We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Unfolding the interaction of radioactive Cs and Sr with polyethylene-derived microplastics in marine environment
ClearUnfolding the interaction of radioactive Cs and Sr with polyethylene-derived microplastics in marine environment
A mesocosm study examined how radioactive cesium and strontium interact with pristine, radiation-exposed, and marine-weathered polyethylene microplastics, finding that environmental aging—through biofilm formation and surface roughening—significantly increased the plastic particles' capacity to sorb radioactive contaminants.
Biofilm-enhanced adsorption of strong and weak cations onto different microplastic sample types: Use of spectroscopy, microscopy and radiotracer methods
Researchers used radiotracer, spectroscopy, and microscopy methods to show that biofilm-coated environmental plastics adsorb radioactive cesium and strontium — radionuclides associated with nuclear releases — though at rates much lower than natural sediments, confirming that plastics act as a minor but measurable sink for environmental radioactivity.
Additional file 1 of Unfolding the interaction of radioactive Cs and Sr with polyethylene-derived microplastics in marine environment
This supplementary file provides additional data from a study examining the interaction of radioactive caesium and strontium with polyethylene-derived microplastics in the marine environment.
Additional file 1 of Unfolding the interaction of radioactive Cs and Sr with polyethylene-derived microplastics in marine environment
This supplementary file provides additional data from a study examining the interaction of radioactive caesium and strontium with polyethylene-derived microplastics in the marine environment.
Microplastics as vectors of radioiodine in the marine environment: A study on sorption and interaction mechanism
Researchers investigated microplastics as potential vectors of radioiodine in the marine environment, finding that different polymer types exhibited varying sorption capacities for radioiodine, revealing a previously unstudied pathway for radionuclide transport.
Initial data on adsorption of Cs and Sr to the surfaces of microplastics with biofilm
Researchers measured adsorption of radiocesium and radiostrontium onto weathered microplastics deployed in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments, finding that distribution coefficients were approximately two to three orders of magnitude lower than for sediment reference values. Despite the lower adsorption, the buoyancy and mobility of plastics suggest they may still function as a significant radionuclide reservoir in aquatic systems.
Marine microplastics fuel long-range transport of radioactive nuclides: A review
This review examines how marine microplastics adsorb radioactive nuclides and transport them over long distances, discussing the implications of plastic-facilitated radionuclide dispersal for ocean monitoring and the compounding environmental risks from co-occurring plastic and nuclear contamination.
First-time evaluation of 137Cs adsorption onto virgin PLA, PET, and PVC microplastics
Researchers tested how three common microplastics — PLA, PET, and PVC — absorb radioactive cesium-137 from water, finding that pH, temperature, and competing ions all affect how much cesium sticks to each plastic. This matters because microplastics can act as carriers for radioactive contaminants, potentially transporting them through aquatic environments.
Microplastic-radionuclide complexes: Diffusion mechanisms and multidimensional threats
This review examined how microplastics can bind with radioactive materials in the ocean, creating microplastic-radionuclide complexes that spread contamination across regions. Researchers found that microplastics facilitate the long-distance transport of radionuclides, while the radiation can intensify the toxic effects of the plastic particles on marine organisms. The combined threat is particularly relevant given ongoing concerns about radioactive wastewater discharge into marine environments.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics as radionuclide (U-232) carriers: Surface alteration matters the most
Researchers investigated how surface alteration of PET microplastics affects their ability to carry radioactive uranium-232. The study found that biofilm formation on PET surfaces dramatically increased radionuclide adsorption efficiency compared to pristine plastic, suggesting that environmentally weathered microplastics may play a more significant role in transporting radioactive contaminants through aquatic systems.
A Preliminary Study on the “Hitchhiking” of Radionuclides on Microplastics: A New Threat to the Marine Environment from Compound Pollution
This preliminary study examined whether radionuclides can adsorb onto microplastic surfaces and be transported through the environment alongside them, identifying the physicochemical properties of microplastics that facilitate radionuclide hitchhiking and the associated contamination risks.
The interaction of two emerging pollutants, radionuclides and microplastics: In-depth thermodynamic studies in water, seawater, and wastewater
Laboratory experiments measured how polyurethane and polylactic acid microplastics adsorb radioactive uranium and americium from water under conditions mimicking seawater and wastewater. The results show that microplastics can accumulate radionuclides from contaminated water environments, raising the possibility that plastic particles could act as unexpected carriers of radioactive contamination through aquatic food webs.
PET plastics as a Trojan horse for radionuclides
Researchers discovered that PET plastic bottles collected near a phosphate fertilizer plant had accumulated natural and artificial radionuclides, demonstrating that littered plastics can act as carriers for radioactive contaminants and pose potential health risks.
Americium Sorption by Microplastics in Aqueous Solutions
Researchers investigated americium sorption by polyamide and polyethylene microplastics in both deionized water and seawater, tracing interactions with Am-241 isotope and examining the effects of pH and solution composition on sorption efficiency over time. The study found that microplastic type and aqueous matrix composition significantly influenced radionuclide uptake, with implications for the transport of radioactive contaminants in marine environments.
An effective method to assess the sorption dynamics of PCB radiotracers onto plastic and sediment microparticles
Scientists developed a radiotracer method using PCB isotopes to precisely measure how quickly toxic chemicals sorb onto microplastics and sediment particles in seawater. Understanding sorption-desorption rates is critical for predicting how much toxic chemical exposure marine organisms receive from microplastic ingestion.
Microplastics and disposable face masks as “Trojan Horse” for radionuclides pollution in water bodies – A review with emphasis on the involved interactions
Researchers reviewed how microplastics and disposable face masks can adsorb radioactive particles (radionuclides like cesium-137 and uranium) and carry them through water environments, potentially concentrating radiation in the food chain. Key factors affecting this process include plastic type, particle size, and water chemistry, with some polymers showing adsorption partition coefficients as high as 2670 L/kg.
A new approach to extracting biofilm from environmental plastics using ultrasound-assisted syringe treatment for isotopic analyses
Researchers developed an ultrasound-assisted syringe extraction method for recovering biofilms from environmental plastic debris, enabling stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis and radiocesium quantification, and found that river-mouth plastisphere biofilms in Japan carried up to 820 Bq/kg of radiocesium, demonstrating that plastic-associated biofilms can serve as vectors for radionuclide transport in coastal environments.
Surface adsorption of metallic species onto microplastics with long-term exposure to the natural marine environment
Researchers deployed pre-production polyethylene pellets in the ocean following an accidental spill and recovered them after extended natural exposure, finding that the pellets accumulated a diverse range of metals from seawater, with concentrations increasing over time and varying by metal based on surface chemistry.
Microplastics aged in various environmental media exhibited strong sorption to heavy metals in seawater
Researchers aged six types of microplastics — including polyamide and PET — in different environments and then measured their adsorption of heavy metals in seawater, finding that aging consistently increased metal sorption capacity and that environmental medium during aging strongly influenced the degree of surface modification.
Seeping plastics: Potentially harmful molecular fragments leaching out from microplastics during accelerated ageing in seawater
Researchers conducted accelerated aging experiments on four common plastic types in seawater to study the chemical compounds they release as they degrade. The study found that aging microplastics leach potentially harmful molecular fragments into the surrounding water, demonstrating that microplastics are not inert pollutants but chemically reactive materials that release degradation byproducts over time.
The Reactivity of Polyethylene Microplastics in Water under Low Oxygen Conditions Using Radiation Chemistry
Researchers used gamma radiation to study how polyethylene microplastics change chemically under low-oxygen conditions, as would be found in deep water or sediments. Understanding how plastics transform in different environmental conditions helps predict their long-term fate and potential to release chemical additives.
Controlled Release of Radioactive Water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: Should We Be Concerned?
This paper discusses the controlled release of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear disaster site into the ocean, raising concerns about seafood safety and long-term environmental health effects. While focused on radioactive contamination rather than microplastics, the study is relevant because it highlights how ocean pollutants can accumulate in marine life and move up the food chain to humans. Both radioactive materials and microplastics share this pathway of exposure through seafood consumption.
Quantitative assessment of interactions of hydrophilic organic contaminants with microplastics in natural water environment
Researchers quantified how microplastics interact with common antibiotic pollutants in natural water conditions, comparing virgin and environmentally aged polystyrene particles. They found that aged microplastics absorbed significantly more antibiotics than new ones due to increased surface area and chemical changes from weathering. The study suggests that as microplastics age in the environment, they become more effective at concentrating and transporting other harmful pollutants.
Preferential adsorption of Cd, Cs and Zn onto virgin polyethylene microplastic versus sediment particles
Polyethylene microplastics preferentially adsorb the heavy metals cadmium, cesium, and zinc compared to natural sediment particles. This means microplastics may act as concentrated vectors for toxic metals in marine environments, increasing exposure risks for organisms that ingest them.