20.500.12556/RUL-185499 Exploring the interactions between microplastics and heavy metals during the processes of biotic and abiotic aging towards increased environmental relevance Understanding the interactions between microplastics and heavy metals is essential for assessing the environmental risks of plastic pollution, but the factors governing this interaction remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated how biotic (aging in stream water) and abiotic aging (UV irradiation) influence the interactions between trace concentrations (5 µg/L) of metal ions (Pb, Cd) and microplastics (polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)). A combination of bulk digestion and laterally resolved laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) provided complementary insights into the overall adsorption of Pb and Cd as well as laterally resolved elemental distributions within individual particles. Both aging conditions led to surface alterations, with PVC exhibiting pronounced degradation under abiotic aging. Biotic aging promoted the formation of biofilms, especially on PE, which correlated with increased adsorption of metal ions. Biofilms incorporated biogenic elements (Fe, Mn, Mg) during aging (from natural stream water), highlighting their key role in nutrient cycling. Despite the detection of Zn and Sr additives in pristine PVC, no significant leaching was observed during aging. Elemental mapping revealed that the investigated heavy metals were predominantly associated with the biofilm on the surface of the microplastics, with the exception of UV-aged PVC, in which Pb showed a concentration gradient from the surface into the polymer matrix, suggesting the potential migration of the metal beyond surface adsorption. Overall, this study highlights the critical role of environmentally relevant aging in influencing metal-microplastic interactions and the potential of LA-ICP-MS to advance the understanding of these complex processes. microplastics aging abiotic aging biotic aging biofilm characterization adsorption sorption metals mikroplastika staranje abiotsko staranje biotsko staranje biofilm karakterizacija adsorpcija sorpcija kovine true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-08-06 14:41:56 2026-08-06 14:41:57 2026-08-07 04:08:28 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 11 str. Vol. 23, art. 101416 Aug. 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 504.5:678:546.3 2772-4166 10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101416 287167491 RAZ_Brunnbauer_Lukas_2026.pdf RAZ_Brunnbauer_Lukas_2026.pdf 1 DCFD9219B84407B3FC76BDC05C0F9844 9716f83a21032937d654a5d0df47ab1fdbc00265dd9c340c86b87088d7b99f70 e6d16170-9194-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=244060 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772416626004109 1 dfa544cb-9193-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=244059 Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo 0 0 0