We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Increased mobility, toxicity, and bioaccessibility of arsenate adsorbed onto UV-aged polyvinyl chloride microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Sunlight-damaged plastic particles (from PVC, a common plastic) hold onto less arsenic than fresh plastic, but that arsenic becomes much easier for our bodies to absorb once swallowed — about 16 times more absorbable. This matters because microplastics that have been sitting in sunlight, like those washed up on beaches or floating in water, could pose a bigger health risk than fresh plastic when it comes to toxic contaminants like arsenic getting into our bodies through food or water.
Microplastics (MPs) can act as vectors for toxic pollutants; however, most previous studies have examined the effects of environmental aging on contaminant adsorption or toxicity separately, while the integrated effects on bioaccessibility and risk remain poorly understood. This study evaluated aging-driven changes in surface characteristics of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs following UVC aging and their effects on arsenate (As(V)) adsorption, ecotoxicity, bioaccessibility, and human health risk. After 600 h of UV aging, carbonyl index variation, increased O/C ratio (0.1412-0.2213), and decreased contact angle (72.41°-34.14°) collectively suggested surface oxidation of PVC MPs. The maximum adsorption capacity of As(V), estimated using the Langmuir isotherm model after a 48 h equilibrium adsorption experiment, decreased approximately 16-fold following aging (from 0.0636 to 0.0039 mg/g). In contrast, oral bioaccessibility under simulated gastric conditions, evaluated using the solubility bioaccessibility research consortium (SBRC) method, increased approximately 16-fold after aging (from 3.9% to 63.7%). Results of the 24 h acute toxicity test using Daphnia magna showed higher immobilization in aged MP treatments (100%) than in virgin MPs (50 ± 14%). Human health risk assessment based on dietary exposure scenarios showed that the hazard quotient and excess cancer risk increased approximately 2.6-fold after aging. These results show that UV aging can reduce adsorption capacity yet increase bioaccessibility and potential ecological and human health risk. This study provides integrated quantitative evidence that aging-induced surface transformation can increase the ecological and human health relevance of MP-associated metal/metalloid contaminants and should be explicitly considered in MPs risk assessment frameworks.
More Papers Like This
[Adsorption Characteristics of Arsenic on UV-aged Polypropylene Microplastics in Aqueous Solution].
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined how UV weathering (aging) changes the ability of polypropylene microplastics to adsorb arsenic from water, finding that aged plastic had rougher surfaces and more oxygen-containing groups, which enhanced arsenic adsorption. Environmental factors like pH and dissolved organic matter also influenced how much arsenic stuck to the plastic. Because aged microplastics bind more arsenic, they could carry this toxic heavy metal into aquatic food webs more effectively than pristine plastic particles.
Mechanisms of competitive adsorption of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzo[ghi]perylene on UV-aged polyvinyl chloride microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Sunlight exposure makes PVC microplastics (like those from pipes, packaging, and household items) even better at soaking up toxic pollutants called PAHs, which come from things like car exhaust, smoke, and burnt food. Since microplastics can absorb harmful chemicals and carry them into water, soil, and eventually our bodies, this "hitchhiking effect" means sun-damaged plastic waste in the environment could be a more efficient carrier of dangerous chemical pollution than previously understood. The most toxic PAH tested (BghiP) stuck to the plastic the most, raising concerns about how these pl
Aging of microplastics increases their adsorption affinity towards organic contaminants
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastics that have been weathered by sunlight and environmental exposure absorb significantly more chemical pollutants than fresh microplastics, with up to a 4.7-fold increase in adsorption. Ultraviolet exposure changes the surface chemistry of the plastics, making them stickier for contaminants. This matters because most microplastics in nature are weathered, meaning they may be carrying more toxic chemicals into the food chain than laboratory studies using new plastics would suggest.
Surface Oxidation and Defect Formation Under Five Photoaging Regimes Enhance Cd2+ and Pb2+ Adsorption by Polyethylene and Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
When common plastics like PE (used in bags and bottles) and PVC (used in pipes and packaging) break down in sunlight, their surfaces develop tiny cracks and chemical changes that make them much better at soaking up toxic heavy metals like cadmium and lead. This matters because sun-damaged microplastics in water and soil could act like sponges for pollution, potentially carrying more harmful metals into the food chain and, ultimately, into our bodies.
Supplementary Information on Aging of microplastics exposed to UV irradiation and its effect on the sorption of organic contaminants in freshwater
AI summary Read the abstract
This study looked at how sunlight breaks down microplastics in freshwater, changing their surfaces over time. These "aged" microplastic particles can absorb more pollutants from the water, potentially carrying more harmful chemicals if ingested. Since microplastics are common in our water supply, understanding how sunlight changes their ability to trap toxins matters for assessing real world exposure risks.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.