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Habib RZ, Salim Abdoon MM, Al Meqbaali RM, Ghebremedhin F, Elkashlan M, Kittaneh WF, Cherupurakal N, Mourad AHI, Thiemann T, Al Kindi R. Analysis of microbeads in cosmetic products in the United Arab Emirates. Environ Pollut 2020; 258:113831. [PMID: 31874431 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The microparticle content of 37 common facial and body scrubs commercially available in the United Arab Emirates was analyzed. The chemical composition, ash content, physical characteristics, loading, particle size and shape of the microparticles were determined. Only 11 out of 37 products were found to have microplastic content. Many of the remaining products exhibited microparticles composed of microcrystalline cellulose and crushed walnut shells. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that microplastic products had softening points as low as 84 °C. Plastic microbeads of 2 products were found to fuse at 100 °C. The fusion altered the flotation characteristics of the microbeads of one product. Heat treatment of the product at 100 °C in the presence of silica gel led to entrainment of the silica and partial fragmentation of the beads upon cooling. This may be understood as one mechanism of fragmentation of a microplastic with a low softening point in the presence of hard soil particles under temperature cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Zeeshan Habib
- Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | | | | | - Furtuna Ghebremedhin
- Department of Chemistry, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Marim Elkashlan
- Department of Chemistry, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wajeeh Faris Kittaneh
- Department of Geology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nizamudeen Cherupurakal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdel-Hamid Ismail Mourad
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Thies Thiemann
- Department of Chemistry, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ruwaya Al Kindi
- Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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