Micelles as Transporters of Hydrophobic Compounds to Biological Membranes A Physical Mechanism of Chronic Stress in Aquatic Ecosystems

Aquatic environments are increasingly exposed to surfactants originating from domestic, industrial, and commercial sources. In the presence of these compounds, hydrophobic substances such as fats, aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticide residues, cosmetic additives, and pharmaceutical traces become incorporated into micelles, transforming otherwise poorly mobile pollutants into water-transportable aggregates. This work proposes a physical perspective on micelles as mobile near-equilibrium structures that mediate the redistribution of hydrophobic compounds toward biological membranes. Rather than acting through acute toxicity, micelle–membrane interactions promote slow material exchange, altering membrane lipid composition, permeability, and mechanical stability over time. From the standpoint of far-from-equilibrium systems, this process represents a chronic physical stressor that weakens membrane integrity and facilitates relaxation toward thermodynamic equilibrium. We suggest that micelle-mediated transport constitutes an overlooked environmental pressure on microbial and planktonic ecosystems, operating through gradual destabilization of lipid interfaces rather than classical toxic pathways.