Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Photodegradationof Plastic Leachate: Revealing theKey Role of Halogen in Reduced Cytotoxicity in Marine Systems

This study revealed that halogen ions in aquatic environments accelerate photodegradation of sunscreen-derived microplastic leachate and reduce its cytotoxicity, suggesting that the chemical environment in which plastic weathers strongly influences the biological hazard of resulting degradation products.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation of Plastic Leachate: Revealing the Key Role of Halogen in Reduced Cytotoxicity in Marine Systems

Researchers studied the cytotoxicity of chemical leachate from sunscreen-derived microplastics as they degrade in freshwater versus seawater environments. They found that microplastic photodegradation was reduced in seawater because halogen ions, particularly bromide, suppressed the reactive oxygen species that drive degradation. The study reveals that halogens play a key role in reducing the toxicity of microplastic leachates in marine systems, suggesting that ocean chemistry may naturally limit some harmful effects of degrading plastics.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation Controls of Potential Toxicity of Secondary Sunscreen-Derived Microplastics and Associated Leachates

Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down microplastics from sunscreen products and whether this makes them more or less toxic. They found that sunlight aging caused chemical changes on the plastic surfaces and released harmful compounds into the water, increasing toxicity to aquatic organisms. This is relevant because sunscreen microplastics are commonly washed into oceans and lakes, where sun exposure could make them more dangerous over time.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the impact of simulated ocean acidification on the photodegradation of selected microplastics

This study assessed how simulated ocean acidification conditions affect the photodegradation rate and products of plastic polymers, finding that lower pH accelerates surface oxidation and may alter the toxicity of plastic degradation leachates.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 9 citations
Article Tier 2

The Photodegradation Process of PP Plastics in Tidal Flat Environments: The Role and Mechanism of Chloride Ions

Researchers investigated how chloride ions in tidal flat environments affect polypropylene plastic photodegradation, finding that chloride accelerated degradation kinetics, increased carbonyl index values faster, and promoted microplastic fragmentation — identifying saltwater chemistry as a key factor in coastal plastic aging.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

[Photodegradation of Plastic Blends in Seawater and Its Risk to the Marine Environment].

This study investigates how plastic blends used in packaging degrade under sunlight in seawater, finding that photodegradation produces microplastics and alters the physical and chemical properties of the material. The research suggests that biodegradable plastic blends may not perform as intended in marine environments and could still contribute to microplastic pollution.

2023 Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue
Article Tier 2

Influence of UV exposure time and simulated marine environment on different microplastic degradation

Researchers examined how UV radiation and saltwater conditions affect the degradation of polypropylene, polystyrene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate microplastics. The study found that each polymer type responded differently to photodegradation, with changes in surface properties, crystallinity, and chemical bond formation varying by material. Evidence indicates that saline marine conditions can intensify certain degradation processes, suggesting that multiple environmental factors must be considered when assessing microplastic breakdown.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 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

Organotin Release from Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics and Concurrent Photodegradation in Water: Impacts from Salinity, Dissolved Organic Matter, and Light Exposure

Researchers studied how organotin compounds leach from polyvinyl chloride microplastics under different light and water conditions. They found that UV and visible light exposure accelerated the release of certain organotin additives while simultaneously degrading others through photochemical reactions. The study demonstrates that environmental factors like salinity and dissolved organic matter significantly influence the rate at which microplastics release potentially harmful chemical additives into water.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 195 citations
Article Tier 2

pH-Responsive leaching profiles from photodegradation of microplastics

Researchers systematically investigated the pH-dependent leaching of chemical additives and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) from microplastics during photodegradation, examining how degradation products, residual monomers, and processing aids are released under varying environmental conditions. The study found that pH strongly governs the leaching profiles of hazardous chemicals from plastic particles, revealing a largely unregulated risk pathway in aquatic environments.

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

Impacts of microplastics on organotins’ photodegradation in aquatic environments

Researchers found that polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polymethyl methacrylate microplastics differentially affect the photodegradation of organotin compounds in aquatic environments, with microplastics both adsorbing organotins and altering their photolytic breakdown pathways depending on polymer type.

2020 Environmental Pollution 61 citations
Article Tier 2

UV weathering alters toxicity and chemical composition of consumer plastic leachates

Researchers examined how UV weathering changes the toxicity and chemical makeup of leachates from eight types of consumer plastic products. They found that UV exposure increased cytotoxicity up to 13-fold, particularly for polyethylene leachates, and enhanced reactive toxicity by up to 82%. The increased toxicity was primarily linked to the release and transformation of organic chemicals rather than the microplastic particles themselves, highlighting UV weathering as a critical driver of plastic pollution hazards.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
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

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

Photo aging of polypropylene microplastics in estuary water and coastal seawater: Important role of chlorine ion

Researchers studied how UV light ages polypropylene microplastics in estuarine and coastal seawater and found that chloride ions significantly accelerated photo-degradation by generating reactive chlorine radicals, suggesting that marine microplastics age faster than freshwater ones.

2021 Water Research 161 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

Study on the photo-aging process and mechanism of polystyrene microplastics under different salinities mediated by humic acid

This study examined how sunlight breaks down polystyrene microplastics in water with different salt levels and dissolved organic matter. The combination of salt and humic acid accelerated the aging of microplastics, making them smaller and more chemically reactive. This matters because aged microplastics can more easily absorb toxic pollutants and are small enough to be taken up by organisms, increasing potential health risks.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of polyethylene microplastics on the photocatalytic degradation of dibutyl phthalate and bisphenol A in an aqueous medium

Researchers investigated how the presence of polyethylene microplastics affects the photocatalytic degradation of dibenzothiophene, a common marine pollutant, under simulated sunlight. Microplastics altered the phototransformation pathway of the organic pollutant, potentially changing its bioavailability and toxicity in marine systems.

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

ThePhotodegradationProcess of PP Plastics in TidalFlat Environments: The Role and Mechanism of Chloride Ions

Researchers investigated the role and mechanism of chloride ions (Cl-) in the photodegradation of polypropylene (PP) plastics in tidal flat (mudflat) environments using laboratory simulations and field verification. They found that chloride ions accelerated PP degradation and microplastic formation, identifying the photochemical pathways through which Cl- enhances polymer breakdown in coastal environments.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Molecular Signatures of Dissolved Organic Matter Generated from the Photodissolution of Microplastics in Sunlit Seawater

Researchers incubated polyethylene, polypropylene, and expanded polystyrene microplastics in sunlit seawater and characterized the dissolved organic matter produced as the plastics broke down. The study found that sunlight generated hundreds of unique oxygen-containing chemical products from each plastic type, while virtually none were produced in the dark. Evidence indicates that a single process, photodegradation, can transform simple plastic polymers into a complex array of dissolved organic chemicals in ocean environments.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Insight into chain scission and release profiles from photodegradation of polycarbonate microplastics

Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down polycarbonate microplastics in water and what chemicals are released in the process. The study found that UV exposure caused the plastics to fragment into smaller pieces while releasing bisphenol A (BPA) and other potentially harmful organic compounds. Importantly, BPA accounted for only a small fraction of the total chemicals released, suggesting that many unknown degradation products are also entering aquatic environments.

2021 Water Research 228 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