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.
Sign in to save
The fragmentation of nano- and microplastic particles from thermoplastics accelerated by simulated-sunlight-mediated photooxidation
Environmental Pollution2022
88 citations
?
Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 60
?
0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Soeun Eo,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Soeun Eo,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Soeun Eo,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Soeun Eo,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Sang Hee Hong,
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Won Joon Shim
Young Kyoung Song,
Young Kyoung Song,
Won Joon Shim
Summary
Researchers measured how quickly three common thermoplastics break down into micro- and nanoplastics under simulated sunlight exposure. Polystyrene fragmented fastest, in less than one year of equivalent real sunlight, followed by polypropylene in under two years and polyethylene in over three years. The findings help estimate how quickly plastic litter in the environment generates secondary microplastic pollution, which could inform cleanup timelines and priorities.
The plastic debris that washes ashore and litters the shoreline often undergoes weathering under sunlight exposure, such that it fragments to form nanoplastics and microplastics, but the fragmentation rate for many thermoplastics is unknown. In this study, three major thermoplastics were exposed to simulated sunlight in an accelerated weathering chamber to evaluate the speed of photooxidation-induced fragmentation. The initiation of photooxidation-induced fragmentation extrapolated from the accelerated weathering chamber to real sunlight exposure in South Korea followed the order of PS (< 1 year) > PP (< 2 years) > LDPE (> 3 years). The surface cracks created by photooxidation were not directly reflected in the initiation of fragmentation of thermoplastics. The initiation of fragmentation was faster in PS than other polymers, but the total abundance of particles produced, and increasing ratio (exposure/non-exposure) were comparable or lower than those of PP. The increasing ratio pattern between nanoplastics and small microplastics of PP differed noticeably from other polymers. The initiation of nanoplastic and small-microplastic fragmentation determined in this study will be useful for the further estimation of secondary microplastic production by weathering and thus for decision-making regarding methods for the timely removal of plastic litter in the environment.