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Effects of UV degradation on building materials with emphasis on microplastic generation potential
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Researchers exposed common indoor building materials to UV light and found that the materials gradually degraded, releasing microplastic particles into the indoor environment. Wallpapers and plastic sheets showed the highest potential for microplastic generation and posed elevated health risk scores from ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Since people spend most of their time indoors, these findings suggest that building materials are an overlooked source of daily microplastic exposure.
This study investigates the effects of ultraviolet (UV) exposure on indoor building materials, focusing on color change, surface degradation, and chemical composition alterations. UV-exposed materials, quantitatively assessed using RGB and HSL color models, demonstrated progressive yellowing. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements revealed significant surface deterioration in specific materials, indicating compromised protective coatings due to UV exposure. Chemical analyses via FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed increased oxygen content in these materials, suggesting oxidative processes affecting plastic components. Assessment of microplastic generation potential based on surface roughness data identified higher production rates in certain materials, raising concerns about the environmental implications of prolonged UV exposure indoors. Moreover, evaluating human health risks associated with indoor microplastic exposure highlighted elevated hazard indices for wallpapers and sheets, emphasizing potential risks from ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact with microplastics. These findings underscore the necessity for enhanced approaches in architectural material design and regulation to mitigate these risks effectively.
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