We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Phototransformation and toxicity enhancement of AgCl NPs by polystyrene microplastics under irradiation
Summary
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.
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.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Polystyrene microplastics sunlight-induce oxidative dissolution, chemical transformation and toxicity enhancement of silver nanoparticles
Researchers discovered that polystyrene microplastics can induce sunlight-driven oxidative dissolution and chemical transformation of silver nanoparticles, enhancing their toxicity and revealing important implications for how co-occurring pollutants interact in the environment.
Mechanistic Roles of Microplastics in the Phototransformation of Silver Ions in Aquatic Environments
This study found that polystyrene microplastics mediate the transformation of silver ions into silver nanoparticles (Ag0, Ag2O, Ag2S) under natural and UV light irradiation, acting as reactive surfaces that alter silver speciation and potentially increase its bioavailability in aquatic systems.
Role of polystyrene microplastics in sunlight-mediated transformation of silver in aquatic environments: Mechanisms, kinetics and toxicity
Researchers investigated how UV-aged polystyrene microplastics mediate the transformation of silver in sunlit aquatic environments, finding that reactive oxygen species generated during MP photo-oxidation both reduced and re-oxidized silver, altering its speciation and toxicity to aquatic organisms.
Mechanistic Rolesof Microplastics in the Phototransformationof Silver Ions in Aquatic Environments
Researchers investigated the mechanistic role of polystyrene microplastics in the phototransformation of silver ions (Ag+) in aquatic environments, finding that Ag-based nanoparticles ranging from 21.0-177.0 nm formed from Ag+ in the presence of PS microplastics after both natural light and UV irradiation. Using single-particle ICP-MS (sp-ICP-MS), they revealed that microplastics act as a photoreductive substrate that accelerates silver ion conversion to nanoparticles, potentially altering silver toxicity and bioavailability in aquatic systems.
Weathered Microplastics Induce Silver Nanoparticle Formation
Researchers found that weathered polystyrene microplastics can photochemically reduce dissolved silver ions to metallic silver nanoparticles in both freshwater and sand matrices under solar irradiation, revealing a previously unknown mechanism by which microplastics alter the chemical speciation of co-occurring metal contaminants.