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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

Adsorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to microplastics in seawater: a comparison between pristine and aged particles

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2022 14 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Ke Pan, Ciara Chun Chen, Lin Lin, Huo Xu, Huo Xu, Fengyuan Chen, Yanping Li, Xiaoshan Zhu, Jie Ma, Wenlu Lan

Summary

Natural aging of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics in seawater over three months increased their adsorption capacity for the plasticizer DEHP compared to pristine particles, due to surface oxidation and biofilm formation. The results indicate that environmentally aged MPs are stronger vectors for hydrophobic contaminants than fresh MPs used in most laboratory studies.

Polymers
PE PS
Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) are a widely distributed pollutant and have been attracting global attention. The increasing abundance of MPs in marine environments has raised concern about their adverse effects on marine organisms and influence on the fate of contaminants in seawater. In this study, we investigated the effects of natural aging on the adsorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), one of the most widely used phthalic acid esters (PAEs), in two types of MPs (polyethylene and polystyrene). Biofilm was observed on the surface of MPs after 3-month exposure in seawater. Atomic force microscopy revealed there were significant physical changes in the MPs after aging. Aging in coastal seawater for 3 months significantly reduced the MPs' surface roughness and adhesion, and increased the Young's modulus at the same time. Adsorption isotherms of DEHP indicated that aged MPs had stronger binding capacity of the organic contaminant than pristine MPs. Our data shed some light on the biogeochemical role of MPs in marine environments.

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