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Environmental occurrence and ecotoxicological risks of plastic leachates in aquatic and terrestrial environments
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This review examines how chemical additives that leach out of plastics -- including hormone disruptors like BPA and phthalates -- affect organisms in both water and land environments. The chemicals' harmful effects depend on environmental conditions like temperature and UV exposure, which influence how much leaches out and how easily organisms absorb it. The findings highlight that the danger of plastic pollution extends beyond the physical particles to the toxic chemicals they release.
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to environmental and human health, with microplastics widely distributed across various ecosystems. Although current ecotoxicological studies have primarily focused on the inherent toxicity of plastics in natural environments, the role of chemical additives leaching from plastics into the environment remains underexplored despite their significant contribution to the overall toxic potential of plastics. Existing systematic studies on plastic leachates have often examined isolated additive compounds, neglecting the ecotoxicological effects of multiple compounds present in plastic leachates. Additionally, most previous research has focused on aquatic environments, overlooking the leaching mechanisms and ecological risks to diverse species with various ecological roles in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This oversight hinders comprehensive ecological risk assessments. This study addresses these research gaps by reviewing the environmental occurrence of plastic leachates and their ecotoxicological impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Key findings reveal the pervasive presence of plastic leachates in various environments, identifying common additives such as phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), bisphenol A (BPA), and nonylphenols (NPs). Ecotoxicologically, chemical additives leaching from plastics under specific environmental conditions can influence their bioavailability and subsequent uptake by organisms. This review proposes a novel ecotoxicity risk assessment framework that integrates chemical analysis, ecotoxicological testing, and exposure assessment, offering a comprehensive approach to evaluating the risks of plastic leachates. This underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research that combines advanced analytical techniques with ecotoxicological studies across diverse species and environmental conditions to enhance the understanding of the complex impacts of plastic leachates and inform future research and regulatory policies.
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Occurrence and effects of plastic additives on marine environments and organisms: A review
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This review examines chemical additives found in plastics, such as flame retardants, phthalates, and bisphenol A, and how they leach into the marine environment as plastics accumulate and fragment. Researchers summarize evidence showing that these additives have been detected in marine water, sediment, and organisms, and can transfer from ingested plastic into animal tissues. The findings highlight that the chemical risk from plastic additives deserves as much attention as the physical impacts of microplastic particles themselves.
Understanding the leaching of plastic additives and subsequent risks to ecosystems
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This review explains how chemical additives in plastics -- including plasticizers, flame retardants, and stabilizers -- can leach out of microplastics into the environment and potentially into the human body. Some of these additives, such as phthalates and brominated flame retardants, are persistent, build up in living tissue, and are linked to hormone disruption and other health effects. The authors note that our understanding of the full toxicity risk from leaching plastic additives is still limited.
Ecotoxicology of Plastic Additives: Environmental and Health Perspectives
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This review pulls together existing research showing that chemicals added to plastics (like phthalates and flame retardants) can leach out over time and enter our food, air, and water. Once in our bodies, these additives have been linked to hormone disruption, reproductive problems, and even cancer. The authors call for stricter regulations and better recycling to reduce our exposure.
Effect of temperature and sunlight on the leachability potential of BPA and phthalates from plastic litter under marine conditions
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Researchers exposed six plastic polymer types to simulated marine conditions (UV and heat) for 140 days and measured the leaching of bisphenol A and phthalate plasticizers, finding that temperature and sunlight substantially increase the release of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Microplastic leachates: an invisible flux and latent source of environmental toxicity
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This review summarizes existing research on microplastics from sources like tires, textiles, landfills and wastewater plants, which release chemical additives such as phthalates and bisphenols as they break down. Studies cited show these chemicals can cause hormone disruption, cell stress and reproductive harm in aquatic organisms.
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