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Micro- and nanoplastics released from biodegradable and conventional plastics during degradation: Formation, aging factors, and toxicity

The Science of The Total Environment 2022 195 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.

Xianliang Yi, Huiyan Tong, Huiyan Tong, Huiyan Tong, Huiyan Tong, Xiaocong Zhong, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xiaocong Zhong, Xianliang Yi, Xiaocong Zhong, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xiaocong Zhong, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Fanqi Cheng, Xiaocong Zhong, Xiaocong Zhong, Zhenghang Duan, Fanqi Cheng, Xiaojing Yang Xiaocong Zhong, Xiaocong Zhong, Zhenghang Duan, Xiaocong Zhong, Xianliang Yi, Xiaojing Yang Huiyan Tong, Huiyan Tong, Xianliang Yi, Xiaocong Zhong, Fanqi Cheng, Xianliang Yi, Xiaojing Yang Fanqi Cheng, Weiping Xu, Xiaojing Yang Weiping Xu, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xiaojing Yang Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xianliang Yi, Xiaojing Yang

Summary

Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional plastics break down into micro- and nanoplastics during degradation, testing the effects of UV light and mechanical forces. They found that biodegradable plastics like PLA and PBS can produce significant quantities of secondary microplastics, challenging the assumption that they are entirely safe alternatives. The study highlights the need for risk assessments of biodegradable plastics, particularly the tiny fragments generated as they break down.

Polymers

PE PLA PS PVC

The use of biodegradable plastics may solve the pollution caused by conventional plastics in the future. However, microplastics and nanoplastics are produced during the aging process of biodegradable plastics. This work evaluated the formation of secondary microplastics and nanoplastics and the effects of aging factors (UV radiation and mechanical forces) during the degradation processes of various biodegradable plastics (poly(butylene adipate co-terephtalate) (PBAT), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and polylactic acid (PLA)) and conventional plastics (polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)). This study also assessed the combined toxicity of secondary microplastics and Triclosan (TCS) on Tigriopus japonicas. The results showed that PLA and PBS could produce many microplastics. Most secondary microplastics were smaller than 50 μm. Primary pellets were more likely to generate microplastics through mechanical degradation than via photooxidation. In contrast, PBAT/PLA and PE bags were more likely to form microplastics through photooxidation than mechanical degradation. The secondary microplastics did not affect the survival of T. japonicas and the toxicity of TCS. This study highlights that risk assessment of biodegradable plastics, especially secondary microplastics, and nanoplastics, should be assessed in future studies.

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