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UnanticipatedThio-Oxidation of Organophosphite ChemicalAdditives in PVC Microplastics Following In Situ Weathering
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Researchers performed nontargeted chemical analysis on PVC microplastics after 16 weeks of river water exposure and unexpectedly found three organothiophosphates — including triphenyl thiophosphate — among 2,086 newly formed compounds, suggesting environmental weathering transforms plastic additives into previously unrecognized contaminants.
Microplastics have emerged as contaminants of concern due to their worldwide distribution and persistence. Following environmental weathering, the chemical composition of microplastics may be altered by physicochemical processes. In this study, nontargeted analysis was employed to examine changes in the chemical compositions of five types of microplastics that had been subjected to 16 weeks of in situ exposure to river water. The highest number of observed peak features was associated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (12,043), among which 2,086 were newly formed during exposure. It was unanticipated that three organothiophosphates, including triphenyl thiophosphate (TPTP), were identified with the highest abundance. The abiotic formation of organothiophosphates was confirmed via in-lab simulation trials following 6 weeks of artificial weathering. To further investigate potential reaction mechanisms, isotope-labeling trials were used to confirm the thio-oxidation of TPPi by polysulfides via the phosphonium intermediate. This is the first report of thio-oxidation of organophosphites, highlighting the importance of considering chemical transformations when conducting microplastic risk assessments.
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Unanticipated Thio-Oxidation of Organophosphite Chemical Additives in PVC Microplastics Following In Situ Weathering
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers performed nontargeted chemical analysis on PVC microplastics after 16 weeks of river water exposure and unexpectedly found three organothiophosphates — including triphenyl thiophosphate — among 2,086 newly formed compounds, suggesting environmental weathering transforms plastic additives into previously unrecognized contaminants.
Unanticipated Thio-oxidation of Organophosphite Chemical Additives in PVC Microplastics Following In-Situ Weathering
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered unanticipated thio-oxidation of organophosphite chemical additives in PVC microplastics after 16 weeks of in-situ river water weathering, revealing that environmental exposure can chemically transform plastic additives in unexpected ways.
Desorption of Organotin and Organophosphorus Compounds from Virgin Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Microplastics in Freshwater
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Researchers examined the desorption of organotin compounds (OTCs) and organophosphorus compounds (OPs) from virgin polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics into freshwater, addressing a gap in knowledge compared to prior marine-focused desorption studies. The thesis found that these chemical additives, which are also present in drinking water sources, can leach from PVC microplastics under freshwater conditions, raising concerns for water safety.
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Researchers investigated how the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate leaches from PVC microplastics in both freshwater and seawater environments. They found that UV irradiation and water chemistry significantly influenced leaching rates, with higher release observed under simulated environmental conditions. The findings suggest that microplastics in rivers and oceans act as ongoing sources of potentially harmful chemical additives.
Chemical additives in weathered microplastic in the marine environment occurrence and risk:occurrence and risk
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Researchers measured chemical additives — including phthalate plasticizers known to disrupt hormones — in polyurethane and PVC plastics before and after four months of weathering in a Norwegian fjord, finding that concentrations reached up to 1,000 nanograms per gram of plastic and that risk to marine organisms remained low, though non-target screening flagged additional unidentified compounds of concern.
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