Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Releaseof Fluoro-Contained Free Radicals and Polyfluorinated-LikeMolecules from Photoaged Fluorinated Microplastics: Identificationand Formation Mechanisms

Researchers investigated the photochemical transformation of fluorinated microplastics (PVDF and PTFE) under UV-A irradiation, identifying the release of persistent carbon-centered free radicals and polyfluorinated-like molecular fragments. The study revealed that photoaging of fluorinated plastics generates reactive species capable of redox activity, suggesting these materials pose underappreciated environmental hazards beyond physical particle pollution.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Fluorinated environmental contaminants: Discovering relationships between Fluoropolymer-based microplastics and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)

Researchers examined the relationship between fluoropolymer-based microplastics, particularly polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), finding that PTFE particles can degrade over time and release harmful short-chain PFASs, raising concerns about this class of fluorinated environmental contaminants.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Sulfur-Containing Persistent Free Radicals and Reactive Species on Photoaged Microplastics: Identification and the Formation Mechanism

Researchers identified sulfur-containing persistent free radicals and reactive species on photoaged microplastics for the first time, revealing that sulfur in the polymer composition promotes radical formation during UV aging with implications for environmental toxicity.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Elucidating the role of overlooked environmentally persistent free radicals and reactive chlorine species on photoaged chlorine-containing microplastics: New insights into formation mechanisms and health risks

Researchers investigated the formation of environmentally persistent free radicals and reactive chlorine species on photoaged chlorine-containing microplastics like PVC and PVDC. The study revealed previously overlooked chemical transformations during microplastic aging that may pose additional health risks beyond the physical presence of the plastic particles themselves.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Formation of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals on Microplastics under Light Irradiation

Four types of virgin microplastics were aged under simulated solar irradiation and analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, finding that polystyrene and phenol-formaldehyde resin produced environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) that decayed slowly, while polyethylene and PVC did not. The study identifies photoaged plastic surfaces as a previously unrecognized source of EPFRs—emerging contaminants with known health risks.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 528 citations
Article Tier 2

A Critical Review of an Environmental Risk Substance Induced by Aging Microplastics: Insights into Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals

This review examines how microplastics generate long-lasting free radicals as they age in the environment through exposure to sunlight and chemical reactions. These environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) on aged microplastics can cause oxidative stress and damage to living cells, adding a previously underappreciated layer of toxicity beyond the physical harm caused by the plastic particles themselves.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Formation of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and electron transfer in conjugated polymers and alkane polymers during aging

Researchers used conductive atomic force microscopy to observe in real-time how environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) form on aging microplastic surfaces, finding that UV exposure induces electron transitions that generate mobile, reactive electrons on both aromatic and alkane-chain polymers. These EPFRs can then produce reactive oxygen species that amplify ecological harm.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced cytotoxicity of photoaged phenol-formaldehyde resins microplastics: Combined effects of environmentally persistent free radicals, reactive oxygen species, and conjugated carbonyls

Researchers studied how photoaging affects the toxicity of phenol-formaldehyde resin microplastics, a common inhalable particle released during manufacturing. They found that UV exposure changed the surface chemistry and increased the cytotoxicity of these microplastics, partly due to the release of environmentally persistent free radicals. The study suggests that weathered microplastics may pose greater health risks than freshly produced particles, particularly through inhalation exposure.

2020 Environment International 138 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging investigator series: microplastic-based leachate formation under UV irradiation: the extent, characteristics, and mechanisms

Six common microplastic types were exposed to UV irradiation to characterize surface changes and leachate chemical profiles, finding that UV treatment generated oxidized surface groups and released diverse organic compounds. Leachate composition varied by polymer type, highlighting the role of weathering in generating secondary chemical pollution from microplastics.

2022 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Progress on the photo aging mechanism of microplastics and related impact factors in water environment

This review examined the photo-aging mechanisms of microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that solar UV radiation drives oxidation reactions that alter surface chemistry, fragment particles further, and enhance their capacity to adsorb and release co-occurring pollutants.

2021 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Formation of environmentally persistent free radicals on microplastics under UV irradiations

This study found that UV light from the sun creates long-lasting free radicals on the surface of microplastics, with stronger UV producing more radicals faster. These environmentally persistent free radicals are chemically reactive and can damage cells and DNA. The finding is important because it means sunlight-weathered microplastics in the environment may be more harmful than fresh plastics, carrying these damaging free radicals into the body when ingested or inhaled.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate and environmental behaviors of microplastics through the lens of free radical

Researchers reviewed how free radicals influence the fate and environmental behavior of microplastics, including surface degradation, chemical release, and changes in crystallinity and water affinity. The study found that while free radicals can cause weathering and fragmentation of microplastics in the environment, high concentrations of free radicals with strong oxidation potential can also be harnessed to effectively degrade microplastic pollutants.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and release of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) from macro and microplastics

Researchers studied how perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, a class of persistent PFAS chemicals, interact with both macro and microplastics in aquatic environments. They found that microplastics can adsorb and later release these harmful chemicals, with the interaction influenced by the amphiphilic properties of the contaminants. The findings suggest that microplastics may serve as carriers for PFAS contamination, potentially increasing exposure pathways for organisms in the environment.

2023 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Accelerated photoaging of microplastic - polyethylene terephthalate: physical, chemical, morphological properties and pesticide adsorption

Researchers subjected polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics to accelerated photoaging under simulated sunlight, characterizing changes in surface chemistry, crystallinity, and mechanical properties over time. Photoaging increased surface oxidation, reduced molecular weight, and enhanced the release of plastic additives, suggesting aged PET microplastics present greater chemical hazard than pristine particles.

2024 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Developing environmentally relevant test materials for microplastic research through UV-induced photoaging

Researchers used UV irradiation to create photoaged microplastics from multiple polymer types as environmentally relevant test materials for ecotoxicology research, characterizing how aging changes surface chemistry, particle size distribution, and potential biological effects.

2025
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Kemija u industriji 4 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

Dynamic formation characteristics and mechanism of molecular components of dissolved organic matter during photoaging of polyamide microplastic

Researchers used fluorescence spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry to track the molecular evolution of dissolved organic matter released from photoaging polyamide microplastics over time, finding a dominant increase in tyrosine-like compounds with progressive irradiation.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological assessment of microplastics in limnic systems with emphasis on chemicals released by weathering

This study examined both the physical and chemical toxicity of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, with special focus on chemicals released when plastics are weathered by ultraviolet light. The research tested conventional and biodegradable plastics, addressing whether particle properties or leaching chemicals drive ecotoxicological effects.

2022
Article Tier 2

Gaseous products generated from polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate during ultraviolet irradiation: Mechanism, pathway and toxicological analyses

Researchers identified more than 50 different volatile organic compounds released from polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics during ultraviolet irradiation in water. The study found that UV-C produced more gaseous byproducts than UV-A, and toxicological analysis suggested that some of these volatile compounds could pose risks to humans and the environment, highlighting an often-overlooked pathway of microplastic degradation.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

The fate of microplastics in the environment: Systematic studies to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics induced by photolysis and hydrolysis

Researchers conducted systematic studies on the photolytic and hydrolytic degradation of microplastics using three photolysis protocols and multiple polymer types to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics, providing mechanistic data needed for environmental fate and risk assessment.

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

The fate of microplastics in the environment: Systematic studies to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics induced by photolysis and hydrolysis

Researchers conducted systematic studies on the photolytic and hydrolytic degradation of microplastics using three photolysis protocols and multiple polymer types to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics, providing mechanistic data needed for environmental fate and risk assessment.

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

Screening the release of chemicals and microplastic particles from diverse plastic consumer products into water under accelerated UV weathering conditions

Researchers exposed eight common plastic consumer products to UV light simulating eight months of weathering and found they released both microplastic particles and hundreds of chemical compounds into water. The UV exposure significantly increased the release of toxic metals and organic chemicals compared to products kept in the dark. Many of the detected substances exceeded safety thresholds, suggesting that sun-degraded plastic products could pose meaningful health and environmental risks.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging Process of Microplastics in the Aquatic Environments: Aging Pathway, Characteristic Change, Compound Effect, and Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Formation

This review summarizes how microplastics age and transform in aquatic environments through oxidation, weathering, and fragmentation. Researchers documented changes in particle size, crystallinity, and surface chemistry during the aging process, and found that aged microplastics may interact synergistically with other environmental pollutants. The study also describes how photoaging generates environmentally persistent free radicals that could pose additional toxicity concerns.

2022 Water 76 citations