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Weathering alters the profile of trace metals and organic compounds in leachates and bioavailability extracts from microplastics of trail running shoes
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Trail running shoes shed rubber microplastics that, when weathered on soil surfaces under UV exposure, release zinc, sulfur, titanium, and fatty acids into the environment at increasing rates over time. However, weathering also reduces the bioaccessibility of some toxic organic additives, while producing new transformation byproducts. The study underscores that the toxicity profile of tire and shoe rubber microplastics changes substantially as they age in the environment, and that ecotoxicology studies should use weathered rather than pristine particles to accurately reflect real-world risks.
Microplastics (MPs) from rubber outsoles of trail running shoes may contribute significantly to contamination in protected areas. In the natural environment, weathering processes can damage MP molecular structure and alter the mobility of inorganic and organic compounds used as additives in rubber. In this study, we characterised changes in the surface morphology, functional groups, and thermal stability of MPs weathered on and below the soil surface over 12 weeks, and analysed inorganic and organic additives in leachates (0.01M CaCl) and bioaccessibility extracts (ethyl acetate). Weathering conditions included UVC irradiation at 25 °C and 80% soil moisture. Microplastics on the soil surface exhibited cracking, fragmentation, and increased extractability of zinc, sulphur, titanium and fatty acids. Microplastics below the soil surface were not significantly physically or chemically altered, however zinc leachability increased following extended weathering by up to 155%. Bioaccessibility of thiol, aromatic and cyclic organic additives decreased from both surface and sub-surface MPs over the 12 week weathering period, but there was evidence of an increase in transformation by-products. Microplastic toxicity may be significantly altered by environmental conditions and MP weathering. It is critical ecotoxicological studies use weathered MPs to assess impacts on rare and endemic species found in protected spaces.
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