The ability of microplastics to concentrate or transport chemicals into organisms is not well specified. Bouwemeester et al. noted that the possible dosage of chemicals delivered by the expected microparticle intake is small, though the marginal addition of any amount of chemicals by this route may still harm health. While microplastics are known to adsorb chemicals from a variety of matrixes, their ability to deliver them is not yet known. Multiple studies indicate that microplastics amplify the toxicity of chemicals, but the mechanism by which they do so is not yet known. Microplastics may alter the partitioning of chemicals between organisms and the environment, or between various organ systems. Alternatively, oxidative stress perturbations may alter how effectively organisms can detoxify substances which would prolong their residence times and thus increase their biological effects. Inflammation may also damage the gastrointestinal tract, altering digestive processes and increasing the permeability of the intestinal tract, permitting higher amounts of toxic substances to enter circulation and to cause systemic effects. All of these are likely to act cooperatively with toxic compounds to harm the health of ecosystems and organisms, including people.