Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Marine & Wildlife Remediation Sign in to save

Polyethylene degradation and heavy metals leaching under realistic tropical marine climate

Marine Environmental Research 2023 13 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Evonne Tan, Evonne Tan, Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Meng Chuan Ong Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Meng Chuan Ong Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri, Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong

Summary

Researchers examined how temperature and pH affect the degradation of polyethylene pellets and leaching of heavy metals into seawater under tropical marine conditions. The study found that while temperature and pH did not significantly increase heavy metal leaching, they did accelerate surface degradation of the polymer, suggesting that weathered microplastics in tropical waters may act as pollution vectors by adsorbing metals onto their damaged surfaces.

Polymers

Study Type Environmental

The study examines the influence of temperature and pH on the leaching of six heavy metals (HMs) species: aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) from transparent polyethylene pellets into seawater. The idea is to understand the potential influence of intensifying global warming and ocean acidification towards microplastic toxicity in the ocean. HMs leaching was obvious by 24th hours, with most HMs concentration decreased in water by 120th and 240th hours except Al. Nevertheless, we report that temperature and pH do not influence the overall HMs leaching from PE pellets with statistical analysis showing no significance (p < 0.05) between temperature and pH toward HMs concentration. Instead, it is hypothesized that these two parameters may be crucial in promoting heavy metal adsorption onto PE pellets under tropical weathering. However, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) revealed that temperature and pH are influential in polymer aging and surficial breakdown where pellets exposed in warm, acidic waters showed the greatest extent of weathering. This study highlights that PE pellets exposed under tropical conditions may accelerate surficial degradation and possibly stimulate HMs adherence to the polymer as a pollution vector. Further consideration of metal behaviour in water and microbial activities is crucial to improve our understanding of microplastic toxicity under tropical weathering.

Read via DOI PubMed

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email