Decoding the interactions between antibiotics and microplastics-chemistry, environmental impacts, and mitigation...

The coexistence of antibiotics (AB) and microplastics (MP) in the environment has led to the formation of AB-MP complexes, posing several ecological and public health challenges. This review explores the mechanisms driving AB adsorption onto MPs, including diverse interactions (hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and ionic exchange) and their role in maintaining the persistence and mobility of the complexes. These complexes have been reported to serve as reservoirs/vectors for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), disrupt microbial communities, and enhance the bioavailability of ABs, thus posing various threats affecting biodiversity health and ecosystem stability. The investigation explores the possibility of a single-step solution to this problem, which lies in incorporating common remediation methods within one setup to achieve combinatorial efficient removal of both the emerging contaminants simultaneously. Extensive literature mining for authentic information from sources like PubMed, Scopus, WoS, Science Direct, etc., was done using keywords exclusive to the study, and relevant articles were extracted for comparative and critical analysis. The current worldwide status of research in this area has been illustrated via a bibliometric approach. Strategies like constructed wetlands have been critically analysed, and factors affecting the process design that can lead to maximal removal have been thoroughly discussed. This review brings forth a unique compilation of the chemical mechanisms of AB-MP complex formation, threats posed by these complexes, and modern technological advancements for tackling AB-MP pollution.