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Microstructure Characterization of Oceanic Polyethylene Debris

Environmental Science & Technology 2020 78 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Laura Rowenczyk, Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Matthieu George, Matthieu George, Matthieu George, Matthieu George, Pascale Fabre, Matthieu George, Pascale Fabre, Laura Rowenczyk, Laura Rowenczyk, Laura Rowenczyk, Laura Rowenczyk, Matthieu George, Laura Rowenczyk, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Alexandre Dazzi, Alexandre Dazzi, Laura Rowenczyk, Pascale Fabre, Matthieu George, Laura Rowenczyk, Clément Roux, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Ariane Deniset‐Besseau, Alexandra ter Halle Ariane Deniset‐Besseau, Ariane Deniset‐Besseau, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Ariane Deniset‐Besseau, Pascale Fabre, Laura Rowenczyk, Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Matthieu George, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Matthieu George, Pascale Fabre, Clément Roux, Alexandra ter Halle Victoria Beltrán, Victoria Beltrán, Matthieu George, Dominique Goudounèche, Dominique Goudounèche, Clément Roux, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Laura Rowenczyk, Clément Roux, Clément Roux, Dominique Goudounèche, Dominique Goudounèche, Dominique Goudounèche, Olivier Boyron, Olivier Boyron, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Anne‐Françoise Mingotaud, Anne‐Françoise Mingotaud, Anne‐Françoise Mingotaud, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Alexandra ter Halle Matthieu George, Matthieu George, Laura Rowenczyk, Matthieu George, Matthieu George, Matthieu George, Laura Rowenczyk, Alexandra ter Halle Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Alexandra ter Halle Olivier Boyron, Alexandra ter Halle Anne‐Françoise Mingotaud, Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Olivier Boyron, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Matthieu George, Alexandra ter Halle Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Matthieu George, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Pascal Wong‐Wah‐Chung, Alexandra ter Halle Matthieu George, Clément Roux, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Clément Roux, Alexandra ter Halle Anne‐Françoise Mingotaud, Pascale Fabre, Pascale Fabre, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Clément Roux, Anne‐Françoise Mingotaud, Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle Alexandra ter Halle

Summary

Researchers characterized the microstructure of weathered oceanic polyethylene debris using cross-sectional mapping techniques, revealing deep structural modifications within the outer few hundred micrometers of the debris compared to nonweathered material, with implications for nanoplastic formation mechanisms.

Polymers

Plastic pollution has become a worldwide concern. It was demonstrated that plastic breaks down to nanoscale particles in the environment, forming so-called nanoplastics. It is important to understand their ecological impact, but their structure is not elucidated. In this original work, we characterize the microstructure of oceanic polyethylene debris and compare it to the nonweathered objects. Cross sections are analyzed by several emergent mapping techniques. We highlight deep modifications of the debris within a layer a few hundred micrometers thick. The most intense modifications are macromolecule oxidation and a considerable decrease in the molecular weight. The adsorption of organic pollutants and trace metals is also confined to this outer layer. Fragmentation of the oxidized layer of the plastic debris is the most likely source of nanoplastics. Consequently the nanoplastic chemical nature differs greatly from plastics.

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