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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Assessing the biodegradability of microparticles disposed down the drain
ClearAn Eco-friendly Alternative to Polyethylene Microbeads in Personal Healthcare Products
This paper proposes eco-friendly, biodegradable alternatives to polyethylene microbeads used as exfoliants in personal care products like shower gels. Replacing synthetic plastic microbeads with natural materials would reduce a direct source of microplastic pollution entering waterways through drain runoff.
Comparative toxicity of exfoliating products containing microplastics and alternative particles from Nepal
Researchers tested the toxicity of exfoliating cosmetic products containing microplastics against those using natural alternative particles from Nepal, finding differences in how each affected aquatic organisms. The study informs debates about whether natural alternatives to synthetic microbeads in cosmetics are truly safer for the environment.
The effect of biodegradable plastics on microplastic accumulation and exposure
Researchers developed a comprehensive method to quantify microplastic accumulation from biodegradable polymers in natural environments, examining whether biodegradable alternatives actually reduce plastic loads compared to conventional polymers under real-world outdoor conditions.
A review of biodegradation and formation of biodegradable microplastics in soil and freshwater environments
Researchers reviewed how biodegradable plastics break down in soil and freshwater, finding that incomplete degradation by microorganisms can still produce tiny biodegradable microplastic particles that persist in the environment — meaning "biodegradable" doesn't always mean safe or fast-disappearing.
Biosourced Spherical Microbeads from Brewer’s Spent Grain for Sustainable Personal Hygiene Products
Researchers developed biodegradable microbeads from brewer's spent grain as a sustainable replacement for plastic microbeads in personal care exfoliants, which are banned in many countries due to their environmental persistence. The biosourced spherical particles showed mechanical properties comparable to plastic microbeads, offering a genuinely plastic-free alternative that breaks down naturally.
Evaluation of the degradation from micro to nanoplastics from biodegradable bags in marine conditions
Researchers evaluated how biodegradable plastic bags degrade from the micro to nano scale under environmental conditions, testing whether commercial biodegradable plastics fully decompose or generate persistent nanoplastic particles. Results showed biodegradable bags produced nanoplastic particles during degradation, challenging the assumption that biodegradable label guarantees complete environmental breakdown.
Evaluation of the degradation from micro to nanoplastics from biodegradable bags in marine conditions
Researchers evaluated how biodegradable plastic bags degrade into micro- and nanoplastics under environmental conditions, comparing them to conventional plastics. The study found that even biodegradable materials generate persistent micro- and nanoplastic particles under real-world conditions.
The Degradation Rate of Bio Microbeads Derived from Cellulose and Impregnated with Moringa Leaf Flavonoids Extract
This study developed biodegradable microbeads derived from cellulose as an eco-friendly replacement for synthetic plastic microbeads, which are banned in many countries because they pass through wastewater treatment and accumulate in the environment. The bio-based microbeads showed competitive degradation rates while meeting functional requirements for personal care product applications.
Microplastics (MPs) in Cosmetics: A Review on Their Presence in Personal-Care, Cosmetic, and Cleaning Products (PCCPs) and Sustainable Alternatives from Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers
This review documents how microplastics are widely used in personal care products, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies as exfoliants, film formers, and texture enhancers. These products wash down the drain and contribute to environmental microplastic pollution, which can ultimately cycle back to humans through contaminated water and food.
Microplastics in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Impacts on Aquatic Life and Rodents with Potential Alternatives
This review examined microplastics in cosmetics and personal care products as a major environmental source, cataloguing their types and concentrations in commercial formulations and reviewing evidence that they harm aquatic organisms and rodents through ingestion, bioaccumulation, and chemical co-exposure, while also surveying biodegradable alternatives.
Biodegradable Microplastics: Environmental Fate and Persistence in Comparison to Micro- and Nanoplastics from Traditional, Non-Degradable Polymers
This review compares biodegradable microplastics with traditional microplastics and finds that while biodegradable versions break down much faster, they still release microplastic-sized particles that can persist in the environment for varying periods. How quickly biodegradable microplastics actually disappear depends heavily on environmental conditions like temperature, moisture, and microbial activity, and lab results often overestimate real-world degradation. The takeaway is that switching to biodegradable plastics helps but does not fully solve the microplastic pollution problem.
Microplastics in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
This review examines the presence of microplastics, commonly known as microbeads, in cosmetics and personal care products and their pathway into aquatic environments through wastewater discharge. Researchers assessed how these tiny particles interact with marine species and other pollutants once they enter water bodies. The study underscores that despite the existence of wastewater treatment plants, microbeads from personal care products remain a persistent source of aquatic plastic pollution.
Microplastics: Applications in the Cosmetic Industry and Impacts on the Aquatic Environment
This review examines how microplastics are used in cosmetics as microbeads in products like exfoliating cleansers, and how these particles enter waterways through drain disposal and harm aquatic life. The authors summarize the main problems caused by cosmetic microplastics and discuss regulatory efforts to phase them out.
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Biodegradable, PLA-Based Exfoliant Microbeads via Droplet Microfluidics for Sustainable Cosmetics
Biodegradable microbeads made from polylactic acid (PLA) were fabricated using droplet microfluidics and shown to degrade significantly faster than conventional plastic microbeads in both aqueous and soil environments. This work directly addresses the microplastic pollution problem in cosmetics by providing a viable, scalable, biodegradable alternative to the polyethylene microbeads that have been banned in many countries.
Can biodegradable polymers make microplastics?
Researchers investigated whether biodegradable polymers can form microplastics during their intended use and degradation, finding that several biodegradable materials do indeed fragment into micro- and nanoscale particles before fully mineralizing. The study raises important questions about whether "biodegradable" plastics fully solve the microplastic problem.
Innovative Approaches to Microplastic and Nano-plastic Biodegradation
This review covers innovative biotechnological approaches to microplastic and nanoplastic biodegradation, examining the origins of these particles from larger plastic waste and intentionally manufactured microbeads. The authors assess promising biological and enzymatic strategies for accelerating breakdown of persistent plastic polymers in environmental and engineered systems.
Degradable poly(β-amino ester) microparticles for cleansing products and food fortification
Researchers developed degradable microparticles made from a material that breaks down into sugar and amino acid byproducts, designed to replace the non-degradable plastic microbeads used in cleansing products and food fortification. These new particles performed similarly to conventional plastic microbeads but dissolve harmlessly in the environment. This innovation could help reduce one significant source of microplastic pollution that enters waterways and the food supply.
A progress update on the biological effects of biodegradable microplastics on soil and ocean environment: A perfect substitute or new threat?
This review examines whether biodegradable plastics, often marketed as eco-friendly alternatives, actually break down safely in the environment. The evidence shows that biodegradable plastics often fragment into microplastics rather than fully decomposing, and these biodegradable microplastics can harm soil organisms, marine life, and disrupt nutrient cycles. The findings suggest that simply switching to biodegradable plastics may not solve the microplastic pollution problem and could introduce new environmental risks.
Experimental modeling of biodegradable microplastics
Researchers experimentally modeled the formation of biodegradable microplastics by subjecting polymers to environmental degradation factors, characterizing the resulting particles' surface properties and their capacity to adsorb toxic chemicals and microorganisms relevant to ecological risk assessment.
New advances to assess biodegradation and toxicity of alternative environmentally friendly polymers
Researchers developed new methods to assess the biodegradation rates and ecotoxicity of alternative polymers including biobased, recycled, and biodegradable plastics, addressing a gap in risk assessment frameworks focused primarily on conventional plastics. Results showed biodegradability varied greatly by polymer type and environmental conditions, and alternative plastics still exhibited measurable toxicity during degradation.
Secondary nanoplastics released from a biodegradable microplastic severely impact freshwater environments
Secondary nanoplastics released during the degradation of a biodegradable microplastic were found to cause significant toxic effects in freshwater organisms, suggesting that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safe. The study raises important questions about the use of biodegradable alternatives as a solution to conventional plastic pollution.
Exploring the hidden environmental pollution of microplastics derived from bioplastics: A review
This review examines the often-overlooked problem that even bioplastics, marketed as eco-friendly alternatives, can break down into micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. Research since 2012 has identified multiple degradation pathways, including UV exposure, mechanical wear, and biodegradation, that fragment bioplastics into tiny particles. The toxicity of these bioplastic-derived microparticles is still poorly understood, highlighting a hidden source of plastic pollution.
Biodegradable Polymers: Present Opportunities and Challenges in Providing a Microplastic‐Free Environment
This viewpoint examines whether biodegradable polymers can solve the microplastic pollution problem, concluding that while they show promise, their biodegradability in real-world natural environments (versus industrial composting conditions) is often uncertain. The authors call for intensive research into truly environmentally degradable materials and smart degradation mechanisms.
Biodegradable Microplastics: A Review on the Interaction with Pollutants and Influence to Organisms
This review examines the environmental behavior and toxicity of biodegradable microplastics, noting that natural conditions rarely allow complete degradation and that biodegradable plastics may fragment into microplastics more rapidly than conventional plastics. Under some conditions biodegradable microplastics may pose greater risks to organisms than conventional microplastics, particularly in combination with adsorbed pollutants.