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Aggregation of released nanoplastics from plastics: effect of aging on release and aggregation
Summary
Everyday plastics like tea bags, coffee pods, and food containers break down faster when exposed to sunlight, releasing more tiny nanoplastic particles into water—and sun-damaged plastic bits also stay suspended in water longer instead of clumping together and settling out. This matters because it means aged plastic waste could be a bigger source of nanoplastics in groundwater than previously thought, though the study looked at environmental water systems rather than directly testing health effects on people.
This thesis investigates the degradation of common polymers, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and representative consumer products such as tea bags, coffee pods, and food containers, under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The study examines how aging alters the chemical and physical properties of these plastics, influencing the amount of nanoplastics released and their behavior in water. Laboratory experiments were conducted under simulated groundwater conditions, varying pH, ionic strength, and cation type to evaluate their influence on nanoplastic stability and aggregation behavior. The results demonstrate that UV aging increases nanoplastic release and modifies surface properties, also enhancing colloidal stability in aqueous systems. Aggregation behavior was strongly influenced by water chemistry, with increasing ionic strength and the presence of divalent cations promoting particle aggregation. By linking aging-induced changes in polymer structure to nanoplastic behavior under environmentally relevant groundwater conditions, this study provides mechanistic insights into their fate, mobility, and potential environmental risks. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of plastics in subsurface water contamination and inform future monitoring and risk assessment strategies.