Microplastics aging in wastewater treatment plants: Focusing on physicochemical characteristics changes and corresponding environmental risks

•Wastewater and sludge treatment changes MPs morphology, sizes and chemical properties.•Changes in the intrinsic properties of MPs can affect their transport and distribution patterns.•The physicochemical properties of MPs affect coexisting pollutants and leaching behavior, leading to changes in ecological risk.•Need for further field-studies to address physicochemical-related environmental risk.