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Aging of plastics in aquatic environments: Pathways, environmental behavior, ecological impacts, analyses and quantifications
Summary
This review examines how plastics age and degrade in aquatic environments through photo-oxidation, mechanical abrasion, and biodegradation. Researchers discuss the physicochemical changes that occur in aging plastics and the release of potentially harmful oxidation products during degradation. The study suggests that understanding these complex aging dynamics is essential for assessing the environmental and ecological risks posed by microplastics.
The ubiquity of plastics in our environment has brought about pressing concerns, with their aging processes, photo-oxidation, mechanical abrasion, and biodegradation, being at the forefront. Microplastics (MPs), whether originating from plastic degradation or direct anthropogenic sources, further complicate this landscape. This review delves into the intricate aging dynamics of plastics in aquatic environments under various influential factors. We discuss the physicochemical changes that occur in aged plastics and the release of oxidation products during their degradation. Particular attention is given to their evolving environmental interactions and the resulting ecotoxicological implications. A rigorous evaluation is also conducted for methodologies in the analysis and quantification of plastics aging, identifying their merits and limitations and suggesting potential avenues for future research. This comprehensive review is able to illuminate the complexities of plastics aging, charting a path for future research and aiding in the formulation of informed policy decisions.