Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Insight into the dynamic transformation properties of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and its contribution to the formation of chlorination disinfection by-products

Researchers studied how dissolved organic matter released from microplastics transforms under UV light and how it contributes to the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts during water chlorination. They found that UV exposure changed the chemical composition of the microplastic-derived organic matter, affecting its reactivity during disinfection. The findings suggest that microplastics in water sources may indirectly increase the formation of potentially harmful chemicals during standard water treatment.

2024 RSC Advances 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the optical and molecular characteristics of aging microplastics derived dissolved organic matter transformed by UV/chlor(am)ine oxidation and its potential for disinfection byproducts formation

Researchers studied how UV light and common water disinfection chemicals break down microplastics in water and found that different treatment methods produce different types of dissolved organic matter from the plastic. Some treatment combinations, particularly UV with chlorine, created byproducts that could form harmful disinfection byproducts when water is later chlorinated. This is important because it means water treatment processes might unintentionally create new toxic compounds from the microplastics already present in water.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastic polymer-derived dissolved organic matter and its potential as a disinfection byproduct precursor

UV irradiation caused polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics to leach dissolved organic matter into water, producing low-molecular-weight compounds that could react with chlorine during water treatment to form trihalomethanes, a known class of disinfection byproducts and carcinogens. The findings suggest that microplastics in source water could be a previously unrecognized precursor to harmful disinfection byproducts.

2020 Water Research 209 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of chlorination and ultraviolet on the adsorption of pefloxacin on polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride

Researchers found that water treatment processes like chlorination and UV sterilization actually change the surface properties of microplastics, making them better at absorbing the antibiotic pefloxacin. Chlorination had a stronger effect than UV treatment, increasing the microplastics' ability to carry this pharmaceutical pollutant. This is concerning because it means standard water treatment could unintentionally make microplastics more effective at transporting drugs and other chemicals into drinking water.

2024 Journal of Environmental Sciences 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the effect of microplastics on the UV inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water

Researchers found that polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics significantly reduced UV disinfection effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, as bacteria associated with microplastic surfaces were shielded from UV exposure, creating a potential public health concern.

2022 Water Research 39 citations
Article Tier 2

UV aging of microplastic polymers promotes their chemical transformation and byproduct formation upon chlorination

Researchers studied how UV aging of different microplastic polymers affects their behavior during water chlorination treatment. They found that UV aging significantly increased the reactivity of polyamide and polyester microplastics, promoting the release of harmful organic compounds and the formation of disinfection byproducts by more than 10-fold. The study reveals that weathered microplastics in drinking water systems may generate more toxic byproducts during standard chlorination than their pristine counterparts.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and mechanisms of dissolved organic matter leached by photodegradation of polyethylene microplastics: role of adsorbed antibiotics

Researchers investigated how UV-driven photoaging of polyethylene microplastics and their interactions with the antibiotic ofloxacin affect the release of dissolved organic matter in water. They found that UV exposure significantly increased DOM release from pristine microplastics, while antibiotic-adsorbed microplastics initially released different molecular weight compounds before converging to similar patterns. The study reveals that aging microplastics and their co-contaminants create complex secondary pollution dynamics in aquatic environments.

2026 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts
Article Tier 2

Insight into the effect of UVC-based advanced oxidation processes on the interaction of typical microplastics and their derived disinfection byproducts during disinfection

Scientists found that UV-based water treatment processes, while intended to clean drinking water, caused microplastics to release more organic matter and form more disinfection byproducts during chlorination. Up to 42% of the toxic byproducts formed were absorbed back onto the microplastic surfaces, creating contaminated particles. This concerning finding suggests that some common water treatment methods could unintentionally make microplastic contamination in drinking water more hazardous.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Volatile organic compounds generation pathways and mechanisms from microplastics in water: Ultraviolet, chlorine and ultraviolet/chlorine disinfection

Researchers examined how UV, chlorine, and combined UV/chlorine disinfection treatments cause microplastics to release volatile organic compounds, identifying distinct degradation pathways for polypropylene, polystyrene, and PVC that generate diverse chemical byproducts in treated water.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate and potential risks of microplastic fibers and fragments in water and wastewater treatment processes

Researchers tested how different water treatment steps handle microplastic fibers and fragments, finding that sand filtration was most effective at 98% removal, while activated sludge and chemical treatment removed only 55-61%. Importantly, UV-based disinfection caused microplastic fragments to release dissolved chemicals that were toxic to cells and bacteria. This study reveals that some water treatment processes, while removing visible microplastics, may inadvertently create new chemical hazards from the plastic particles they break down.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-Pharmaceutical Interactions and Their Disruptive Impact on UV and Chemical Water Disinfection Efficacy

This paper explores how microplastics originating from pharmaceutical coatings may interfere with common water disinfection methods including UV irradiation and chemical treatment like chlorination. Researchers propose that these microplastics can disrupt disinfection through physical shielding of pathogens, adsorption of disinfectant chemicals, and catalytic transformation of treatment agents. The findings suggest that pharmaceutical-derived microplastics represent an underrecognized challenge for maintaining water treatment effectiveness.

2023 International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of UV light on physicochemical changes in thermoplastic polyurethanes: Mechanism and disinfection byproduct formation

Researchers examined how UV light exposure changes the properties of thermoplastic polyurethane microplastics in water and whether those changes affect the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts during water chlorination. They found that UV exposure broke the plastic into smaller fragments and released soluble chemicals that significantly increased byproduct formation after chlorination. The findings suggest that aging microplastics in water systems could contribute to the creation of potentially harmful chemicals during standard water treatment.

2024 Chemosphere 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and its binding with pharmaceuticals unveiled by fluorescence spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy

Researchers characterized dissolved organic matter released by microplastics during UV-driven aging and examined how it interacts with pharmaceutical compounds. They found that aged polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene microplastics release fluorescent organic substances that can bind with antibiotics like chloramphenicol and carbamazepine. The study suggests that microplastic degradation byproducts may influence the environmental fate and transport of pharmaceutical pollutants in water.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Insight into the chemical transformation and organic release of polyurethane microplastics during chlorination

Scientists investigated what happens to polyurethane microplastics during water chlorination, a standard step in water treatment. They found that chlorination breaks down the plastic surface and releases organic chemicals, especially from UV-weathered particles, which produced significantly more leached compounds. The findings suggest that water treatment processes themselves may inadvertently release harmful byproducts from microplastics.

2023 Environmental Pollution 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of non-aged and UV-aged microplastics on the formation of halogenated disinfection byproducts during chlorination of drinking water and its mechanism

Researchers investigated how both new and UV-aged microplastics affect the formation of halogenated disinfection byproducts during chlorine treatment of drinking water. They found that non-aged microplastics reduced byproduct formation by adsorbing organic precursors, while UV-aged microplastics had a much smaller reduction effect because they release organic compounds that offset adsorption. The study reveals that environmental aging of microplastics changes their impact on drinking water treatment chemistry in important ways.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of chlorine and UV/H2O2 on microplastics in drinking water

Using chlorine and UV/hydrogen peroxide at dosages realistic for actual drinking water treatment plants, this study assessed whether standard disinfection processes alter microplastics in tap water. The work addresses a critical public health question — whether the water treatment people rely on to make tap water safe actually removes or changes the microplastics that have been detected in treated drinking water.

2024 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of UV-based oxidation processes on the degradation of microplastic: Fragmentation, organic matter release, toxicity and disinfection byproduct formation

This study examined how UV-based water treatment processes break down microplastics, finding that while the treatments fragment the plastics into smaller pieces, they also release potentially toxic organic compounds. The smaller fragments and released chemicals may actually pose greater risks than the original microplastics. This is an important finding because it suggests that some water purification methods could unintentionally make microplastic pollution more hazardous to human health.

2023 Water Research 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics modulate triclosan abiotic methylation: Effects of polymer type and photoaging

Researchers investigated how 11 types of pristine and UV-aged microplastics alter the chemical transformation (methylation) of co-occurring triclosan in water, finding that polymer chemistry and photoaging both critically determine whether microplastics accelerate, inhibit, or have no effect on this reaction.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Composition and photodegradation transformation of Dissolved Organic Matter from microplastics versus natural sources: impacts on copper (Cu) and tetracycline (TC) binding behaviors.

Researchers compared photodegradation and pollutant-binding behavior of dissolved organic matter from HDPE and PLA microplastics versus natural leaf-litter sources, finding that microplastic-derived DOM loses aromaticity faster under UV and shows weaker copper and tetracycline binding after photodegradation, potentially increasing free antibiotic concentrations and antibiotic-resistance risks in contaminated waters.

2026 Environmental research
Article Tier 2

Roles of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter on the photodegradation of organic micropollutants

Researchers discovered that dissolved organic matter released from weathered microplastics significantly inhibits the photodegradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in water, primarily through light screening effects, suggesting microplastic pollution may slow the natural breakdown of pharmaceutical contaminants.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 120 citations