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Study on electron beam induced deterioration and microplastic release from polymer catheters
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Researchers found that electron beam sterilization of latex Foley catheters at doses of 75 kGy or higher causes progressive surface cracking and nanoplastic leaching, with irradiated particles also showing reduced microbial growth. This is significant because medical devices are a direct and understudied route for nanoplastic exposure in patients, and sterilization practices may inadvertently generate plastic particles that enter the body during medical procedures.
Electron beam (E-beam) sterilization is widely applied to polymer-based medical devices, yet its impact on microplastic release remains insufficiently understood. This study examines dose-dependent degradation and microplastic leaching from natural rubber latex Foley catheters irradiated at 25–100 kGy. Surface morphology (E-SEM), total organic carbon (TOC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and microbial assays were used to evaluate structural and functional changes. Increasing irradiation dose resulted in progressive surface cracking and elevated TOC, with nanoplastics detected at ≥ 75 kGy. Irradiated microplastics also showed reduced microbial growth. The findings highlight the need to balance sterilization efficacy with material stability to minimize microplastic release.
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FTIR and SEM Study on the Degradation of Microplastics
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Laboratory experiments using FTIR and SEM analysis showed that temperature, humidity, and UV light exposure all accelerate the surface degradation of microplastics, causing fragmentation into smaller particles and chemical changes to polymer structure. Understanding these degradation pathways matters because smaller plastic fragments and altered surface chemistry affect how microplastics interact with biological tissues and accumulate toxic compounds.
Erosion Behaviour of Different Microplastic Particles
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Different microplastic polymer types erode at varying rates depending on particle shape, material hardness, and environmental abrasion forces, generating secondary microplastic fragments over time. Understanding erosion behavior helps predict the long-term fragmentation fate of plastic debris and the continuing generation of smaller, more hazardous particles in the environment.
A Review on the Fate of Microplastics: Their Degradation and Advanced Analytical Characterization
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This review covers current methods for extracting, degrading, and analytically characterizing microplastics from environmental and biological samples, highlighting major gaps in photo-oxidation, biodegradation, and photo-thermal degradation approaches. Establishing effective microplastic degradation methodologies is essential for reducing their prolonged environmental persistence and preventing ongoing bioaccumulation of plastic fragments and associated toxic chemicals in food chains.
A one-dimensional micromechanical model of elastic-microplastic damage evolution
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A one-dimensional micromechanical model based on Dugdale microcracks predicts elastic-microductile damage evolution, capturing both macroscopic hardening and softening behavior during loading and continuous damage accumulation during unloading. This physically-based damage model provides a foundation for predicting progressive failure in ductile materials subjected to monotonic loading.
Characterising the ageing effects of microwave exposure on microplastics using multivariate data analyses
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Microwaving plastic-containing items can cause tiny plastic particles (microplastics) to break down and change chemically, with some plastics, like polypropylene, often used in food containers, degrading more than others. This study only tested dry, empty plastics in a microwave (not food or liquids), so more research is needed to know exactly how this affects the plastic bits that might end up in your meal, but it's a reminder that "microwave-safe" plastic containers may still shed more particles over time and repeated use.
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