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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Abiotic weathering of plastic: Experimental contributions towards understanding the formation of microplastics and other plastic related particulate pollutants
ClearEnvironmental degradation and fragmentation of microplastics: dependence on polymer type, humidity, UV dose and temperature
Researchers systematically tested how UV light, temperature, and humidity cause five common plastic types to break apart into secondary microplastics and nanoplastics. They found that the type of plastic — not the aging conditions — was the main factor determining how quickly it fragmented and what byproducts it released, data that can improve models predicting how plastics break down in the environment.
Abiotic Long-Term Simulation of Microplastic Weathering Pathways under Different Aqueous Conditions
Laboratory weathering experiments simulated long-term microplastic degradation under UV, thermal, and mechanical stress to characterize how environmental exposure alters plastic surface chemistry, fragmentation, and additive release. The results provide insight into the formation pathways of secondary microplastics under realistic environmental conditions.
Multi-Analytical Approach to Characterize the Degradation of Different Types of Microplastics: Identification and Quantification of Released Organic Compounds
Researchers studied how temperature and light exposure cause five common types of plastic to degrade and release organic chemical compounds. Using a solar simulation chamber, they tracked the breakdown products over time with multiple analytical techniques. The findings help identify which chemicals are released as plastics weather in the environment, which is important for understanding the secondary pollution caused by microplastic degradation.
Simulated experimental investigation of microplastic weathering in marine environment
Researchers simulated microplastic weathering under marine conditions, finding that exposure to UV light, saltwater, and mechanical abrasion progressively degraded plastic surfaces, increased surface roughness, and enhanced the adsorption capacity of contaminants onto microplastic particles.
The importance of both physical aging and chemical weathering for the environmental fate of plastic
Researchers investigated the interplay between physical aging and chemical weathering in plastics and their combined effects on microplastic generation, finding that physical aging processes — distinct from photo-oxidation — play an underappreciated role in determining the environmental fate of plastic materials.
The importance of both physical aging and chemical weathering for the environmental fate of plastic
Researchers investigated the interplay between physical aging and chemical weathering in plastics and their combined role in microplastic generation, addressing a gap in understanding since most prior work has focused solely on chemical aging processes like photo-oxidation. The study examined how physical aging — an unavoidable process in glassy polymers — influences the outcomes of environmentally weathered plastics.
Thermal oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical abrasion - understanding mechanisms of microplastic generation and chemical transformation
Researchers evaluated how consumer-derived polymers fragment and chemically transform when exposed to UV radiation or thermal oxidation followed by soil abrasion. The study found that these combined weathering processes, which mimic real-world environmental conditions, significantly affect the rate and type of microplastic generation. The results highlight how everyday use and environmental exposure work together to break down plastics into microplastic particles.
The Role of Artificial Weathering Protocols on Abiotic and Bacterial Degradation of Polyethylene
Researchers compared three different artificial weathering protocols to understand how UV exposure patterns affect the degradation of polyethylene and its subsequent breakdown by bacteria. The study found that different weathering conditions significantly influence the physicochemical properties of polyethylene, which in turn affects how readily microorganisms can degrade the material, with implications for understanding microplastic formation in the environment.
Impact of accelerated weathering on the leaching kinetics of stabiliser additives from microplastics
Researchers studied how environmental weathering affects the release of chemical additives from microplastics and found that the results varied widely depending on the type of plastic and additive. Contrary to common assumptions, weathering did not always increase chemical leaching; in fact, it only significantly changed release rates for three out of nine formulations tested. This means the health risks from microplastic additives are more complex than previously thought, as different plastic types behave very differently in the environment.
Weathering pathways and protocols for environmentally relevant microplastics and nanoplastics: What are we missing?
This review highlights a major gap in microplastics research: most lab studies use brand-new, pristine plastic particles, but microplastics in the real world have been weathered by sunlight, water, and biological activity. Weathered microplastics behave differently, releasing more chemicals and interacting with organisms in ways that fresh plastics do not. Only about 10% of published studies have used aged microplastics, meaning current risk assessments may not reflect the true dangers of environmental microplastic exposure.
Environmental Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics: Dependence on Polymer Type, Humidity, UV Dose and Temperature
A systematic study of UV dose, humidity, and temperature effects on six polymer types found that photo-oxidation is the primary driver of microplastic fragmentation and release of secondary nano-sized particles, with the relationship between weathering conditions and fragmentation rates varying by polymer type.
Accelerated Weathering of Microplastics: A Systematic Approach to Model Microplastic Production
Researchers developed a systematic laboratory method for producing environmentally realistic microplastics through accelerated UV weathering of common polymer types. The approach generates particles with surface degradation patterns that closely mimic those found in nature, unlike commercially available test beads. The study provides a reproducible protocol that could improve the relevance of microplastic toxicity and environmental fate studies.
Characterizing photochemical ageing processes of microplastic materials using multivariate analysis of infrared spectra
Scientists studied how sunlight breaks down tiny plastic particles (microplastics) that end up in our environment, finding that different types of plastic degrade at very different rates when exposed to UV light. This matters because as these plastics break down and change chemically, they may become better or worse at picking up and carrying harmful chemicals that could eventually reach humans through food and water. The research helps us better understand how long different plastics persist in nature and how their ability to transport pollutants changes over time.
Linking UV aging of polymers and microplastics formation: An assessment employing various characterization techniques
Researchers examined the link between UV aging of plastic polymers and the generation of microplastics in marine environments, using environmental assessment tools to model the process. The study clarifies how photodegradation rates and polymer type influence the rate and quantity of microplastic formation.
Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene
Researchers applied a multi-tiered approach combining laboratory aging, field deployment, and environmental simulation to study how polyethylene plastic undergoes physicochemical and biological weathering in natural settings. The study found that UV radiation and microbial colonization act synergistically to accelerate surface oxidation and fragmentation of PE into smaller particles.
From Macro to Micro Plastics; Influence of Photo-oxidative Degradation
This study used simulated UV aging to investigate how photo-oxidative degradation of common plastics drives fragmentation from macro to micro scale, characterizing the surface property changes and structural breakdown that generate microplastic particles in the environment.
Laboratory simulation of microplastics weathering and its adsorption behaviors in an aqueous environment: A systematic review
UV photo-oxidation and physical abrasion are the most practical laboratory methods for simulating microplastic weathering; aging increases surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups, altering pollutant adsorption behavior and potentially increasing environmental risks.
Quantitative study of microplastic degradation in urban hydrosystems: Comparing in situ environmentally aged microplastics vs. artificially aged materials generated via accelerated photo-oxidation
Researchers compared how polyethylene microplastics degrade in real urban water environments versus under controlled laboratory UV exposure. They found that lab-aged plastics showed primarily physical and chemical changes from UV light, while microplastics collected from stormwater and sediments also showed signs of biological degradation and hydrolysis. The study demonstrates that artificial aging alone does not fully replicate the complex degradation processes microplastics undergo in actual urban water systems.
A Systematic Study on the Degradation Products Generated from Artificially Aged Microplastics
This study systematically characterized the degradation products generated from artificially aged microplastics, finding that weathering produces a complex mixture of chemical byproducts beyond the original polymer that deserve attention in environmental risk assessments.
Release of additives and non-intentionally added substances from microplastics under environmentally relevant conditions
Researchers measured how chemical additives leach out of different types of microplastics under realistic environmental conditions and found wildly different release rates — spanning five orders of magnitude over 64 days — highlighting that the type of plastic matters greatly when assessing the chemical risks microplastics pose to ecosystems.
Exploring polystyrene weathering behavior: From surface traits to micro(nano)plastics and additives release
Researchers systematically studied how polystyrene weathers under UV light and mechanical stress, tracking the release of microplastics, nanoplastics, and chemical additives over time. They found that weathering progressively altered the surface properties of the plastic and increased the release of smaller particles and potentially harmful additives. The findings help predict how polystyrene products break down in the environment and what secondary pollutants they generate.
Are we really producing environmentally relevant reference materials for microplastic studies?
This study evaluated whether laboratory-produced microplastic reference materials used in research adequately represent the physical and chemical properties of particles found in natural environments. Results found substantial differences between commercially available reference materials and environmentally weathered microplastics, undermining the ecological relevance of studies using pristine materials.
Vertical distribution of new and weathered microplastics in the water column: Implications for developing reliable sampling methods
Researchers studied how weathering changes the physical properties of microplastics and affects where they end up in the water column. They found that exposure to sunlight and environmental conditions altered the density and surface chemistry of plastic particles, causing them to settle or float differently than new plastics. The study suggests that current water sampling methods may miss a significant portion of weathered microplastics, since these altered particles distribute more widely across different water depths.
Linking UV aging of polymers and microplastics formation: An assessment employing various characterization techniques
This study used environmental assessment tools to model how UV aging of plastic polymers drives microplastic formation in marine environments. The analysis identified polymer-specific degradation rates and environmental conditions that accelerate the conversion of plastic debris into microplastics.