0
Article Tier 2 Human Health Effects Remediation Sign in to save

Comparative study on degradation of PVC microplastics under four processes: mechanism, pathway and toxicological assessment

Gondwana Research 2025 2 citations

No summary available — this paper's abstract is not included in the open metadata provided by the publisher. Learn why →

Polymers

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Degradation of Plastics and Formation of Primary and Secondary Microplastics

AI summary Read the abstract

This review paper explains how everyday plastics like grocery bags, food containers, and water bottles break down into microplastics (tiny plastic pieces smaller than 5mm) through sunlight exposure, heat, weathering, and other natural processes. This matters because as plastic waste breaks down in the environment, it releases these microplastics, along with potentially toxic chemical byproducts, that can end up in our water, food, and air, raising concerns about long-term health effects that scientists are still working to fully understand.

Article Tier 2

Degradation of Microplastics in the Environment

AI summary Read the abstract

This review outlines the mechanical, chemical, and biological degradation pathways of environmental microplastics, noting that degradation rates depend on polymer structure, chemical additives, and environmental conditions such as temperature and UV exposure. Understanding how microplastics break down is essential because degradation produces smaller nanoplastics and releases toxic additives, potentially increasing bioavailability and health risks over time.

Article Tier 2

Degradation of Microplastics in the Environment

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed how microplastics break down in the environment through mechanical, chemical, and biological processes, finding that degradation rates vary widely depending on the type of plastic and environmental conditions, meaning some plastics persist for decades or longer.

Article Tier 2

UV‑driven surface oxidation of PVC microplastics and their interaction with emerging pollutants

AI summary Read the abstract

UV light aging dramatically increased the ability of PVC microplastics to adsorb the antibiotic ofloxacin, with weathered plastic absorbing more than twice as much as pristine PVC due to new oxygen-containing surface groups. This means that UV-aged microplastics in the environment act as concentrated carriers for pharmaceutical pollutants, potentially transporting antibiotics into organisms that ingest them.

Article Tier 2

Role of Microorganisms in Biodegradation of Microplastics

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers examine how microorganisms degrade common microplastic polymers including polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, and PET, reviewing the enzymatic and metabolic pathways bacteria and fungi use to break down these persistent materials and the potential for harnessing microbial activity as a biodegradation strategy.

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.

Email me about

Share this paper