Addition Of Plasticizer Research Articles

Regional distribution of the plastic additive tris(butoxyethyl) phosphate in Nanyang Lake estuary, China, and toxic effects on Cyprinus carpio.

There is increasing concern regarding the toxicological effects of plastic additives on humans and aquatic organisms. This study investigated effects of the plastic additive tris(butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) on Cyprinus carpio by measuring concentration distribution of TBEP in the Nanyang Lake estuary, as well as toxic effects of varying doses of TBEP exposure on carp liver. This also included measuring responses of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease (caspase). Concentrations of TBEP in the polluted water environment (water company inlets, urban sewage pipes, etc.) in the survey area were as high as 76.17-3875.29μg/L, and 3.12μg/L in the river flowing through the urban area, and 1.18μg/L in the estuary of the lake. In the subacute toxicity test, SOD activity in liver tissue with an increase in TBEP concentration was reduced significantly, while the MDA content continued to increase with an increase in TBEP concentration. Inflammatory response factors (TNF-α and IL-1β) and apoptotic proteins (caspase-3 and caspase-9) gradually increased with increasing concentrations of TBEP. Additionally, reduced organelles, increased lipid droplets, swelling of mitochondria, and disorder of mitochondrial cristae structure were observed in liver cells of TBEP-treated carp. Generally, TBEP exposure induced severe oxidative stress in carp liver tissue, resulting in release of inflammatory factors and inflammatory response, mitochondrial structure changes, and the expression of apoptotic proteins. These findings benefit our understanding about the toxicological effects of TBEP in aquatic pollution.

Sublethal Biochemical Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics and TBBPA in Experimentally Exposed Freshwater Shrimp Palaemonetes argentinus

The biochemical effects of sublethal exposure to polyethylene microplastics (PEM) of 40-48 µm particle size and the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a plastic additive, on the freshwater shrimp Palaemonetes argentinus were assessed. Here, we postulate that the use of enzyme and thyroid hormones as biomarkers contributes to the knowledge of the effects of microplastics and plastic additives on freshwater crustaceans. To address this, we evaluated the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and carboxilesterase (CbE, using 1-naphthyl acetate (NA) as substrate) and levels of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) after shrimp were exposed (for 96 h) to these xenobiotics at environmentally realistic concentrations. The results showed that the mixture of both xenobiotics led to a decrease in AChE and GST activities and increased T4 levels. We suggest that physiological processes could be compromised in freshwater organisms when exposed to microplastics and TBBPA together, and this could ultimately affect upper levels of the food web.

Influence of plasticizer on the dielectric properties of polypropylene/carbon black composites

The addition of plasticizers can improve the dispersion of conductive fillers in polymer composites. In this work, the effect of polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether (PEGDME) plasticizer on the dielectric properties of poly(propylene)/carbon black (PP/CB) composites was investigated. PP/CB composites with varying content of CB from 0 to 15 wt% were melt-mixed. PEGDME plasticizer (0 to 5 wt%) was introduced into the PP/CB composites to reduce CB particle agglomeration and facilitate CB dispersion in the polymer matrix. The electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of PP/CB composites with and without plasticizer were studied. CB loading improved the electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of the composites; however, the addition of PEGDME reduced their values. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the PEGDME dispersed the CB particles and hindered the continuous CB conductive network formation. Additionally, the effect of temperature on dc conductance of PP/CB composites was also investigated. The dc conductance increases when the temperature increases from 303 °K to 343 °K and then decreases with further temperature increments.

Analisis Pemanfaatan Plastik Polystyrene (PS) senagai Bahan Tambahan Aspal AC-WC dan AC-BC dengan Metode Marshall

ABSTRACT : Availability of Polystyrene (PS) type plastic waste in various surrounding environments, added to the hot asphalt mixture to improve road pavement performance. This study aims to determine the effect of adding Polystyrene (PS) plastic to the Marshall characteristics of AC-WC and AC-BC asphalt based on the 2018 General Highways Specifications. The test results on Marshall characteristics with a mixture of normal asphalt content of 5% and 6% obtained Optimum Asphalt Content (KAO) of 5.5% for each asphalt AC-WC and AC-BC. Marshall testing on AC-WC asphalt with polystyrene materials using 4% and 5% levels. Then the Stability, VMA, VIM, Flow, and Marshall Quotient values increase, while the VFA value decreases with each addition of Polystyrene (PS) content, this indicates the low density of the asphalt mixture against water and air. However, all variations in the levels of plastic additives on AC-WC asphalt met the specifications, while the Marshall test on AC-BC asphalt with polystyrene materials used levels of 4% and 5%. Then the Stability, VFA, Flow, and Marshall Quotient values have increased, while the VMA, and VIM values have decreased with each addition of Polystyrene (PS) content, this indicates that the voids in the aggregate and voids in the mixture are getting smaller, and causing the asphalt to not be able to fill the empty space too much. and aggregate binding. However, only the VIM value at 5% with a value of 2.58% does not meet the specifications between 3% -5%. So, apart from that, all the added ingredients of asphalt plastic AC-BC meet the specifications. Utilizing Polystyrene (PS) type plastic waste in hot asphalt mixtures can improve the quality of Marshall characteristics and can be used as an additive in asphalt flexible pavement. Keywordsi : AC-WC, AC-BC, Marshall, KAO, Polystyrene (PS).

PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN PLASTIK BEKAS TIPE POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) TERHADAP DAYA LEKAT CAMPURAN LASTON LAPIS AC-WC

The problem in this research is the increasing amount of plastic waste that is difficult to decompose creates an idea for me to use as one of the additives or mixtures in making asphalt mixtures. The types of plastic waste that are mostly found are drink bottles and plastic bags. This type of plastic can only be recycled only once with the name PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate). The addition of plastic to the asphalt mixture aims to optimize the characteristics of the AC-WC smooth asphalt mixture and reduce the amount of waste. Plastic mixing is carried out by means of a dry method whose plastic content is 5%, 10% 15% and 30% of the weight of optimum asphalt content. From the Marshall test conducted with the addition of PET plastic waste, the Stability value at 5% was 2005,967 kg, compared to the absence of additional plastic waste with a record number of 1961,534 kg. Density value with the addition of plastic at 5% level was 2.355% decreased compared to the elimination of the addition of this plastic mixture with a value of 2.359%. The value of Flow with the addition of plastic at a 5% level of 3,200% has increased compared to without the addition of plastic with a value of 3,100%. The value of VIM with the addition of plastic at a level of 5% is 4.453% compared without the addition of this element from the plastic waste that is difficult to decompose with a value of 4.297%. VFA value with the addition of plastics at 5% level was 73.493% decreased compared to no plastic additions amounting to 74.216%. The VMA value with the addition of plastic at 5% level was 16,801%, an increase compared to without the addition of plastic with a magnitude of 16,665%. MQ value with the addition of plastic at 5% content of 626,865 kg / mm has decreased compared to without the addition of plastic 632,753 kg / mm.

Effect of crystallinity on the migration of plastic additives from polylactic acid-based food contact plastics

The dependence of swelling and migration on polymer crystallinity was investigated in the case of polylactic acid (PLA)-based plastics. Migration and swelling kinetic experiments were performed at two different temperatures, using plasticized/non-plasticized and annealed/unannealed PLA test specimens. Both swelling and migration proved to be inhibited by the presence of polymer crystals. Crystallization induced clear differences in migration at 40 °C contact temperature, which got more pronounced with the increasing molecular weight (Mw) of additives. At 60 °C the differences diminished, except for Irgafos 168, possibly because of the formation of an inclusion complex type structure. Consequently, to lessen migration, the application of crystallized PLA and high Mw additives in food packaging industry is advantageous. The solvent-induced crystallization of PLA in ethanol 95 v/v% was also confirmed, therefore this alternative food simulant should be used with restrictions in the migration testing of PLA-based plastics.

Micro(nano)plastics in the atmosphere of the Atlantic Ocean

The occurrence, long-range atmospheric transport and deposition of micro and nano plastics (MNPLs) remains un-quantified for the oceanic atmosphereopen ocean. Here we show the characterisation of MNPLs and the aerosol composition (PM10) in a north-south Atlantic transect from Vigo (Spain) to Punta Arenas (Chile). The analytical procedure to assess the composition of MNPLs consisted of a double suspect screening approach of the polymers and additives, the two constituents of plastics. Polymers were analysed by size exclusion chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry using an atmospheric pressure photoionization source operated in positive and negative conditions (HPLC(SEC)-APPI(+/-)-HRMS). Plastic additives were screened with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry using an electrospray ionisation source (HPLC-ESI(+/-)-HRMS). The most common polymers were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyisoprene (PI), and polystyrene (PS), with the highest polymer concentration being 51.7 ng·m−3 of PI. The air mass back trajectories showed the variable influence of oceanic and terrestrial air masses. These differences were reflected in the aerosol composition with different contributions of Saharan dust, sea spray aerosol, organic/elemental carbon, and MNPLs. Results showed that samples largely influenced by sea-spray and air masses originating from coastal South America and the north Atlantic subtropical gyre were more contaminated by MNPLs. Moreover, this information was complemented by the characterisation of the largest particles using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and µ-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (µ-FTIR). This work provides the first field evidence of the long-range transport of MNPLs in most of the Atlantic Ocean, as the result of dynamic coupling between the lower atmosphere and the surface ocean. Sea-spray formation arises as a key driver for the aerosolisation of MNPLs, and atmospheric transport followed by dry deposition may modulate the occurrence of MNPLs in large oceanic regions, issues that will require future research efforts.

The Effect of Polystyrene Foam on the White Mice’s Intestinal Microbiota

Millions of tons of microplastics get into the environment, being eaten by many species of mammals and humans. One of the main types of plastic, polystyrene, and its monomer, bisphenol, have been fairly well studied in terms of their effects on metabolism, but changes in the intestinal microbiota under the influence of its addition to the diet remain insufficiently studied. The aim of this article is to describe the changes in the main components of the mice intestinal microbiota in the conditions of adding different concentrations of crushed polystyrene foam to their diet. Methods. Four groups of white laboratory mice ate crushed particles of polystyrene foam (10% of the polymer by weight of the feed, 1%, 0.1%, and the control group — without addition of plastic) as part of the compound feed for 42 days. At the end of the experiment, cultures of animal feces samples were analyzed. Results. Polystyrene foam particles in the main mice diet, especially at a higher concentration (10%), have changed the number.

Copyrolysis of Waste Cartons and Polyolefin Plastics under Microwave Heating and Characterization of the Products.

Municipal organic solid waste contains many recoverable resources, including biomass materials and plastics. The high oxygen content and strong acidity of bio-oil limit its application in the energy field, and the oil quality is mainly improved by copyrolysis of biomass with plastics. Therefore, in this paper, a copyrolysis method was utilized to treat solid waste, namely, common waste cartons and waste plastic bottles (polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE)) as raw materials. The products were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, GC, and GC/MS to investigate the reaction pattern of the copyrolysis. The results show that the addition of plastics can reduce the residue content by about 3%, and the copyrolysis at 450 °C can increase the liquid yield by 3.78%. Compared with single waste carton pyrolysis, no new product appeared in the copyrolysis liquid products but the oxygen content of the liquid decreased from 65% to less than 8%. The content of CO2 and CO in the copyrolysis gas product is 5-15% higher than the theoretical value; the O content of the solid products increased by about 5%. This indicates that waste plastics can promote the formation of l-glucose and small molecules aldehydes and ketones by providing H radicals and reduce the oxygen content in liquids. Thus, copyrolysis improves the reaction depth and product quality of waste cartons, which provides a certain theoretical reference for the industrial application of solid waste copyrolysis.

The effect of alginate scaffolds on bone healing in defects formed with drilling model in rat femur diaphysis.

Alginate (ALG) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. Mechanical weakness is one of the main problems for the alginate-based scaffolds. Various plasticizer additives or modifications tested to improve the mechanical properties. In the presented study, ALG plasticized with triacetin (TA), and tributyl citrate (TBC) than tested on bone healing. In the presented study, the alginate modified with triacetin or tributyl citrate. In-vitro, and in-vivo efficiency of the scaffolds tested on bone tissue regeneration. Scaffolds fabricated by solvent casting, and physicochemical characterizations performed. Monocytes (THP-1) cultured with scaffolds, and macrophage-released cytokines was determined. In-vivo efficacy of the scaffolds was tested in the rat drill hole model. Alginate and tributyl citrate-modified scaffolds have no cytotoxic effect on osteoblastic cells (MC-3T3). Tributyl citrate modification increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level but did not increase interleukin -1 beta (IL-1 beta) level. In vivo studies showed that osteoblastic growth was significant in alginate and triacetin-modified scaffolds. However, the best values for osteoclastic activity and osteoid tissue formation seen in the triacetin modification. The results demonstrated that the modified alginate scaffolds were more successful than non-modified alginate scaffolds and can used as long-term bone repairing treatments.

Role of inflammatory lipid and fatty acid metabolic abnormalities induced by plastic additives exposure in childhood asthma

Lipid metabolism play an essential role in occurrence and development of asthma, and it can be disturbed by phthalate esters (PAEs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). As a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease, the occurrence risk of childhood asthma is increased by PAEs and OPFRs exposure, but it remains not entirely clear how PAEs and OPFRs contribute the onset and progress of the disease. We have profiled the serum levels of PAEs and OPFRs congeners by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and its relationships with the dysregulation of lipid metabolism in asthmatic, bronchitic (acute inflammation) and healthy (non-inflammation) children. Eight PAEs and nine OPFRs congeners were found in the serum of children (1 – 5 years old) from Shenzhen, and their total median levels were 615.16 ng/mL and 17.06 ng/mL, respectively. Moreover, the serum levels of mono-methyl phthalate (MMP), tri-propyl phosphate (TPP) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TNBP) were significant higher in asthmatic children than in healthy and bronchitic children as control. Thirty-one characteristic lipids and fatty acids of asthma were screened by machine-learning random forest model based on serum lipidome data, and the alterations of inflammatory characteristic lipids and fatty acids including palmitic acids, 12,13-DiHODE, 14,21-DiHDHA, prostaglandin D2 and LysoPA(18:2) showed significant correlated with high serum levels of MMP, TPP and TNBP. These results imply PAEs and OPFRs promote the occurrence of childhood asthma via disrupting inflammatory lipid and fatty acid metabolism, and provide a novel sight for better understanding the effects of plastic additives on childhood asthma.

Polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz(PAMK) protects against DEHP-induced apoptosis in grass carp hepatocytes

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a new environmental pollutant, which is widely used in plastic additives. DEHP and its metabolites pollute surface water and threaten the survival of fish. In order to investigate the mechanism of DEHP-induced apoptosis on grass carp hepatocytes, we treated grass carp hepatocytes with DEHP, and selected Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (PAMK) to study its inhibitory effect on DEHP. The results showed that after DEHP exposure, apoptosis related proteins expression were increased significantly, leading to hepatocytes apoptosis. Moreover, AO/EB staining and Hoechst staining also showed that the number of apoptotic cells increased after DEHP exposure. It should be noted that PAMK simultaneous treatment could alleviate apoptosis induced by DEHP. The innovation of this study is that the application of Chinese herbal medicine (PAMK) to antagonize the damage of DEHP in fish was investigated for the first time. This study indicated that traditional Chinese medicine can also be used in fish production to reduce the accumulation of food-derived drugs.

Determination of PAHs, PAH-Derivatives and Other Concerning Substances in Posidonia oceanica Seagrass and Marine Sediments by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

The Posidonia oceanica decline due to climate change and other anthropogenic pressures, such as chemical pollution, is well known in the scientific community. However, a comprehensive study of the full content of the organic micropollutants found in this significant seagrass has not yet been carried out. Second, an eco-friendly extraction procedure that does not require a large sample, preserves the seagrass’s ecological integrity and functions, and follows green-chemistry principles, is lacking. These information gaps represent the aims of this study. For this purpose, trials with diverse simple and affordable extraction methods to detect one of the most ubiquitous contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs) were conducted. As a result, the use and validation of a polytron homogenizer and an ultrasonic bath were proposed for the extraction of priority PAHs from tissues of P. oceanica and marine sediments, respectively. Tissues (leaves and rhizomes) of P. oceanica and sediment samples were collected, extracted, and subjected to a thorough analysis, i.e., target, suspect, and unknown screenings, using gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-Q-Orbitrap MS). Target analysis revealed seven priority parent-PAHs, whilst during the suspect screening, four PAH-derivatives and three other parent-PAHs were tentatively identified. In the additional third unknown analysis, 11 structures, several with concerning toxicity, were also tentatively identified. Numerous of the identified compounds showed elevated detection frequency in the environmental samples, even reaching 100%, such as the cases of the parent-PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene and retene), some PAH-derivatives, one UV stabilizer, and plastic additives along with pesticides. The methods proposed here should be considered for future monitoring of P. oceanica, as well as the three-way analytic approach (target, suspect and unknown), to obtain a more real and accurate idea of the organic micropollutants content in the environment.

Leaching of phthalate acid esters from plastic mulch films and their degradation in response to UV irradiation and contrasting soil conditions.

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are commonly used plastic additives, not chemically bound to the plastic that migrate into surrounding environments, posing a threat to environmental and human health. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are two common PAEs found in agricultural soils, where degradation is attributed to microbial decomposition. Yet the impact of the plastic matrix on PAE degradation rates is poorly understood. Using 14C-labelled DBP and DEHP we show that migration from the plastic matrix into soil represents a key rate limiting step in their bioavailability and subsequent degradation. Incorporating PAEs into plastic film decreased their degradation in soil, DBP (DEHP) from 79% to 21% (9% to <1%), over four months when compared to direct application of PAEs. Mimicking surface soil conditions, we demonstrated that exposure to ultraviolet radiation accelerated PAE mineralisation twofold. Turnover of PAE was promoted by the addition of biosolids, while the presence of plants and other organic residues failed to promote degradation. We conclude that PAEs persist in soil for longer than previously thought due to physical trapping within the plastic matrix, suggesting PAEs released from plastics over very long time periods lead to increasing levels of contamination.

Gelatin Soft Actuators: Benefits and Opportunities

Soft robots are being developed as implantable devices and surgical tools with increasing frequency. As this happens, new attention needs to be directed at the materials used to engineer these devices that interface with biological tissues. Biocompatibility will increase if traditional materials are replaced with biopolymers or proteins. Gelatin-based actuators are biocompatible, biodegradable, versatile, and tunable, making them ideal for biomedical and biomechanical applications. While building devices from protein-based materials will improve biocompatibility, these new materials also bring unique challenges. The properties of gelatin can be tuned with the addition of several additives, crosslinkers, and plasticizers to improve mechanical properties while altering the characteristic fluid absorption and cell proliferation. Here, we discuss a variety of different gelatin actuators that allow for a range of actuation motions including swelling, bending, folding, and twisting, with various actuation stimulants such as solvent, temperature, pneumatic pressure, electric field, magnetic field, or light. In this review, we examine the fabrication methods and applications of such materials for building soft robots. We also highlight some ways to further extend the use of gelatin for biomedical actuators including using fiber-reinforced gelatin, gelatin cellular solids, and gelatin coatings. The understanding of the current state-of-the-art of gelatin actuators and the methods to expand their usage may expand the scope and opportunities for implantable devices using soft hydrogel robotics.

THE EFFECTS OF DISTILLATION TEMPERATURE AND PLASTIC LOADING ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF WASTE-DERIVED BIO-OIL PROPERTIES

Since plastic and food waste are both types of non-lignocellulosic biomass, these must be handled and managed correctly to avoid pollution problems and damage to the environment. Bio-oil, made from recycled materials, including plastic and food waste, is one focus of these attempts. The co-pyrolysis method is being investigated in this study as a technique of recycling plastic waste and food waste to produce biofuels with reduced environmental impact. In terms of energy efficiency, bio-oil is unequal to other fuels like coal or natural gas because of its high acidity, high oxygen content, and low thermal stability. Therefore, a vacuum distillation process is required to improve bio-oil quality by adjusting the distillation temperature from 300 to 350 OC and the percentage of plastic waste used from 30 to 50%. The bio-oil was analyzed using a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The general compound showed that acids (60%) and alcohols (20%) were the most prevalent chemical compounds, followed by phenol (4%), aldehyde (14%), aliphatic (5%), Furan (14%), and ketones (11%) at maximum temperature (350 oC) for 30-50% plastic waste. Meanwhile, the final product is affected by temperature and plastic waste (PET) ratio factors. At 350 °C and a plastic waste addition of 50%, the highest bio-oil yield is 45%.

Comparative study on pyrolysis behaviors and chlorine release of pure PVC polymer and commercial PVC plastics

The organic and inorganic additives in PVC plastics cause great difficulties in their actual recycling process, which are different from pure PVC polymer (PVC-PO). In this study, PVC-PO and two commercial PVC plastics were selected and their differences in structure, pyrolysis behavior, chlorine release and migration were compared by FTIR, TG-MS and a fixed-bed pyrolysis reactor. There were more oxygen-containing functional groups and aromatic compounds in the commercial PVC plastics than PVC-PO because of the addition of foaming agents, flame retardants and lubricants. The thermal weight loss of the commercial PVC plastics was divided into three stages due to the decomposition of additives and the releases of CO2 gas, while that of the PVC-PO was two. The pyrolysis tar of two PVC plastics contained 35.72% and 15.71% oxygenated compounds, respectively, while that obtained from PVC-PO contained 96.46% of aromatic compounds. In addition, calcium additives in PVC plastics could promote the cracking of heavy constituents in the volatile, which was favorable for the formation of more light fractions in tar. The pyrolysis gas of PVC-PO was mainly composed of H2 and C1-C4 hydrocarbon gases, while that of PVC plastics contained about 50% of CO2, followed by H2 and hydrocarbon gases. The chlorine content of the PVC-PO (55.88 wt.%) was higher than that of the PVC plastics (13.83 wt.%, 22.77 wt.%). Most of the chlorine in the three PVC samples released as HCl at 220–370 °C, while the peak temperature of dechlorination of the PVC-PO delayed about 8 °C compared to that of PVC plastics and small part of HCl also released at around 475 °C in the pyrolysis of PVC-PO. About 99.90 wt.% of the chlorine was distributed in the gas phase after PVC-PO pyrolysis, while there were 99.85 wt.% and 97.85 wt.% of chlorine was detected in the gas products of two PVC plastics.

Insight into chemical features of migrated additives from plastics and associated risks to estuarine ecosystem

Distinct hydrodynamic conditions created a hotspot of plastic and associated additive pollution within estuaries, which is of considerable scientific interest. However, the effects of specific estuarine weathering (severe mechanical wear, constant turbulence, and strong ultraviolet radiation) on migration of additives remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the release of migrated plastic additives (MPAs) from three representative plastics, namely floating foam, fishing nets, and packaging bags, under simulated estuarine conditions. Sixty-seven MPAs leached out under the wave scenario, greater than those under the ultraviolet radiation (62) and shoal (40) scenarios. We detected forty MPAs in the plastic bag leachates, whereas fewer MPAs were released from the foam and nets. Several MPAs were peculiar to specific plastics, e.g., antistatic and curing agents in the bag and foam leachates, respectively. Particularly, a suite of nonionic surfactants, octylphenol polyethoxylates (OPEOn), exhibited outstanding responses in the packaging bag leachates and had elevated toxic potential. OPEOn significantly inhibited the hatching of zebrafish and caused cardiovascular system disorder and morphological distortions even at environmentally relevant concentrations as in estuaries. Collectively, the leaching of MPAs was significantly enhanced by wave actions, and the plastic leachates, particularly those of plastic bags, can cause detrimental risks to the estuarine ecosystem.

A Rapid Screening Method for the Detection of Additives in Electronics and Plastic Consumer Products Using AP-MALDI-qTOF-MS.

A novel method was developed and optimized for the fast-screening analysis of additives in electronics and plastic consumer products using atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (AP-MALDI) coupled with a high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight (qTOF) mass spectrometer (MS). To simplify sample preparation and increase sample throughput, an innovative 48 well graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) doped AP-MALDI target plate was developed. The GNP incorporated in the target plate fulfilled the role of the MALDI matrix and, therefore, sample extracts could be directly transferred to the AP-MALDI 48 well target plate and analyzed without a subsequent matrix addition. The homogeneously dispersed and immobilized GNP target plates also provided increased signal intensity and reproducibility. Furthermore, analytical standards of various plastic additives and plastic products with known concentrations of additives were studied to assess the AP-MALDI ionization mechanisms and method capability. The analysis time was 15 s per measurement using an automated sequence. The GNP-doped target plates exhibited high desorption/ionization of low molecular weight molecules (<1000 Da) and can be used in both positive and negative ionization modes. The AP-MALDI-qTOF-MS method was applied to screen for additives in various electronics and plastic consumer products. Suspect screening was performed using a database containing 1366 compounds. A total of 56 additives including antioxidants, flame retardants, plasticizers, UV-stabilizers, and UV-filters were identified (confidence level 4). Identification of certain plastic additives in plastic children's toys may indicate that they are recycled from waste electronic and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Simplified Unified BARGE Method to Assess Migration of Phthalate Esters in Ingested PVC Consumer Products.

The unified bioaccessibility research group of Europe (BARGE) method (UBM) suggests using in vitro experimental conditions for simulating the release of chemicals from confined matrices, such as soils and sediments, in the human gastrointestinal tract. It contains comprehensive steps that simulate human digestion pathways and has good potential for application in the leaching of plastic additives from accidentally ingested plastic particles. However, its complexity could be a challenge for routine screening assessments of the migration of chemicals from consumer plastic products. In this study, the UBM was modified to assess the migration of plastic additives from consumer products with five model phthalate esters (i.e., dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP)) from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The migration of phthalate esters was observed in four digestive phases (saliva, gastric, duodenal, and bile). Three separate experiments were conducted with the addition of (1) inorganic constituents only, (2) inorganic and organic constituents, and (3) inorganic and organic constituents in combination with digestive enzymes. While using enzymes with the UBM solution, the migrated mass for leached compounds was comparatively low (0.226 ± 0.04 μg) in most digestion phases, likely due to a self-generated coating of enzymes on the plastic materials. However, higher mass migration (0.301 ± 0.05) was observed when phthalate esters were analyzed in the UBM solution, excluding the enzymes. A ring test among six independent laboratories confirmed the robustness of the modified method. Therefore, we propose a simplified version of the original UBM designed mainly for the migration of inorganic elements using only the inorganic and organic components of the solution throughout all phases of digestion.