Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MD

Previously, we reported that microplastic volatile organic compounds are present within the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of Chesapeake Bay, MD. In this study, we report the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the hydrophobic surface of microplastic (MP) particles extra...

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Main Authors: Carol A. Smith, Natalie Drichko, Miranda Lorenzo, Saroj Pramanik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Microplastics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8929/4/2/32
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author Carol A. Smith
Natalie Drichko
Miranda Lorenzo
Saroj Pramanik
author_facet Carol A. Smith
Natalie Drichko
Miranda Lorenzo
Saroj Pramanik
author_sort Carol A. Smith
collection DOAJ
description Previously, we reported that microplastic volatile organic compounds are present within the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of Chesapeake Bay, MD. In this study, we report the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the hydrophobic surface of microplastic (MP) particles extracted from the <i>C. chesapeakei</i>, detected by Raman spectroscopy and identified by Wiley’s KnowItAll Software with IR & Raman Spectral Libraries. <i>C. chesapeakei</i> encounters various microplastics and emerging contaminants as it floats through the depths of the Patuxent River water column. This study identifies subsuming CECs found directly on microplastics from within <i>C. chesapeakei</i> in the wild using Raman spectroscopy. Among the extracted microplastics, some of the emerging contaminants found on the different microplastics were pesticides, pharmaceuticals, minerals, food derivatives, wastewater treatment chemicals, hormones, and recreational drugs. Our results represent the first of such findings in <i>C. chesapeakei</i>, obtained directly from the field, and indicate <i>C. chesapeakei</i>’s relationship with microplastics, with this species serving as a vector of emerging contaminants through the marine food web. This paper further illustrates a relationship between different types of plastics that attract dissimilar types of emerging pollutants in the same surrounding environmental conditions, underscoring the urgent need for further research to fully understand and mitigate the risks that MPs coexist with contaminants.
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spelling doaj-art-4dc8f94354eb44ac8baac3fdffdeda5b2025-08-20T02:20:59ZengMDPI AGMicroplastics2673-89292025-06-01423210.3390/microplastics4020032Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MDCarol A. Smith0Natalie Drichko1Miranda Lorenzo2Saroj Pramanik3Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USADepartment of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USAPreviously, we reported that microplastic volatile organic compounds are present within the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of Chesapeake Bay, MD. In this study, we report the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the hydrophobic surface of microplastic (MP) particles extracted from the <i>C. chesapeakei</i>, detected by Raman spectroscopy and identified by Wiley’s KnowItAll Software with IR & Raman Spectral Libraries. <i>C. chesapeakei</i> encounters various microplastics and emerging contaminants as it floats through the depths of the Patuxent River water column. This study identifies subsuming CECs found directly on microplastics from within <i>C. chesapeakei</i> in the wild using Raman spectroscopy. Among the extracted microplastics, some of the emerging contaminants found on the different microplastics were pesticides, pharmaceuticals, minerals, food derivatives, wastewater treatment chemicals, hormones, and recreational drugs. Our results represent the first of such findings in <i>C. chesapeakei</i>, obtained directly from the field, and indicate <i>C. chesapeakei</i>’s relationship with microplastics, with this species serving as a vector of emerging contaminants through the marine food web. This paper further illustrates a relationship between different types of plastics that attract dissimilar types of emerging pollutants in the same surrounding environmental conditions, underscoring the urgent need for further research to fully understand and mitigate the risks that MPs coexist with contaminants.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8929/4/2/32concerning emerging contaminants<i>Chrysaora chesapeaki</i>Raman spectroscopymicroplasticscopolymers
spellingShingle Carol A. Smith
Natalie Drichko
Miranda Lorenzo
Saroj Pramanik
Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MD
Microplastics
concerning emerging contaminants
<i>Chrysaora chesapeaki</i>
Raman spectroscopy
microplastics
copolymers
title Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MD
title_full Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MD
title_fullStr Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MD
title_full_unstemmed Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MD
title_short Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Microplastics Found in the <i>Chrysaora chesapeakei</i> of the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, MD
title_sort contaminants of emerging concern on microplastics found in the i chrysaora chesapeakei i of the patuxent river chesapeake bay md
topic concerning emerging contaminants
<i>Chrysaora chesapeaki</i>
Raman spectroscopy
microplastics
copolymers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8929/4/2/32
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