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Aquatic toxicity of UV-irradiated commercial polypropylene plastic particles and associated chemicals
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Researchers tested the aquatic toxicity of UV-degraded polypropylene plastic particles on water fleas and algae. They found that smaller nanoplastic particles were significantly more toxic than larger microplastics, and the presence of a common plastic additive (the antioxidant Irgafos 168) made the particles even more harmful. The study suggests that as plastics break down in the environment and release their chemical additives, they may become increasingly dangerous to aquatic life.
Plastics often contain non-polar chemical additives, such as antioxidants, flame retardants, plasticizers, and UV stabilizers, which improve performance but have poorly understood environmental risks. This study assessed the aquatic toxicity of polypropylene (PP) containing the antioxidant Irgafos 168 (IRG) to the crustacean Daphnia magna and the green alga Raphidocelis subcapitata. Commercial PP containing IRG (PPc) and additive- and oligomer-free PP (PPd) were irradiated at 254 nm using germicidal light, both with and without HO. The tested particles included microplastics (MPs, 1-50 μm and 50-500 μm) and nanoplastics (NPs, < 1 μm). The results showed that the toxicity was influenced by particle size, concentration, and the presence of the antioxidant additive. Smaller particles, along with the presence of IRG and its degradation products, tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate, bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate, and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, contributed to higher toxicity in both D. magna and R. subcapitata. The highest toxicity was observed for NPs containing IRG (PPc), which resulted in an EC for D. magna immobilization of 7.2 ± 0.1 mg/L, compared to the less toxic NPs free of IRG (EC 28.7 ± 4.2 mg/L). The growth rate of R. subcapitata was also more affected by NPs generated from PPc (EC 0.2 ± 1.2 mg/L) than by the corresponding NPs free of IRG (LOEC 3 mg/L). Our findings showed that the main toxicity was driver was an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation (LPO), damage to cell membrane integrity and impairment of esterase activity. The results demonstrated that irradiated plastic particles act as carriers for toxic non-polar compounds, enhancing negative effects on aquatic organisms, with particle size being a key factor. This study highlights the complex toxicological impacts of micro- and nano-plastics containing additives on aquatic biota.
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Use of a nanoplastic carrier for assessing the aquatic toxicity of an organo-phosphite polymer additive
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Researchers produced polypropylene nanoplastics free of additives and oligomers, then reloaded them with specific chemicals to test the aquatic toxicity of the polymer additive Irgafos 168. This controlled approach allowed them to distinguish the toxicity of the additive from that of the plastic particle itself. The study demonstrates that chemical additives leaching from nanoplastics can pose distinct environmental risks beyond those caused by the plastic particles alone.
The contribution of additives to microplastic aquatic toxicity - A testing approach with model additives on selected aquatic organisms
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Researchers developed a systematic methodology to separate the physical effects of microplastic particles from the chemical effects of their embedded additives on aquatic organisms. The study found that polyethylene microplastics alone showed no significant toxicity to water fleas or protozoa, while the additive zinc oxide was toxic independently. Artificial aging changed how much additive was released from the plastics but did not change the overall toxicity to the tested organisms.
UV-B degradation affects nanoplastic toxicity and leads to release of small toxic substances
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Researchers studied how UV-B radiation affects the toxicity of nanoscale polystyrene particles to water fleas (Daphnia magna). They found that UV-B exposure reduced the overall toxicity of the nanoparticles but caused them to release small toxic molecules into the surrounding water. The findings suggest that sunlight-driven degradation of nanoplastics may alter their environmental risks in unexpected ways.
Aquatic toxicity of chemically defined microplastics can be explained by functional additives
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Researchers manufactured microplastics from four polymer types with precisely defined chemical compositions, including different additive formulations, and tested their toxicity to aquatic organisms. They found that the toxic effects of microplastics could largely be explained by the functional additives they contained rather than the base polymer itself. The study suggests that the chemical additives in plastics, not just the plastic material, are a primary driver of microplastic toxicity in aquatic environments.
The contribution of additives to microplastic aquatic toxicity – A testing approach with model additives on selected aquatic organisms
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Researchers developed a systematic testing approach to distinguish between the physical effects of microplastic particles and the chemical effects of their additives on aquatic organisms. The study found that polyethylene microplastics alone showed no significant toxicity to water fleas or protozoa, but the inorganic additive zinc oxide was toxic on its own. The findings suggest that the additives embedded in plastics, rather than the plastic particles themselves, may be the primary drivers of toxicity in some cases.
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