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Phototransformation and toxicity enhancement of AgCl NPs by polystyrene microplastics under irradiation

2024

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This study investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect the phototransformation of silver chloride nanoparticles under sunlight irradiation and whether the interaction enhances toxicity. Results showed that microplastics altered AgCl NP transformation and increased environmental risk under realistic aquatic surface conditions.

Polymers

Abstract Silver chloride nanoparticles (AgCl NPs) and microplastics (MPs) ubiquitous pollutants that coexist in water surface and are exposed to sunlight irradiation, yet their transformation and environmental risks are poorly known, particularly in realistic water. Herein, we found the PS MPs could enhance phototransformation of AgCl NPs by •OH, 1O2 and 3PS*, which promoted the release of Ag+ and Cl−. Subsequently, O2•− reducing the Ag+ to Ag NPs. Notably, this PS MPs-related phototransformation of AgCl NPs also occurred in realistic water, but was significantly influenced by environmental factors, such as pH and humic acid. Consequently, the PS MPs-related Ag species transformation (AgCl→Ag+/Ag0) increased the toxicity of AgCl NPs at environmental concentration, as evidenced by the reduced survival rate of zebrafish larvae from 100 to 23.3% to. Overall, this is the first study to reveal that PS MPs can enhance phototransformation of AgCl NPs to Ag NPs, and thereby amplify the environmental risks of AgCl NPs in realistic water.

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