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      The fragmentation of nano- and microplastic particles from thermoplastics accelerated by simulated-sunlight-mediated photooxidation

      , , ,
      Environmental Pollution
      Elsevier BV

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          Abstract

          The plastic debris that washes ashore and litters the shoreline often undergoes weathering under sunlight exposure, such that it fragments to form nanoplastics and microplastics, but the fragmentation rate for many thermoplastics is unknown. In this study, three major thermoplastics were exposed to simulated sunlight in an accelerated weathering chamber to evaluate the speed of photooxidation-induced fragmentation. The initiation of photooxidation-induced fragmentation extrapolated from the accelerated weathering chamber to real sunlight exposure in South Korea followed the order of PS (< 1 year) > PP (< 2 years) > LDPE (> 3 years). The surface cracks created by photooxidation were not directly reflected in the initiation of fragmentation of thermoplastics. The initiation of fragmentation was faster in PS than other polymers, but the total abundance of particles produced, and increasing ratio (exposure/non-exposure) were comparable or lower than those of PP. The increasing ratio pattern between nanoplastics and small microplastics of PP differed noticeably from other polymers. The initiation of nanoplastic and small-microplastic fragmentation determined in this study will be useful for the further estimation of secondary microplastic production by weathering and thus for decision-making regarding methods for the timely removal of plastic litter in the environment.

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          Microplastics in the marine environment.

          This review discusses the mechanisms of generation and potential impacts of microplastics in the ocean environment. Weathering degradation of plastics on the beaches results in their surface embrittlement and microcracking, yielding microparticles that are carried into water by wind or wave action. Unlike inorganic fines present in sea water, microplastics concentrate persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by partition. The relevant distribution coefficients for common POPs are several orders of magnitude in favour of the plastic medium. Consequently, the microparticles laden with high levels of POPs can be ingested by marine biota. Bioavailability and the efficiency of transfer of the ingested POPs across trophic levels are not known and the potential damage posed by these to the marine ecosystem has yet to be quantified and modelled. Given the increasing levels of plastic pollution of the oceans it is important to better understand the impact of microplastics in the ocean food web. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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            Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution

            Plastic pollution is a planetary threat, affecting nearly every marine and freshwater ecosystem globally. In response, multilevel mitigation strategies are being adopted but with a lack of quantitative assessment of how such strategies reduce plastic emissions. We assessed the impact of three broad management strategies, plastic waste reduction, waste management, and environmental recovery, at different levels of effort to estimate plastic emissions to 2030 for 173 countries. We estimate that 19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems. Considering the ambitious commitments currently set by governments, annual emissions may reach up to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030. To reduce emissions to a level well below this prediction, extraordinary efforts to transform the global plastics economy are needed.
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              Degradation Rates of Plastics in the Environment

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                Author and article information

                Contributors
                (View ORCID Profile)
                Journal
                Environmental Pollution
                Environmental Pollution
                Elsevier BV
                02697491
                October 2022
                October 2022
                : 311
                : 119847
                Article
                10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119847
                35970348
                ecf84062-bd0d-49ea-ae9c-0b92c967e20e
                © 2022

                https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/

                https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-017

                https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-037

                https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-012

                https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-029

                https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-004

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