Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Environmental factors strongly influence the leaching of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from polyvinyl chloride microplastics

Researchers found that environmental conditions like temperature, UV light, salinity, and pH strongly influence how fast the plasticizer DEHP leaches from PVC microplastics into water. Higher temperatures and UV exposure significantly accelerated the release of this endocrine-disrupting chemical. This is important because it means microplastics in warm, sunlit waters may release harmful additives much faster than lab studies under standard conditions would predict.

2023 Water Research 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Dibutyl phthalate release from polyvinyl chloride microplastics: Influence of plastic properties and environmental factors

Researchers investigated how dibutyl phthalate leaches from PVC microplastics into surrounding environments, finding that particle size, temperature, pH, and salinity all significantly influenced the release rate of this plasticizer additive.

2021 Water Research 244 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of pH and Temperature on the Leaching of Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Di-n-butyl Phthalate from Microplastics in Simulated Marine Environment

Researchers tested how pH and temperature affect the leaching of phthalate plasticizers (DEHP and DBP) from common microplastics including PE, PET, and PVC in simulated seawater. Higher temperatures (45 degrees C vs 25 degrees C) significantly promoted DBP release, while pH effects varied by polymer type.

2022 Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Leaching of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate from biodegradable and conventional microplastics and the potential risks

Researchers compared the leaching of the plasticizer DEHP from biodegradable and conventional microplastics into seawater. They found that conventional polyethylene mulch film released the most DEHP, at about six times the amount leached from biodegradable alternatives. The study suggests that while all tested microplastics released some DEHP, the pollution risk from the leached amounts was assessed as low based on phthalate pollution indices.

2022 Chemosphere 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of aging on the release of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from biodegradable and petroleum-based microplastics into soil

This study found that aging processes like UV exposure and chemical oxidation cause microplastics to release more of the plasticizer DEHP, a potential carcinogen, into surrounding soil. Biodegradable PLA plastic released DEHP faster than conventional PVC or polystyrene when aged, suggesting that so-called eco-friendly plastics may not be safer in terms of chemical leaching. The findings are concerning because DEHP is known to disrupt hormones, and this study shows that weathered microplastics in soil could be a greater source of exposure than previously thought.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Phthalate acid ester release from microplastics in water environment and their comparison between single and competitive adsorption

Microplastics release phthalate plasticizers (PAEs) into water, and this study found that release rates and adsorption behavior differ significantly between polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene particles, with temperature, pH, and salinity all affecting how much chemical leaches out. When multiple PAEs were present simultaneously, competitive adsorption reduced the uptake of individual chemicals — important context for understanding the real-world chemical exposure that aquatic organisms and humans face from microplastic-contaminated water.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Plasticiser leaching from polyvinyl chloride microplastics and the implications for environmental risk assessment

Researchers measured the leaching of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and bisphenol A (BPA) from polyvinyl chloride microplastics under simulated marine conditions, finding that both plasticizers leached in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. These findings are important for environmental risk assessments of PVC microplastics, which represent a major fraction of ocean plastic pollution.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Leachability of microplastic from different plastic materials

This study tested the leachability of microplastics from several common plastic materials under environmental conditions, finding that plastic type and degradation state influence how readily microplastic particles are released.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastic particles and the concentration of Di 2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) in microplastics and wastewater in the wastewater treatment plant

Researchers investigated the presence and fate of microplastics during the wastewater treatment process, along with the plasticizer DEHP associated with them. They found that while treatment stages reduced microplastic numbers, the particles persisted throughout the process, and DEHP was detected in both the microplastics and surrounding wastewater. The study suggests that wastewater treatment plants are a significant pathway through which microplastics and associated chemicals enter the environment.

2020 Journal of Environmental Management 170 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics emerge as a hotspot for dibutyl phthalate sources in rivers and oceans: Leaching behavior and potential risks

Researchers investigated how the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate leaches from PVC microplastics in both freshwater and seawater environments. They found that UV irradiation and water chemistry significantly influenced leaching rates, with higher release observed under simulated environmental conditions. The findings suggest that microplastics in rivers and oceans act as ongoing sources of potentially harmful chemical additives.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of Factors Affecting Metal Ion Desorption from the Surface of Microplastics

Laboratory experiments show that key environmental variables — pH, temperature, contact time, and polymer type — strongly influence how quickly metal ions desorb from microplastic surfaces into water. Because microplastics can concentrate and then release metals like lead and cadmium into food and drinking water, understanding these desorption parameters is critical for assessing the chemical hazard that microplastics pose beyond their physical presence.

2023 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
Article Tier 2

Photoaging enhances the leaching of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and transformation products from polyvinyl chloride microplastics into aquatic environments

This study found that sunlight aging of PVC microplastics accelerates the release of DEHP, a hormone-disrupting plasticizer, by 1.5 times compared to new plastics. The aging process also creates harmful breakdown products like MEHP and phthalic acid that leach into water. Since most microplastics in the environment have been exposed to sunlight, the actual release of toxic chemicals from plastic pollution is likely much higher than estimates based on new plastic suggest.

2024 Communications Chemistry 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Desorption of Bisphenol A and Dibutyl Phthalate from the Surfaces of Polyamide Microplastics: Crucial Role of Hydrophobicity

Researchers investigated the desorption of bisphenol A and dibutyl phthalate from polyamide microplastics in freshwater, finding that hydrophobicity is the primary controlling factor in plasticizer release rates. Aging treatments including NaClO, Fenton, and UV exposure altered microplastic surface properties and subsequently modified desorption behavior of both contaminants.

2025 ACS ES&T Water
Article Tier 2

Desorption ofBisphenol A and Dibutyl Phthalate fromthe Surfaces of Polyamide Microplastics: Crucial Role of Hydrophobicity

Researchers investigated the desorption of bisphenol A and dibutyl phthalate from polyamide microplastics in freshwater, finding hydrophobicity as the primary driver of plasticizer release. Aging of microplastics via NaClO, Fenton, and UV treatments altered surface properties and modified the desorption behavior of both contaminants under varying water chemistry conditions.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Simulated digestion of polystyrene foam enhances desorption of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and In vitro estrogenic activity in a size-dependent manner

When polystyrene foam was subjected to simulated gut digestion, more phthalate (DEHP)—a hormone-disrupting chemical—was released from smaller particles than larger ones. This shows that the way microplastics break down in the human digestive system can increase the release of toxic plastic additives.

2018 Environmental Pollution 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of a Modified Fenton Process on the Degradation of a Component Leached from Microplastics in Bottom Sediments

Researchers tested a modified chemical process (Fenton reaction) for breaking down di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer that leaches from microplastics into sediments. The process showed promising results for degrading this hard-to-remove contaminant, which is associated with hormone disruption.

2019 Catalysts 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to microplastics in seawater: a comparison between pristine and aged particles

Natural aging of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics in seawater over three months increased their adsorption capacity for the plasticizer DEHP compared to pristine particles, due to surface oxidation and biofilm formation. The results indicate that environmentally aged MPs are stronger vectors for hydrophobic contaminants than fresh MPs used in most laboratory studies.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Kinetics of plasticiser release and degradation in soils

Researchers measured the release of the plasticizer DEHTP from PVC microplastics in soil over three months and also assessed degradation rates of 12 phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers. DEHTP was released rapidly from PVC pellets within two hours, and seven of the twelve plasticizers showed half-lives under 30 days in soil, suggesting most emerging plasticizers degrade relatively quickly but initial release is fast.

2025 Environmental Pollution 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of crystallinity and particle morphology on the sorption of dibutyl phthalate on polyethylene microplastics: Implications for the behavior of phthalate plastic additives

Researchers investigated how the crystallinity and particle shape of polyethylene microplastics influence their ability to sorb dibutyl phthalate, a common plastic additive. The study found that both factors significantly affected sorption behavior, with implications for understanding how phthalate additives leach from or bind to microplastic particles in the environment.

2021 Environmental Pollution 66 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Environmental Advances 60 citations
Article Tier 2

pH-Responsive leaching profiles from photodegradation of microplastics

Researchers systematically examined how UV photodegradation of microplastics triggers pH-dependent release of chemical additives, non-intentionally added substances, and oligomers under controlled degradation conditions, characterising leaching profiles across a range of plastic polymer types. The study identified that pH strongly governs which hazardous compounds leach from degrading plastics and at what concentrations, revealing a mechanism by which environmental conditions modulate chemical risk from microplastic pollution.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Leaching kinetics and bioaccumulation potential of additive-derived organophosphate esters in microplastics

Researchers studied the leaching kinetics of organophosphate ester additives from microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that these flame retardants and plasticizers are released at rates that depend on temperature and water chemistry, with implications for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of temperature and sunlight on the leachability potential of BPA and phthalates from plastic litter under marine conditions

Researchers exposed six plastic polymer types to simulated marine conditions (UV and heat) for 140 days and measured the leaching of bisphenol A and phthalate plasticizers, finding that temperature and sunlight substantially increase the release of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations