Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Floating photovoltaic systems: photovoltaic cable submersion testing and potential impacts.

This study examines whether submerged photovoltaic cables in floating solar installations degrade over time and release contaminants or plastic particles into aquatic ecosystems. The research addresses a gap in understanding the environmental impacts of floating solar technology as it expands globally.

2023 Open research Europe
Article Tier 2

Experimental data of photovoltaic cable submersion tests

This dataset contains results from submersion tests of photovoltaic (solar panel) cables in freshwater and artificial seawater under realistic conditions. The tests tracked electrical insulation degradation and changes in water chemistry over time. The data is relevant to understanding how plastic-insulated cables used in floating solar installations contribute to microplastic pollution in water bodies.

2023 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Experimental data of photovoltaic cable submersion tests

This is a duplicate dataset entry for the photovoltaic cable submersion tests (same as 45414). The experimental data covers plastic cable insulation degradation under freshwater and seawater conditions. It supports assessment of microplastic release from infrastructure-related plastic materials in aquatic environments.

2023
Article Tier 2

Discussion on the development of offshore floating photovoltaic plants, emphasizing marine environmental protection

Researchers examined the feasibility of building floating solar power plants on the ocean surface and assessed their potential impacts on the marine environment throughout their lifecycle. The study found that while offshore solar energy holds enormous potential, concerns remain about marine ecosystem disturbance including the possible release of microplastics from degrading equipment. The review calls for more research into the environmental interactions of these installations before large-scale deployment.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging processes and microplastic release behavior of aquaculture implements

Researchers studied how four types of plastic aquaculture equipment age and release microplastics under simulated marine conditions over 16 weeks. They found that PVC buoys released the most microplastic particles, followed by polypropylene cables, polyethylene nets, and PET buoys, with all materials developing increasingly rough surfaces, cracks, and oxygen-containing chemical groups during aging. The study provides guidance for selecting aquaculture materials that minimize microplastic pollution in marine environments.

2026 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Aquatic toxicity of leachates from crystalline silicon photovoltaic components

Researchers evaluated the aquatic toxicity of components from crystalline silicon solar panels by exposing water fleas (Daphnia magna) to leachates from separated module parts. The study found that metals like aluminum and silver from the active cell layer were the primary toxicity concern, while junction boxes and cables showed evidence of hydrocarbon polymer leaching, suggesting that microplastic contamination from solar panel waste should not be overlooked.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Chlorinated Water and Sun Exposure on the Durability and Performance of Swimwear Materials

Researchers studied how chlorinated pool water and sun exposure degrade swimwear materials made from blends of polyamide, polyester, and elastane. They found that these aging conditions caused significant deterioration of the fabrics' mechanical properties and durability over time. The findings are relevant to microplastic pollution because degrading swimwear releases synthetic fibers into pool and natural water environments.

2024 Polymers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

From macroplastics to microplastics: Role of water in the fragmentation of polyethylene

Laboratory photodegradation experiments compared how polyethylene plastic films fragment in water versus air under UV light, finding that the aquatic environment significantly influences the physical and chemical breakdown of plastic into microplastics. The study improves understanding of how water immersion changes the photodegradation pathways of floating and submerged plastic debris.

2019 Chemosphere 294 citations
Article Tier 2

Feasibility Study and Design of a Stand-alone Floating Photovoltaic Structure for Toshka Lake

This engineering study assesses the feasibility of floating solar panels on Egypt's Toshka Lake, which could reduce water evaporation and generate clean energy. The study is focused on renewable energy infrastructure and is not related to microplastic research.

2023 Engineering World 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterisation of microplastic fibres and their degradation under environmental conditions

This study investigated how UV radiation and mechanical stress degrade common synthetic microfibers including polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which represent the largest fraction of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments. Understanding how fibers degrade helps predict their persistence and how their physical properties change as they age in the environment.

2019 Duo Research Archive (University of Oslo) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

The influence of UV radiation on the properties of GFRP laminates in underwater conditions

Researchers exposed glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) laminates to UV radiation for 1,000 hours both in air and submerged in water, finding that while the outer surface degraded, the deeper layers paradoxically gained strength due to additional chemical cross-linking reactions. These findings are relevant to understanding how plastic composite materials used in marine environments physically break down over time, potentially contributing to microplastic release.

2024 Scientific Reports 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging simulation of thin-film plastics in different environments to examine the formation of microplastic

Researchers aged polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene thin films under land, freshwater, estuarine, and oceanic conditions, finding that UV radiation was the primary driver of surface degradation and microplastic formation, with degradation rates varying substantially by environmental medium.

2021 Water Research 170 citations
Article Tier 2

Behavior of Polymer Materials Exposed to Aging in the Swimming Pool: Focus on Properties That Assure Comfort and Durability

Researchers aged polyamide and polyester polymers used in swimming pool equipment under pool-water conditions and found that both materials underwent molecular-level degradation that reduced comfort-related properties, with implications for microplastic release into pool water.

2021 Polymers 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic degradations in simulated UV light, natural light and natural water body: A comparison investigation

Researchers compared how microplastics made of PVC, polyethylene, and polyamide break down under UV light, natural sunlight, and real-world water body conditions, finding that natural environments cause more complex degradation involving both biofilm growth and heavy metal interactions. Importantly, microplastics in natural water can both release and re-absorb heavy metals over time, complicating their environmental risk profile.

2024 Emerging contaminants 12 citations
Review Tier 2

Marine Photovoltaic Industry Development: A Review of its Impact on Aquatic Environmental Elements and Future Perspectives

This review examines the environmental impacts of marine photovoltaic installations on aquatic ecosystems, critically assessing effects on trace elements, water temperature, and aquatic organisms, and identifying research priorities to mitigate unintended ecological consequences of offshore solar energy expansion.

2025 Environmental Management
Article Tier 2

Transformation of microplastics during UV-LED based water disinfection: Mechanistic insights and environmental implications

Researchers investigated how UV-based water disinfection treatments transform the physical and chemical properties of common microplastics like polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC. They found that treatment created surface cracks, reduced water repellency, and generated various breakdown compounds, some of which showed toxicity to aquatic organisms. The study highlights that while UV disinfection effectively treats pathogens, it may inadvertently create new environmental risks by altering microplastics in the water supply.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Влияние ультрафиолетового излучения на фрагментацию полимеров в водной среде

This review examines how UV radiation drives polymer fragmentation in aquatic environments through autocatalytic thermal oxidation initiated by solar radiation, which combined with wind and mechanical stress causes molecular chain scission. The authors also discuss how prior UV aging accelerates subsequent mechanical fragmentation, providing a mechanistic framework for understanding microplastic generation from larger plastic items in water.

2025 Vodosnabzhenie i sanitarnaia tehnika
Article Tier 2

Environmental and technical impacts of floating photovoltaic plants as an emerging clean energy technology

Researchers reviewed the environmental and technical benefits of floating solar panels installed on water bodies, finding that they generate more electricity than ground-mounted systems, reduce water evaporation, and can be paired with existing hydropower infrastructure. Despite strong growth globally, the technology faces barriers from limited government policy support and unresolved questions about long-term durability of floating structures.

2022 iScience 110 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate of polystyrene and polyethylene nanoplastics exposed to UV in water

Researchers found that UV irradiation progressively degrades polystyrene and polyethylene nanoplastics dispersed in water, causing them to become porous, fragment, and ultimately degrade completely, revealing the photochemical fate of nanoplastics in sunlit aquatic environments.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Studying the Degradation of Three Polymers under Different Chlorine Concentrations and Exposure Times

Researchers studied the degradation of PVC, high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene when exposed to chlorine solutions used in swimming pools and water treatment plants. The study found that the degree of material wear depended on both chlorine concentration and exposure time, with different polymers showing varying susceptibility to chlorine-induced degradation.

2023 Polymers 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic particle versus fiber generation during photo-transformation in simulated seawater

Researchers exposed common plastic films and fibers to simulated sunlight in seawater and tracked the photo-transformation process, finding that particles and fibers formed at different rates and that UV irradiation preferentially generates certain morphologies depending on the parent polymer.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Non-Negligible Effects of UV Irradiation on Transformation and Environmental Risks of Microplastics in the Water Environment

This review examines how UV irradiation drives photoaging of microplastics in aquatic environments, altering their surface chemistry, mechanical properties, and adsorption capacity for co-pollutants, and thereby amplifying their ecotoxicological risks beyond those of virgin plastic particles.

2021 Journal of Xenobiotics 43 citations