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Effect of aging on the release of additives and the toxicity of microplastics

Water Environment Research 2026
Alicia Sánchez, Sara Exojo-Trujillo, Diego Ríos, José María Coll, Mar Masia-Santonja, Dinoraz Vélez, Vicenta Devesa

Summary

Researchers found that environmental aging of PVC microplastics increases their toxicity to intestinal cells, with aged particles causing greater oxidative stress, reduced tight junction integrity, and elevated paracellular permeability compared to non-aged particles. Aging also depleted plasticizer additives like DEHP while generating the toxic metabolite MEHP, indicating that weathered microplastics pose greater gut health risks than fresh ones.

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