Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as vectors for co-contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, yet comprehensive data on their interactions with trace metals (TMs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes remain scarce in Southeast Asian freshwater systems. This study investigated MP levels, associated TMs, and AMR patterns in the Nhue-Day River basin, northern Vietnam-a heavily impacted agricultural watershed where contaminated water directly supplies irrigation and aquaculture operations. Surface water and sediment samples were collected from rivers and aquaculture ponds near industrial zones. MPs were extracted using density separation with CaCl2 (ρ ~ 1.35g/cm3), enabling recovery of high-density polymers (PET, PVA, and nylon) frequently underestimated in previous Vietnamese studies using NaCl. MP concentrations ranged from 0.17 to 6.2µg L⁻1 in water and from 3.74 to 31.2mgkg⁻1 in sediments, with fishponds exhibiting 6.5-fold higher levels than rivers (p < 0.001). Eight TMs (Cd, Pb, Co, Ni, Mn, Cr, As, and Cu) were detected on MP surfaces (0.0004-42.8µgg⁻1), with concentrations correlating strongly with environmental pollution gradients and industrial proximity. Principal component analysis revealed distinct metal-MP associations: Pb and Cr exhibited constant correlations across both matrices, while the behavior of other metals was matrix-dependent, confirming MPs function as dynamic transport vectors. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-encoding genes (blaCTX-M and blaTEM) were detected in water samples near industrial discharge points, though the direct MP-AMR association remained weak, potentially reflecting methodological limitations in biofilm extraction. Ecological risk assessment revealed moderate to considerable contamination (PLI: 1.67-2.92; PERI: 123-242), with the highest risks at industrial-influenced sites. This study provides critical baseline data demonstrating that MPs effectively transport TMs in agricultural watersheds and highlights urgent needs for regular monitoring programs in Vietnamese river systems utilized for food production.

Amphiphilic Ti3C2/exfoliated bentonite@polyurethane sponge grafting both hydrophobic groups and polar oxygen-containing groups for efficient removal of multi-polar microplastics.

Laser direct infrared (LDIR) spectroscopy reveals microplastic sorting and risk evolution in a subtropical river-estuary-coastal continuum: Insights on risk assessment.

Effects of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics on bioaccumulation and toxicity of dibutyl phthalate in Mytilisepta virgata.

Microplastic-associated gut microbial profile and antibiotic resistance in preschool children: a multicentre cross-sectional study in China.

Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of microplastics in oceanic food webs.

Microplastic-affected pathogens in drinking water supply systems: Survival mechanisms, ecological impacts and control challenges.

Microplastics exacerbate antibiotic resistance by regulating microbial and functional gene dynamics in sludge and food waste composting.

Pore-scale visualization and microscale barrier mechanisms of microplastics transport in bio-based hydrogel modified soils.

Source tracking, pollution load, and risk assessment of microplastics pollution in agricultural soils of Bangladesh using machine learning and multi-matrix approaches.

Species-specific bioindicators of microplastic pollution in a shallow lake: Hydrological period drives benthic macroinvertebrate exposure in Baiyangdian Lake, China.

The global surge in plastic production and inadequate waste management have resulted in widespread environmental contamination with microplastics (MPs). Derived either as primary particles from consumer products or as secondary fragments from the degradation of larger plastics, MPs are now omnipresent in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems. Their small size, durability, and surface reactivity enable biofilm formation, heavy metal adsorption, and easy entry into food chains, ultimately posing significant risks to human health. This review outlines the sources, types, human exposure, including dietary intake, inhalation, and dermal contact, and their toxicological impacts on multiple organ systems. MPs can cross biological barriers, including the gastrointestinal epithelium, blood-brain barrier, and placenta, leading to distribution and bioaccumulation. Mechanistically, they induce oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysregulation, and disruption of the gut microbiota. In the digestive system, MPs impair intestinal integrity, inhibit digestive enzymes, and promote hepatic inflammation. Inhalation alters pulmonary surfactant function, triggers cytokine release, and is implicated in asthma, fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MPs also function as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, interfering with hypothalamic-pituitary axes and reproductive hormones, thereby affecting fertility and development. Neurological consequences include oxidative stress-mediated neurotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and potential links to neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, chronic exposure to MPs and associated additives may promote carcinogenesis by inducing DNA damage, persistent inflammation, and immune evasion. Collectively, these findings highlight MPs as emerging environmental toxins with wide-ranging adverse effects on human health. Further mechanistic studies and regulatory interventions are essential to mitigate exposure and address this growing global health threat.

Ocean acidification enhances microplastic uptake and alters physiological responses in Manila clams.

Ecotoxicology of microplastics in water ecosystems and aquatic organisms: A review of synergistic and antagonistic effects of microplastics on other xenobiotics.

Reactive species-mediated stepwise photoaging mechanisms of microplastics transferred from freshwater to seawater.

Relationship between microplastics and heavy metals in Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon sediments.

Polystyrene microplastic exposure reduces fecundity and delays development of the nematode Litoditis marina despite unaltered food absorption.

RNA-seq and ChIP-seq reveal microplastics induce endothelial-mesenchymal transition via HK2-mediated histone lactylation in pulmonary hypertension.

Effects of co-present mineral colloids on the transport of microplastics in porous media: The key role of hydrochemical and hydrodynamic conditions.

Molecular interactions and dynamics of microplastics in indoor dust with lung-inflammatory receptors: A study in academic settings.