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Landfill aging enhances chlorinated organophosphate adsorption on microplastics: Mechanistic insights and elevated risks for biodegradable polymers
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As microplastics break down in landfills over time, they actually become better at soaking up toxic flame-retardant chemicals, and surprisingly, "biodegradable" plastics absorb even more of these chemicals than regular plastic does after aging. This matters because these contaminated plastic particles can leach into surrounding water and soil, meaning the eco-friendly plastics we're switching to may not be as safe for the environment (and potentially our health, since these chemicals can travel up the food chain) as we assumed.
Landfill aging generates microplastics (MPs) that migrate via leachate and interact with chlorinated organophosphate flame retardants (Cl-OPFRs). However, the adsorption mechanisms under landfill conditions remain poorly understood. This study combined experimental batch adsorption with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis, and interaction region indicator (IRI) to elucidate the adsorption behavior of Cl-OPFRs onto both petroleum-based MPs (PMPs) and biodegradable MPs (BMPs) before and after simulated mechanical-thermal aging. Aging induced 28-45% particle size reduction and selective surface oxidation of PMPs, while BMPs underwent pronounced depolymerization and fragmentation. These physicochemical changes significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of all MPs for Cl-OPFRs. Notably, aged BMPs exhibited substantially greater increases (up to 27.63%) compared to PMPs (up to 13.30%). Mechanistically, van der Waals forces, halogen bonding, and π-H interactions governed adsorption onto polar MPs, while hydrophobic interactions dominated for non-polar polyethylene. Furthermore, aging elevated the ecological risk quotient of MP-Cl-OPFR complexes, particularly for BMPs and more hydrophobic Cl-OPFRs, with risk increases reaching 24.53%. These findings demonstrate that landfill aging critically enhances the vector role of MPs (especially biodegradable types) for Cl-OPFRs, offering essential mechanistic insights for improved risk assessment and management strategies in landfill-affected ecosystems.
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Researchers studied how microplastics affect the behavior of chlorinated flame retardant chemicals in landfill soils, including their tendency to be absorbed by the human body during digestion. They found that adding microplastics increased both the retention of these chemicals in soil and their bioaccessibility, raising potential health risks for people exposed to contaminated landfill material. The study presents the first evidence that microplastics can amplify human exposure to toxic flame retardants in landfill settings.
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Researchers studied how aging changes the ability of polystyrene microplastics to absorb and release a flame retardant chemical called TBBPA in soil. They found that aged microplastics had a greater capacity to adsorb the chemical but also released it more readily, increasing the bioavailability of this toxic compound to soil organisms. The study reveals that as microplastics weather in the environment, they may actually become more effective carriers of harmful chemicals into the food chain.
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"Biodegradable" plastics are often marketed as the eco-friendly choice, but this study found they can still soak up PFAS ("forever chemicals") just like regular plastics do, meaning they can carry these harmful chemicals through the environment and potentially into our bodies. In other words, choosing biodegradable plastic doesn't automatically mean you're avoiding exposure to toxic chemical build-up—more research is needed to understand the real risks.
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