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Investigating the desorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from polyethylene microplastics to sediment
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Researchers investigated how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) desorb from polyethylene microplastics under simulated gut conditions, finding that digestive fluids with surfactants significantly enhanced PBDE release, raising concerns about gut-mediated transfer of flame retardants from ingested plastic particles.
Microplastics (MPs), especially polyethylene (PE), are emerging contaminants with significant environmental impact and can act as vectors for toxic chemicals such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). This study investigates the desorption behaviour of PBDEs from PE MPs to sediment, focusing on the influence of MP size, amount, and environmental temperature over a 60-day period. Using PE MPs derived from certified reference material ERM-EC590 and controlled experimental conditions, we found that smaller MPs (<1 mm) exhibited higher desorption ratios due to their larger surface area-to-volume ratios. Temperature exerted a marked effect on lower brominated PBDEs (BDEs-47, -99, and -100), with higher desorption ratios observed at 28 °C, but had minimal influence on highly brominated PBDEs (BDEs-183 and -209). Desorption ratios of BDE-47, BDE-100, and BDE-99 were higher at lower MP concentrations in sediment, but no such effect was observed for other, higher brominated congeners. These findings highlight the dynamic role of MPs as vectors of toxic organic pollutants in sediment, emphasising the complex interactions driven by both physico-chemical and environmental factors. This research enhances current understanding of contaminant behaviour at the microplastic-sediment interface.
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Leaching of PBDEs from microplastics under simulated gut conditions: Chemical diffusion and bioaccumulation
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This study examined how polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) leach from microplastics under simulated gut conditions, finding that chemical diffusion rates were strongly influenced by gut fluid composition and that hydrophobic contaminants could transfer to organisms at levels posing potential bioaccumulation risks.
Sorption and release process of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from different composition microplastics in aqueous medium: Solubility parameter approach
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This study investigated how four common microplastic types (PET, PP, LDPE, and PS) sorb and release flame retardant chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The type of plastic polymer significantly affects how much of these toxic chemicals it retains, with implications for how much is released when microplastics are ingested by organisms.
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Researchers investigated bisphenol A desorption from three types of microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, finding that ingested microplastics can release adsorbed BPA during digestion, posing potential health risks.
How Digestive Processes Can Affect the Bioavailability of PCBs Associated with Microplastics: A Modeling Study Supported by Empirical Data
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Researchers used a simulated human digestive model to study whether gut processes change how quickly chemicals like PCBs transfer on and off microplastic particles. They found that digestive enzymes and bile salts significantly accelerated the release of these chemicals from microplastics, suggesting that the human gut environment may increase exposure to plastic-associated pollutants. The study provides new evidence that microplastics could act as carriers that release harmful chemicals more readily during digestion.
Leaching of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from microplastics in fish oil: Kinetics and bioaccumulation
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The leaching kinetics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from microplastics into fish oil were characterized to estimate chemical transfer to organism tissues upon ingestion. Leaching rates were contaminant- and polymer-dependent, providing mechanistic data for assessing how ingested microplastics increase exposure to inherent flame retardant additives.
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