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Quantification of microplastics formed during weathering from wood-plastic composites
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New research finds that wood-plastic composites (WPC), the "eco-friendly" material used in decking, flowerpots, and outdoor furniture, can shed surprisingly large amounts of microplastics as they weather outdoors, sometimes far more than plain plastic does. Interestingly, the wood particles mixed into these composites actually speed up erosion and microplastic release, and how much breaks off depends heavily on the specific product, some items like decking released almost none, while others like flowerpots shed a lot. This matters because these products are marketed as sustainable alternatives, but they may be adding to the microplastic pollution that
Accumulation of microplastics (MPs) and the potential risks that they bring causes justified concerns. Plastic-based materials are widely used in various applications. The materials are presumed to be inert and safe. However, the formation of potential MPs has introduced some doubts. Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) are among the materials suggested to be environmentally friendly. However, they may release MPs due to weathering as WPCs are widely used in outdoor applications. The objective of the study was to collect, quantify, and compare MPs' release during artificial weathering from WPCs and evaluate the effect of composition. In the study, four experimental and four commercial WPCs were analysed. Recycled polypropylene (rPP) was used as a reference. The results showed that WPCs can be a source of MPs, and that their composition significantly affects their formation. Wood particles in WPCs facilitate erosion, causing MPs to be released at a rate of 5.6 g/m2, whereas the release from rPP was 0.1 g/m2 after one month of accelerated weathering. For commercial products, MPs formation depends on the product type, with no MPs released for WPC decking but a significant release of up to 58.9 g/m2 for the flowerpot after 2 months of accelerated weathering.
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Laboratory weathering experiments simulating UV exposure, mechanical abrasion, and saltwater immersion accelerated the fragmentation of plastic samples into microplastics, replicating processes that occur over years in the marine environment. Understanding these degradation mechanisms is essential for predicting how quickly plastic debris transforms into the smaller particles that are most difficult to remove and most readily ingested by marine organisms.
The Scale and Distribution of Microplastic Pollution in the Soils of a UK Urban Woodland
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