals (O₂^•−) as primary reactive species. GC-MS analysis elucidated a sequential phenanthrene ring-opening pathway, progressing to ultimate mineralization into CO₂. Consequently, MeNMgPc/C presents a highly efficient, recoverable photocatalytic platform for marine PAH remediation. Full article

This study focuses on the search and determination of organic pollutants in aerosol particles (PM_2.5) collected in Arkhangelsk, the largest urban agglomeration in the Arctic, during winter and summer periods. Thermal desorption gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry was applied for non-targeted screening of atmospheric aerosols, enabling the detection of compounds at low concentrations ranging from 10 pg/m³ to several ng/m³. Representatives of various chemical classes were detected in samples from both seasons, including CHO compounds (with phthalates as the predominant subgroup), nitrogen-containing compounds (e.g., pyridines, quinolines, nicotine), phenols and monoaromatics, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their oxygenated derivatives. In winter, PAHs and oxy-PAHs significantly predominated, likely due to increased combustion of fossil fuels and biomass for heating purposes. A total of approximately 300 compounds were identified via non-targeted screening, of which 32 were confirmed and quantified using authentic reference standards across six chemical classes. Seasonal variations in both the composition and concentration levels highlight the impact of local emission sources and atmospheric conditions on the organic aerosol profile in this arctic urban environment. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous combustion-derived contaminants that represent a significant cross-cutting threat to human, animal, and environmental health. Viewed through an explicit One Health lens, this review shows how the shared combustion sources, evolutionarily conserved toxicological mechanisms, and food-web linkages connecting environmental contamination to wildlife and human exposure justify an integrated, cross-domain approach to PAH risk assessment and management. PAHs are generated predominantly through incomplete combustion of organic materials and are globally distributed through atmospheric transport, aquatic runoff, and food-web transfer, persisting in soils and sediments for decades. The present review synthesizes current knowledge on PAHs through an explicit One Health lens, examining shared sources, environmental fate, and convergent health effects across species and health domains, while also highlighting the need to move beyond the classical US EPA priority PAHs to include high-molecular-weight PAHs (>302 Da), alkylated homologues, and transformation products such as oxy- and nitro-PAHs. Common pathways such as dietary intake of grilled and smoked foods, inhalation of contaminated air, and occupational exposure create parallel toxicological burdens in both human and wildlife populations, particularly through genotoxic mechanisms mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation and CYP1A1/CYP1B1-catalyzed bioactivation to reactive diol epoxides. The resulting DNA adduct formation links environmental PAH exposure to carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, immunosuppression, and developmental impairment across vertebrate species with remarkable mechanistic consistency. Wildlife, especially fish, marine mammals, and seabirds, serve as critical sentinels for environmental PAH contamination, while simultaneously facing direct health impacts on immune function, reproduction, and population viability. Vulnerable human populations, including children, subsistence communities, occupational workers, and residents near combustion-intensive industries, bear disproportionate burdens reflecting underlying environmental justice concerns. Integrated intervention strategies encompassing source control, dietary exposure reduction, site remediation, and coordinated biomonitoring are urgently needed. By incorporating emerging PAH classes with distinct persistence, trophic behavior, and toxicological potency, the One Health paradigm provides a more comprehensive conceptual framework for modern environmental surveillance, food safety, and integrated risk assessment, recognizing that the health of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is inseparable from that of the animals and humans within them. Full article

This study investigates the sorption process of selected pollutants, namely naphthalene (NAP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and ibuprofen (IBU), onto different real microplastics (MPs) under controlled laboratory conditions. Sorption tests reveal variable affinities depending on the chemical and physical interactions between polymers and pollutants. NAP showed the greatest uptake on the majority of tested MPs, followed by PCP and SMX, while IBU exhibited negligible sorption. Kinetic tests indicate a general rapid initial uptake, followed by lower sorption rates leading to equilibrium within days. Theoretical thermodynamic affinity estimations, based on the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) method, previously tested only on antibiotics, are applied for the first time to commercial MPs and several pollutant categories such as PAHs, pesticides and other pharmaceuticals. Predictions have been validated with experimental results and generally show very good agreement with the affinity ranking derived by experimental data. However, some limitations occur due to the heterogeneity of the real MPs and different environmental conditions. Factors affecting, to different extents, MPs’ uptake include hydrophobicity and electrostatic forces, as well as pH and particle size. This work advances understanding of MPs’ role as vectors of pollutants in aquatic environments and validates the use of an innovative combined experimental–theoretical approach useful as a tool to predict associated risk. Full article