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Yang N, Men C, Zhang Y, Xie Z, Zuo J. Exploring polystyrene weathering behavior: From surface traits to micro(nano)plastics and additives release. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 367:121880. [PMID: 39059307 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Plastic weathering in the natural environment is a dynamic and complex process, where the release of microplastics, nanoplastics and additives poses potential threats to ecosystems. Understanding the release of different weathering products from plastics is crucial for predicting and assessing the environmental hazards of plastics. This study systematically explored these phenomena by exposing polystyrene (PS) to UV irradiation and mechanical agitation for different durations (1 day, 5 days, 10 days, 20 days). The degree of aging, yellowing, brittleness, and the abundance of carbonyl (CO) functional groups in PS were all gradually increasing over time. The weathering pattern of PS surfaces manifested as initial particle oxidation followed by later cracks or flakes formation. The release of products was positively correlated with the aging degree of plastics, as well as among the various released products. Laser infrared and Raman tests indicated that, for microplastics, the size range of 10-20 μm consistently dominated over time, while the primary size range of nanoplastics shifted towards smaller sizes. Additives and other soluble products were prone to release from weathering plastics, with 20 different chemicals detected after 20 d. The release of plastic additives was closely related to aging time, additive type, and quantity. This study contributes to our understanding of the weathering process of plastics, clarifies the release patterns of products over time, and the relationships among different products. It helps predict and assess the environmental pollution caused by plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Cong Men
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrialpollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhenwen Xie
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Chengdu Xingrong Environment Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610041, China; Chengdu Drainage Co., Ltd, Chengdu, 610011, China
| | - Jiane Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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Naidu G, Nagar N, Poluri KM. Mechanistic Insights into Cellular and Molecular Basis of Protein-Nanoplastic Interactions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2305094. [PMID: 37786309 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Plastic waste is ubiquitously present across the world, and its nano/sub-micron analogues (plastic nanoparticles, PNPs), raise severe environmental concerns affecting organisms' health. Considering the direct and indirect toxic implications of PNPs, their biological impacts are actively being studied; lately, with special emphasis on cellular and molecular mechanistic intricacies. Combinatorial OMICS studies identified proteins as major regulators of PNP mediated cellular toxicity via activation of oxidative enzymes and generation of ROS. Alteration of protein function by PNPs results in DNA damage, organellar dysfunction, and autophagy, thus resulting in inflammation/cell death. The molecular mechanistic basis of these cellular toxic endeavors is fine-tuned at the level of structural alterations in proteins of physiological relevance. Detailed biophysical studies on such protein-PNP interactions evidenced prominent modifications in their structural architecture and conformational energy landscape. Another essential aspect of the protein-PNP interactions includes bioenzymatic plastic degradation perspective, as the interactive units of plastics are essentially nano-sized. Combining all these attributes of protein-PNP interactions, the current review comprehensively documented the contemporary understanding of the concerned interactions in the light of cellular, molecular, kinetic/thermodynamic details. Additionally, the applicatory, economical facet of these interactions, PNP biogeochemical cycle and enzymatic advances pertaining to plastic degradation has also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goutami Naidu
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Nupur Nagar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
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3
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Tang Y, Fan K, Herath I, Gustave W, Lin C, Qin J, Qiu R. Contribution of free hydroxyl radical to the formation of micro(nano)plastics and release of additives during polyethylene degradation in water. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122590. [PMID: 37734629 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The omnipresence of secondary microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has become an increasingly alarming public health concern. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important oxidant in nature and the most stable reactive oxygen species occurred in natural water. In order to explore the contribution of free ˙OH generated from H2O2-driven Fenton-like reactions on the degradation of polyethylene (PE) and generation of micro- and nano-scale plastics in water, a batch experiment was conducted over a period of 620 days in water treated with micromolar H2O2. The incorporation of H2O2 in water induced the formation of flake-like micro(nano)-sized particles due to intensified oxidative degradation of PE films. The presence of ˙OH significantly enhanced the generation of both micro- and nano-scale plastics exhibiting a higher proportion of particles in the range of 200-500 nm compared to the Control. Total organic carbon in the H2O2 treated solution was nearly 174-fold higher than that of the Control indicating a substantial liberation of organic compounds due to the oxidative degradation of native carbon chain of PE and subsequent decomposition of its additives. The highly toxic butylated hydroxytoluene detected from the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis implied the toxicological behavior of secondary micro(nano)plastics influenced by the oxidation and decomposition processes The findings from this study further expand our understanding of the role of ˙OH in degrading PE micro-scale plastics into nanoparticles as an implication of naturally occurring H2O2 in aquatic environments. In the future, further attention should be drawn to the underlying mechanisms of H2O2-driven in-situ Fenton reaction mediated by natural environmental conditions targeting the alternation of light and darkness on the oxidative degradation of plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Kaiqing Fan
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Indika Herath
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Williamson Gustave
- The School of Chemistry, Environmental & Life Sciences, University of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
| | - Chuxia Lin
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Junhao Qin
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Rongliang Qiu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
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Piyathilake U, Lin C, Bundschuh J, Herath I. A review on constructive classification framework of research trends in analytical instrumentation for secondary micro(nano)plastics: What is new and what needs next? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122320. [PMID: 37544402 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Secondary micro(nano)plastics generated from the degradation of plastics pose a major threat to environmental and human health. Amid the growing research on microplastics to date, the detection of secondary micro(nano)plastics is hampered by inadequate analytical instrumentation in terms of accuracy, validation, and repeatability. Given that, the current review provides a critical evaluation of the research trends in instrumental methods developed so far for the qualitative and quantitative determination of micro(nano)plastics with an emphasis on the evolution, new trends, missing links, and future directions. We conducted a meta-analysis of the growing literature surveying over 800 journal articles published from 2004 to 2022 based on the Web of Science database. The significance of this review is associated with the proposed novel classification framework to identify three main research trends, viz. (i) preliminary investigations, (ii) current progression, and (iii) novel advances in sampling, characterization, and quantification targeting both micro- and nano-sized plastics. Field Flow Fractionation (FFF) and Hydrodynamic Chromatography (HDC) were found to be the latest techniques for sampling and extraction of microplastics. Fluorescent Molecular Rotor (FMR) and Thermal Desorption-Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometry (TD-PTR-MS) were recognized as the modern developments in the identification and quantification of polymer units in micro(nano)plastics. Powerful imaging techniques, viz. Digital Holographic Imaging (DHI) and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) offered nanoscale analysis of the surface topography of nanoplastics. Machine learning provided fast and less labor-intensive analytical protocols for accurate classification of plastic types in environmental samples. Although the existing analytical methods are justifiable merely for microplastics, they are not fully standardized for nanoplastics. Future research needs to be more inclined towards secondary nanoplastics for their effective and selective analysis targeting a broad range of environmental and biological matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udara Piyathilake
- Environmental Science Division, National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Kandy, 20000, Sri Lanka
| | - Chuxia Lin
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, The University of Southern Queensland, West Street, QLD, 4350, Australia
| | - Indika Herath
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia.
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Li R, Nie J, Qiu D, Li S, Sun Y, Wang C. Toxic effect of chronic exposure to polyethylene nano/microplastics on oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and gut microbiota of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 339:139774. [PMID: 37567271 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The rapid development of aquaculture industry has provided a large amount of high-quality animal protein, while the food safety caused by microplastics and nanoplastics (MP/NPs) has become a major concern. In addition, recent evidence has shown the potential toxic effect of PE-MP/NPs, highlighting the need for further research into their environmental and health impacts. Chronic exposure of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and nanoplastics (PE-NPs) on adult zebrafish were conducted in the present study for 21 d. Organ-dependent oxidative damage induced by MP/NPs was observed. Insignificant differences in neurotoxicity and dysbiosis of gut microbiota were found between MPs and NPs. Changes in glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed that MP/NPs induced oxidative damage in gill and intestinal cells of zebrafish. The inhibited AChE activity suggested the potential neurotoxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics (MP/NPs). In addition, chronic exposure increased the alpha-diversity of intestinal microbiota. At the phylum level, the average relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased from 29.73% (control group) to 66.10% (microplastics), 54.84% (nanoplastics) and 60.03% (combined exposure), respectively. Tenericutes decreased from 55.43% (control group) to 20.02% (microplastics), 22.44% (nanoplastics) and 31.77% (combined exposure), respectively. Overall, this study provides new insights and objective evidence for the toxicity assessment of PE-MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixuan Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Food Chain Pollution Control, School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Jingjing Nie
- Yunnan Ecological Environmental Emergency Investigation and Complaint Center, Kunming, 650034, China
| | - Denggao Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and High-value Utilization of Marine Organisms in Fujian Province, Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Shuangshuang Li
- College of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, 056038, China
| | - Yingxue Sun
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Food Chain Pollution Control, School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Chun Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Food Chain Pollution Control, School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China.
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Ferreira GVB, Justino AKS, Eduardo LN, Schmidt N, Martins JR, Ménard F, Fauvelle V, Mincarone MM, Lucena-Frédou F. Influencing factors for microplastic intake in abundant deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161478. [PMID: 36634781 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plastic debris is ubiquitous in the hydrosphere. Yet, we lack an understanding of contamination among deep-sea species and primarily how each trait can influence microplastic intake. We investigated microplastic contamination in the digestive tract of hyper-abundant mesopelagic lanternfishes (n = 364 individuals) from the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic, captured from 90 to 1000 m depth. Overall, microplastics were detected in most individuals analysed (frequency of occurrence = 68 %). Large microplastics, mostly of a filamentous shape were the most frequent, followed by smaller fragments and foams. Microplastics made of high-density polymers (PET, PVC, PA, SBR rubber) were more prevalent than low-density ones (PE, EVA and PBD rubber), especially under deeper layers. Larger microplastics were detected in lanternfishes captured off the northeastern Brazilian coast (mean 0.88 ± SE 0.06 mm) compared to those from around the Rocas Atoll and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (0.70 ± 0.07 mm; p≤ 0.05), ∼350 km from the continent. Moreover, lanternfishes that migrate from the upper mesopelagic (200-500 m) to the epipelagic layers (<200 m) had simultaneously the highest intake and the smallest particles (1.65 ± 0.17 particles individual-1 and 0.55 ± 0.07 mm; p≤ 0.05). Biological mediated transport of microplastics from the epipelagic to the mesopelagic waters was evinced, but fishes foraging in shallower layers had the lowest intake (1.11 ± 0.10 part. ind.-1; p≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the jaw length was positively associated with an increment in microplastic intake (Incidence Rate Ratio = 1.1; p≤ 0.05). The lanternfishes that preferably prey upon fish larvae are more prone to microplastic intake than their counterparts, which forage mostly on crustaceans and gelatinous zooplankton (p≤ 0.05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme V B Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil.
| | - Anne K S Justino
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil; Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Toulon, France
| | - Leandro N Eduardo
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil; MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
| | - Natascha Schmidt
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Marseille, France
| | - Júlia R Martins
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Conservação (PPG-CiAC), Av. São José do Barreto, 764, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil
| | - Frédéric Ménard
- Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Fauvelle
- Université de Toulouse, LEGOS (CNES/CNRS/IRD/UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Michael M Mincarone
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Av. São José do Barreto, 764, Macaé, RJ 27965-045, Brazil; Chapman University, Schmid College of Science and Technology, 1 University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, USA
| | - Flávia Lucena-Frédou
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil
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Zhu J, Dong X, Zhao N, Jiang S, Jin H. Microplastics in polystyrene-made food containers from China: abundance, shape, size, and human intake. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:40084-40093. [PMID: 36607577 PMCID: PMC9821365 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-25093-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Polystyrene-made food containers (PMFCs) have been widely used as takeout containers in China. However, the pollution of microplastics (MPs) in PMFCs used in Chinese restaurants remains not well known. For the first time, this study analyzed MPs in PMFC samples (n = 354) collected from different restaurants in 28 Chinese cities. MPs were detected in all PMFC samples, with an abundance of 5-173 items/container. PMFC samples from Taiyuan (mean of 86 items/container) contained the highest mean abundance of MPs. A relatively lower abundance of MPs was found in PMFCs from Urumqi (mean of 19 items/container) and Fuzhou (18 items/container). Fiber was the predominant shape of MPs in most of the PMFC samples. The abundance of MPs in PMFCs was positively correlated with the proportion of fiber. The major polymer composition of MPs was polystyrene, accounting for a mean of 45-90% of total polymers for MPs in PMFCs from different cities. The abundance of MPs in PMFC samples was negatively correlated with the proportion of polystyrene. The mean estimated oral exposure of MPs for the general population in different Chinese cities was 0.24-1.4 items/kg bw/day. Such data is important for human MP exposure risk assessment and also for elucidating the sources of human exposure to MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Zhu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Dong
- Jinhua Institute for Food and Drug Control, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengtao Jiang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, People's Republic of China
| | - Hangbiao Jin
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, People's Republic of China.
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Abstract
Plastic waste pollution is one of the biggest problems in the world today. The amount of plastic in the environment continues to increase, and human exposure to microplastic (MP) has become a reality. This subject has attracted the attention of the whole world. The MP problem has also been noticed by the scientific community. The term microplastic is mostly used to define synthetic material with a high polymer content that can have a size range from 0.1 to 5000 µm. This paper aims to characterize the routes of exposure to MP, define its pollution sources, and identify food types contaminated with plastics. This review addresses the current state of knowledge on this type of particles, with particular emphasis on their influence on human health. Adverse effects of MP depend on routes and sources of exposure. The most common route of exposure is believed to be the gastrointestinal tract. Sources of MP include fish, shellfish, water as well as tea, beer, wine, energy drinks, soft drinks, milk, salt, sugar, honey, poultry meat, fruits, and vegetables. Studies have shown that particles of PET, PE, PP, PS, PVC, PA, and PC are the most frequently found in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kornelia Kadac-Czapska
- Department of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Eliza Knez
- Department of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Grembecka
- Department of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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Qin J, Zeng S, Wang X, Wang X, Lin C. Liberation of plastic nanoparticles and organic compounds from three common plastics in water during weathering under UV radiation-free conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 842:156859. [PMID: 35750181 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A 620-day batch experiment was conducted to examine the generation of nano-sized plastic particles and migration of organic compounds derived from plastic additives and impurities during the weathering of three common plastic types in water with and without reactive oxygen species. The results show that the amount of nanoplastics plus organic compounds liberated from the tested plastic films, as indicated by total organic carbon, was in the following decreasing order: PET >PP > ABS. Hydroxyl radical generated from Fenton-like reaction significantly enhanced the generation of nanoplastics and release of organic compounds from the weathered plastic films via oxidative degradation. Over 30 organic compounds including potentially toxic organic pollutants originated from plastic additives and impurities were detected. There was a marked difference in the plastic nanoparticle size distribution between the deionized water and the water containing reactive oxygen species. The strong oxidizing capacity of hydroxyl radical resulted in rapider disintegration of the coarser nanoparticles (>500 nm) into the finer nanoparticles (<500 nm) and allowed complete decomposition of the nanoplastics with a size <50 nm or even <100 nm. Elevated level of Ca was detected on the surfaces of the ABS and PP nanoparticles. PP- and PET-derived nanoplastics contained heavy metal(loid)s while no heavy metal(loid)s was detected for the ABS nanoparticles. PET nanoparticles had a stronger capacity to bind S- and N-containing organic ligands compared to the other two plastic nanoparticles. The nanoplastics generated from the weathering were irregular in shape, which means that they had larger specific area compared to spherical engineered nanoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Qin
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture/Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Shuqing Zeng
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture/Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xi Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture/Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaoting Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture/Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Chuxia Lin
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
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