Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

New Insights into the Long-Term Leaching Process of Dissolved Organic Matter from Microplastics: Dynamic Formation and Transformation Mechanism

This study tracked how polystyrene and a biodegradable plastic (PBAT) release dissolved organic compounds as they age under ultraviolet light over 94 days. Polystyrene released chemicals much more slowly but with steadily increasing toxicity over time, while the biodegradable plastic released compounds faster but with less overall toxic buildup. These findings are important because they show that microplastics in the environment continuously leach potentially harmful chemicals, and so-called biodegradable plastics may not be as safe an alternative as assumed.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Photochemical transformation of microplastics-derived dissolved organic matter altered the photoaging of microplastics

Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released from different microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and biodegradable PBAT) affects the aging of polystyrene microplastics under UV irradiation, finding that PBAT-derived organic matter most strongly accelerated plastic photoaging.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular-level insights into the heterogeneous variations and dynamic formation mechanism of leached dissolved organic matter during the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics

Researchers investigated the molecular-level changes that occur when polystyrene microplastics break down under light exposure and release dissolved organic matter into water. They found that the released molecules were highly diverse and changed dynamically over the course of aging, with different chemical classes appearing at different stages. The study provides new insight into how degrading microplastics introduce complex mixtures of organic chemicals into aquatic environments.

2023 Water Research 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Photo-induced leaching behaviors and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter from microplastics and terrestrial-sourced particles

Researchers studied how light exposure causes microplastics and terrestrial particles to leach dissolved organic matter, and how this leachate behaves in the environment. The study found differences in the biodegradability of leachate from plastic versus natural sources, suggesting that microplastic-derived organic matter may persist differently in aquatic ecosystems.

2024 Chemosphere 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular properties of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics during photoaging process

Researchers studied the molecular properties of dissolved organic matter that leaches from polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET microplastics during UV-driven photoaging. They found that PET released the most dissolved organic carbon, and that aging transformed protein-like components into humic-like substances. The leachate contained antioxidants, plasticizers, and antimicrobial agents, suggesting that aging microplastics release a complex mix of chemicals into aquatic environments.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Photochemical reactivity of water-soluble dissolved organic matter from microplastics and microfibers

When microplastics and microfibers sit in water, they leach dissolved organic matter (DOM) that can react with sunlight to produce reactive chemicals. This study found that the type and amount of DOM released depends heavily on polymer chemistry, with aromatic plastics like PET and polystyrene releasing more light-absorbing DOM, and microfibers releasing more DOM overall than microplastic particles. Understanding how plastic-derived DOM breaks down in sunlight is important because these chemical by-products can interact with other aquatic pollutants and affect aquatic ecosystems in ways not yet fully understood.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 14 citations
Article Tier 2

The intermolecular differences in dissolved organic matter derived from microplastics during photo-aging and photo-bio-aging processes

Researchers compared dissolved organic matter released from microplastics during photo-aging alone versus combined photo-biological aging in seawater, finding that combined aging produced DOM with distinct molecular characteristics including greater aromaticity and more complex intermolecular structures.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into the photosensitivity and photobleaching of dissolved organic matter from microplastics: Structure-activity relationship and transformation mechanism

This study investigated the photosensitivity and photobleaching behavior of dissolved organic matter released from microplastics (MPDOM), examining how physicochemical properties of different plastics influence photoactivation and transformation. The structure-activity analysis revealed that MPDOM composition strongly determines its photoreactivity, affecting how microplastic-derived organic compounds interact with sunlight and generate reactive oxygen species in aquatic environments.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Size and Structure-Dependent Molecular Fingerprint Transformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter in Sunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles

This study examined how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of MP-derived dissolved organic matter under UV irradiation, finding that inherent plastic properties determine the molecular character of DOM released and its effects on ocean carbon cycling.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular fingerprints of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics over prolonged photochemical aging: Implications for aquatic carbon cycling

Researchers used ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify the dissolved organic molecules that leach from polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene microplastics after prolonged exposure to sunlight. They found that polystyrene released the most diverse array of molecules, many of which could persist in water systems. The study suggests that as microplastics degrade in sunlight, they release non-natural organic compounds that may affect the aquatic carbon cycle from rivers to oceans.

2025 Water Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and its biogeochemical behaviors in aquatic environments: A review

This review examines how microplastics release dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) as they break down in water, and how these released chemicals affect water ecosystems. MP-DOM can interact with other pollutants and alter carbon cycling in natural waters, with the type and amount varying based on plastic composition and weathering conditions. Understanding what microplastics release into water as they degrade is important because these dissolved chemicals may have their own toxic effects on aquatic life and water quality.

2024 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Elucidating the characteristic of leachates released from microplastics under different aging conditions: Perspectives of dissolved organic carbon fingerprints and nano-plastics

Researchers investigated how different aging conditions affect the release of dissolved organic carbon and nanoplastics from PVC and polystyrene microplastics over 130 days. The study found that UV aging and high temperatures promoted the release of nanoplastics and altered the chemical characteristics of leached substances, with UV-aged treatments producing smaller, rougher nanoparticles that may pose greater ecological risks.

2023 Water Research 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Dissolved organic matter derived from biodegradable microplastic promotes photo-aging of coexisting microplastics and alters microbial metabolism

Dissolved organic matter leaching from two biodegradable microplastics (PBAT/PCL blends) was characterized, finding that it can promote photo-oxidation reactions in water by acting as a photosensitizer. The study raises concerns that biodegradable plastics, while designed to break down, generate chemically reactive leachate with potential environmental impacts.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and mechanisms of dissolved organic matter leached by photodegradation of polyethylene microplastics: role of adsorbed antibiotics

Researchers investigated how UV-driven photoaging of polyethylene microplastics and their interactions with the antibiotic ofloxacin affect the release of dissolved organic matter in water. They found that UV exposure significantly increased DOM release from pristine microplastics, while antibiotic-adsorbed microplastics initially released different molecular weight compounds before converging to similar patterns. The study reveals that aging microplastics and their co-contaminants create complex secondary pollution dynamics in aquatic environments.

2026 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts
Article Tier 2

Molecular-level insights into derivation dynamics of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter

Researchers used molecular-level analysis to investigate the formation dynamics of dissolved organic matter derived from microplastics (MPs-DOM) in natural surface waters, finding that this ubiquitous contaminant affects not only aquatic organisms but also undergoes complex chemical transformations that influence its environmental fate and toxicological relevance.

2025 New Contaminants
Article Tier 2

Insights into the photoaging behavior of biodegradable and nondegradable microplastics: Spectroscopic and molecular characteristics of dissolved organic matter release

Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics break down under ultraviolet light and what dissolved substances they release. They found that biodegradable PLA microplastics released more protein-like organic matter during UV exposure than conventional polystyrene, and this matter was more readily used by microorganisms. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics, while designed to be better for the environment, may introduce different ecological risks as they break down.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Sizeand Structure-DependentMolecular FingerprintTransformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter inSunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles

Researchers investigated how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in sunlit seawater, finding that inherent polymer properties shape the molecular fingerprint changes with implications for marine carbon cycling.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Sizeand Structure-DependentMolecular FingerprintTransformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter inSunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles

Researchers investigated how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in sunlit seawater, finding that inherent polymer properties shape the molecular fingerprint changes with implications for marine carbon cycling.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Phototransformation and photoreactivity of MPs-DOM in aqueous environment: Key role of MPs structure decoded by optical and molecular signatures

Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released from microplastics behaves during light-driven transformation in water. They found that organic matter from benzene-containing polymers showed distinctly different photoreactivity compared to matter from polyolefin-based plastics. The study reveals that the chemical structure of the parent microplastic plays a key role in determining how its dissolved byproducts react and generate reactive species in aquatic environments.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of weathering on the release of secondary microplastic fragments and dissolved organics from microplastics

Researchers systematically investigated how different weathering conditions affect the release of secondary microplastics and dissolved organic carbon from PVC, polyethylene, and biodegradable PBAT plastics. The study found that biodegradable PBAT released the highest amounts of secondary particles and organic carbon, and that combined UV and mechanical aging produced the most significant degradation, enhancing particle release by up to 72% compared to either method alone.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Review of decisive factors for controlling generation and environmental effect of dissolved organic matter from (micro)plastics.

This review examines the composition, formation mechanisms, and environmental risks of dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from plastics, identifying key controlling factors such as UV irradiation, temperature, and microbial activity, and assessing DOM's potential ecological impacts including toxicity and facilitation of contaminant transport.

2025 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

Solar radiation stimulates release of semi-labile dissolved organic matter from microplastics

Researchers found that solar radiation causes microplastics to release dissolved organic matter into seawater, with low-density polyethylene releasing about five times more carbon per gram per day than polystyrene. The released organic compounds included nitrogen- and sulfur-containing molecules, and a portion overlapped with compounds found naturally in coastal waters. Incubation experiments showed that microbes could utilize 9-19% of this plastic-derived organic matter within 30 days, suggesting it becomes part of the marine carbon cycle.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter components determine Microcystis aeruginosa-bacteria interaction network and community assembly

This study found that dissolved organic matter leaching from photo-aged biodegradable PBAT microplastics alters the bacterial community around the harmful cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa differently than DOM from conventional PE or PET microplastics — with PBAT-DOM reducing bacterial diversity while PE/PET-DOM promoted diverse microbial growth. These shifts in microbial community structure could influence harmful algal bloom dynamics and overall freshwater ecosystem health. The findings reveal that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for aquatic microbial communities than conventional ones.

2026 Harmful Algae
Article Tier 2

Differential aging processes of microplastics in paddy soil under wet-dry alternation: Insights into chemical structure alteration and dissolved organic matter formation

Researchers investigated the aging of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics in paddy soil during seven wet-dry alternation cycles over 98 days and found that cycling conditions accelerated chemical degradation and altered dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition. PE aged most rapidly, and the DOM produced differed structurally from that generated under constant conditions.

2025 Environmental Pollution 3 citations