Microplastics represent a novel category of environmental pollutants, and understanding their interactions with typical xenobiotics is crucial. In this study, we investigated the impact of ionic liquids (ILs) containing herbicidal anions, namely glyphosate [Glyph] and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate [2,4-D], and the surfactant cation - dodecyltrimethylammonium [C₁₂TMA] on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) microplastics. The aim of the study was to assess the sorption capacity of microplastics that were present in both untreated and aged form using standard and modified Fenton methods. In addition, impact on toxicity and stress adaptation of the model soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was measured. Upon ageing, ABS microplastics underwent a fivefold increase in BET surface area and total pore volume (from 0.001 to 0.004 cm³/g) which lead to a dramatic increase in adsorption of the cations on ABS microplastics from 40-45% for virgin ABS to 75-80% for aged ABS. Toxicity was mainly attributed to hydrophobic cations in ILs (EC₅₀ ∼ 60-65 mg/dm³), which was also mitigated by sorption on ABS. Furthermore, both cations and anions behaved similarly across different ILs, corresponding chlorides, and substrates used in the ILs synthesis. These findings highlight microplastics potential as hazardous sorbents, contributing to the accumulation of xenobiotics in the environment.

The presence of pharmaceuticals and MPs in soil raises concern due to their potential impact on plant health and ecosystem stability. This study investigates the impact of MPs on the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) using sorghum as a model plant. Three types of MPs—polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer (ABS)—were analyzed in primary and aged forms. The results indicate that MPs influence SMX sorption and desorption, affecting its bioavailability in soil. Low SMX concentrations (≤5 mg/kg) stimulated sorghum growth, while higher concentrations (≥25 mg/kg) significantly inhibited germination and biomass production. The presence of 1% MPs in soil generally reduced SMX toxicity, suggesting a role for MPs in modifying antibiotic availability in the soil matrix. Bioavailability analyses confirmed interactions between MPs and SMX or MPS and soil components, with variability depending on polymer type and ageing process. Among the tested MPs, polystyrene showed the strongest effect on increasing SMX bioavailability in both primary and aged forms. These findings highlight the environmental implications of MPs in agricultural soils, particularly concerning contamination, crop quality, and antibiotic resistance. A deeper understanding of MP–pharmaceutical interactions is crucial for evaluating long-term ecological risks and formulating effective mitigation strategies.

Microplastics (MPs), increasingly prevalent in agricultural soils, represent an overlooked factor influencing the environmental behavior of xenobiotics and their phytotoxic effects. The present work examines interactions between aged polyethylene microplastics (MP PE), herbicide, and antibiotic under controlled hydroponic conditions using Brassica napus L. as a model plant. It highlights how MP PE influence the bioavailability and toxicity of tetracycline, a glyphosate-based ionic liquid with a surfactant cation, and humic acids. Despite the absence of tissue penetration, MP PE adhered to roots and triggered measurable stress responses, including ∼30 % reductions in chlorophylls and > 20 % decreases in carotenoids, along with shifts in antioxidant enzyme activities - catalase (CAT) reduced by 40 %, ascorbate peroxidase (APx) by 70 %, while peroxidase (POx) increased by 20 %. Co-exposure with herbicide or antibiotic intensified these adverse effects. MP PE demonstrated compound-specific sorption capacity, reducing freely dissolved tetracycline and surfactant cation concentrations by ∼20 %, whereas the glyphosate anion showed marginal affinity. MP PE alone did not significantly alter parameters such as proline content or glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. While individual xenobiotics exhibited clear toxicity, partial mitigation occurred when sorbed onto MP PE, indicating bioavailability-dependent effects. However, this attenuation was not consistent across endpoints, emphasizing the dual role of MPs as environmental stressors and modulators. Integrating sorption data with physiological and biochemical responses, the results provide evidence that aged microplastics reshape plant exposure to agrochemicals. These findings underscore the need to include MPs in risk assessments to accurately evaluate contaminant behavior and crop health in MP-impacted agroecosystems.