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Aging of polyester microplastics in sewer systems: Crucial role of sulfides
npj Emerging Contaminants
2026
Yaxin Wang,
Xiuhong Liu,
Lei Wei,
Ruxian Jing,
Wenyang Ren,
Gaofeng Jia,
Weipeng Han,
Chenduo Huang
Summary
Researchers investigated how polyester microplastics age inside sewer systems, finding that sulfide — a common compound in anaerobic sewers — is the primary driver of degradation in PET and PBAT particles. Sulfide-induced oxidation increased surface hydrophilicity and carbonyl content, promoted leaching of dissolved organic matter, and generated up to 10 nanoplastics per milliliter, highlighting significant ecological risks from microplastic transformation in urban drainage infrastructure.