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Risk assessment of harmful types of plastics in the marine environment
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This risk assessment evaluated the chemical hazards posed by residual additives and degradation products in seven types of microplastic particles found in the marine environment. The report identifies specific polymer types that pose the greatest risk to marine organisms through chemical leaching.
This report presents the results of a risk assessment of residual chemical additives, monomers and degradation products present in microplastic (MP) particles in the marine environment. Seven cases of different polymer types and product groups are defined that represent the most significant exposures of MPs, and thus potential highrisk cases towards marine organisms. Risk Quotients (RQ) are calculated for three trophic levels, i.e. pelagic/planktonic zooplankton: copepod, benthopelagic fish: atlantic cod and seabird: northern fulmar. Danish Miljøkvalitetskrav (MKK) and European Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) values are used as toxicity threshold values. RQ larger than unity, which indicates potential risk, is estimated for copepod and cod (pelagic community) and the flame-retardant pentabromdiphenylether (PeBDE) used in polyurethane (PUR), the biocide tributyltin (TBT) used in polyvinylchloride (PVC) and PUR, and the flame-retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) used in expanded polystyrene (EPS). The highest estimated RQ for fulmar (secondary poisoning) is 0.1 for PeBDE used in PUR.
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Researchers conducted a risk assessment of chemical additives and monomers present in plastics ingested by marine organisms in the Danish marine environment, defining eight cases based on polymer types and product groups representing high-risk exposure scenarios. Risk Quotients were calculated to identify which plastic-associated chemicals posed the greatest hazard to marine organisms.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.