We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Threat of plastic ageing in marine environment. Adsorption/desorption of micropollutants.
AI summary Read the abstract
Three plastic types (PVC, PET, and biodegradable PBAT) were aged in a French bay for 502 days to study how weathering affects their adsorption and release of pollutants. PVC was found to rapidly leach estrogenic compounds into seawater and later adsorb heavy metals, raising concern about the chemical hazards of aged marine plastics.
Ageing of various plastics in marine environment was monitored after immersion of two synthetic (polyvinylchloride, PVC, and polyethylene terephthalate, PET) and one biodegradable (poly(butylene adipate co-terephtalate), PBAT) plastics for 502days in the bay of Lorient (Brittany, France). Data analysis indicates that aged PVC rapidly releases estrogenic compounds in seawater with a later adsorption of heavy metals; PET undergoes a low weakening of the surface whereas no estrogenic activity is detected; PBAT ages faster in marine environment than PVC. Aged PBAT exhibits heterogeneous surface with some cavities likely containing clay minerals from the chlorite group. Besides, this degraded material occasionally shows a high estrogenic activity. Overall, this study reports, for the first time, that some aged plastics, without being cytotoxic, can release estrogenic compounds in marine environment.
More Papers Like This
Influence of a suite of environmentally relevant conditions on PBT leaching from, and sorption to, marine microplastic debris
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how environmental conditions such as UV exposure, weathering, and saltwater affect the ability of marine microplastics to absorb or release persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals, finding that the type of plastic and its weathering history significantly influence how much chemical contamination it carries into the marine food web.
Adsorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to microplastics in seawater: a comparison between pristine and aged particles
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Yellowing, Weathering and Degradation of Marine Pellets and Their Influence on the Adsorption of Chemical Pollutants
AI summary Read the abstract
Marine plastic pellets collected after prolonged ocean exposure showed yellowing, surface cracking, and chemical degradation compared to virgin pellets, and these weathered plastics adsorbed significantly higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants. The study demonstrates that environmental aging increases microplastics' capacity to act as vectors for chemical contaminants.
Influence of microplastic (LDPE, PET and uPVC) aging on the sorption of ten organic contaminants in water
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested how environmental aging changes the ability of three types of microplastics (LDPE, PET, and uPVC) to absorb ten different organic contaminants from water, including pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Aged microplastics showed different sorption behavior compared to new plastics, which has important implications for how weathered plastic particles in wastewater or the environment carry and transport toxic chemicals.
Investigation of adsorption kinetics and capacities of organic pollutants on weathered polyethylene microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This Croatian-language study examined the adsorption of organic pollutants—including pharmaceuticals and pesticides—onto weathered polyethylene microplastics. UV aging was shown to alter the physical and chemical surface properties of PE, changing its adsorption capacity and potentially increasing its environmental hazard. The work contributes to understanding how plastic weathering in natural environments affects the transport and bioavailability of co-occurring chemical contaminants.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.