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Photodegradation Controls of Potential Toxicity of Secondary Sunscreen-Derived Microplastics and Associated Leachates
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Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down microplastics from sunscreen products and whether this makes them more or less toxic. They found that sunlight aging caused chemical changes on the plastic surfaces and released harmful compounds into the water, increasing toxicity to aquatic organisms. This is relevant because sunscreen microplastics are commonly washed into oceans and lakes, where sun exposure could make them more dangerous over time.
The escalating environmental concern over secondary microplastics (SMPs) stems from their physicochemical evolution from primary microplastics (PMPs), yet the contribution of varying physicochemical transformations to the ultimate environmental risks remains unknown. In this study, a photomechanical degradation process was employed to convert the primary sunscreen-derived microplastics (SDMPs) into secondary SDMPs. While mechanical degradation caused physical fragmentation, photodegradation induced both physical and chemical alterations, introducing surface oxidation, chemical bond scission, and cross-linking to the secondary SDMPs. Employing a combination of alkaline digestion and pyrolysis GC-MS techniques, it was observed that both physical fragmentation and photooxidation led to heightened intracellular sequestration of MPs. Although the bioaccumulated SDMPs could be indicated by the enlarged lysosomes and fragmented mitochondria, toxicity of secondary SDMPs at the cellular level was primarily driven by chemical transformations post-photodegradation. A nontargeted analysis employing high-resolution mass spectrometry identified 46 plastic-associated compounds in the leachate, with photodegradation-induced chemical transformations playing a crucial role in the dissociation of hydrophobic additives and oxidative conversion of leached compounds. The toxicity of the leachate was exacerbated by photodegradation, with mitochondrial fragmentation serving as the primary subcellular biomarker, indicative of leachate toxicity. This study elucidates the pivotal role of photodegradation in augmenting the cytotoxicity of secondary SDMPs, shedding light on the intricate interplay between physicochemical transformations and environmental risks.
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Insights into the Photoaging Behavior of Microplastics: Environmental Fate and Ecological Risk
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This review examines how sunlight ages microplastics in the environment, breaking them into smaller pieces and changing their surface chemistry in ways that make them more toxic and more likely to carry other pollutants. Sun-aged microplastics release dissolved organic matter that can harm aquatic life, and their roughened surfaces attract more bacteria and chemical contaminants. Since most microplastics in nature have been exposed to sunlight, their real-world health risks may be higher than studies using fresh lab plastics suggest.
Photo-oxidation of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Effects in Environments
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This review examines how sunlight breaks down micro- and nanoplastics in the environment, changing their surface properties and making them interact differently with pollutants and living organisms. Sun-aged plastic particles can become more toxic to aquatic life and affect soil microbe communities, but many questions remain about these processes under real-world conditions.
Complex release dynamics of microplastic additives: An interplay of additive degradation and microplastic aging
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This study investigated how microplastics release their chemical additives -- including phthalates, bisphenol A, and flame retardants -- into water, especially under UV sunlight. The process is more complicated than simple leaching: sunlight both breaks down the additives and ages the plastic itself, which changes how fast chemicals are released. These findings matter because the toxic additives that leach from microplastics may pose a greater health risk than the plastic particles themselves.
Photoaging of microplastics and nanoplastics: Physicochemical transformations, cellular responses, and toxicological implications
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When plastic waste breaks down in sunlight, it doesn't just become smaller pieces, it actually changes chemically in ways that can make it more toxic to cells, according to this review of existing research. Scientists found that sun-damaged microplastics and nanoplastics are often more harmful to cells than fresh, unweathered plastic particles, though how harmful depends on the plastic type and other conditions. This matters because most plastic pollution in the environment has been sitting in the sun for a while, so real-world exposure may pose greater health risks than lab studies using pristine plastic particles suggest.
Progress on the photo aging mechanism of microplastics and related impact factors in water environment
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This review examined the photo-aging mechanisms of microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that solar UV radiation drives oxidation reactions that alter surface chemistry, fragment particles further, and enhance their capacity to adsorb and release co-occurring pollutants.
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