From model to nature — A review on the transferability of marine (micro-) plastic fragmentation studies

Born, Maximilian P.; Brüll, Catrina

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151389

Cited by 38 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…While the underlying mechanisms of photooxidative degradation are well understood, much less is known about the role of stabilizers and their degradation products [20]. Quantitative data regarding fragmentation rates as well as secondary MP particle production and release remain scarce [32,[37][38][39][40], and are lacking for stabilized polymer systems. Furthermore, numeric data for time scales in which the stabilizers avoid degradation, and the effect of the stabilizers on the fragmentation of macroplastic has only gained little attention up to date.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the fragmentation of polypropylene upon exposure to accelerated weathering

et al. 2022

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Polymers are omnipresent in our everyday lives. For specific applications, their properties can be extensively modified by various types of additives, e.g., processing stabilizers, antioxidants, UV-stabilizers, flame retardants, and plasticizers. While several additives are nowadays considered to be toxic or persistent in the environment, quantitative data characterizing plastic fragmentation and microplastic formation have not yet been discussed in detail. Here, we present a long-term, laboratory-controlled accelerated weathering study on polypropylene (PP) particles with and without processing stabilizers. We were able to identify the stabilizers as Irgafos® 168, and Irganox® 1010. For both PP sample sets, we monitored the degradation using a combination of various analytical methods, such as gel permeation chromatography, particle size distributions, scanning electron microscopy, solid-state 13C magic-angle spinning NMR and liquid-state 1H, 13C, 31P NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The stabilizers prevent degradation by simulated solar radiation for about 350 h. Then, degradation sets in rapidly, leading to an exponential decrease in molecular weight and particle size, accompanied by an increase in crystallinity and the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups. After 3200 h, representing approximately 2 years of outdoor weathering, both PP samples exhibit comparable characteristics and sizes, regardless if a stabilizer was initially present. During degradation, an extremely large number of 100,000 daughter particles (4 µm) are formed and released from one MP particle of 192 µm diameter. Their physical properties and chemical composition have largely changed, resulting in a very low molecular weight and a hydrophilic character. These particles no longer resemble pristine PP. We thus expect them to be more prone to biodegradation compared to the starting material.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the fragmentation of polypropylene upon exposure to accelerated weathering

et al. 2022

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“…The fragmentation of MPW in river systems is controlled based on the interplay between mechanical, biological and chemical processes (Barnes et al, 2009;Born and Brüll, 2022;Shah et al, 2008;van Emmerik et al, 2022). The rates of plastic degradation by different processes in riverine environments are varied but not well documented (van Emmerik et al, 2022).…”

Section: Fragmentation Of Mpw By River Typementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For inactive meandering river systems, the lower discharge environment will decrease the physical abrasion of plastic within the water column. At the same time, the increased residence time of plastic within the environment will lead to increased biological (Bellasi et al, 2020;Leslie et al, 2017) and/or chemical degradation, including by UV light (Born and Brüll, 2022).…”

Section: Fragmentation Of Mpw By River Typementioning

confidence: 99%

Leaving a plastic legacy: current and future scenarios for mismanaged plastic waste in rivers

Nyberg¹,

Harris²,

Kane³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Mismanaged plastic waste (MPW) entering the riverine environment is concerning, given that most plastic pollution never reaches the oceans, and it has a severe negative impact on terrestrial ecosystems. However, significant knowledge gaps on the storage and remobilization of MPW within different rivers over varying timescales remain. Here we analyze the exposure of river systems to MPW to better understand the sedimentary processes that control the legacy of plastic waste. Using a conservative approach, we estimate 0.8 million tonnes of MPW enter rivers annually in 2015, affecting an estimated 84% of rivers by surface area, globally. By 2060, the amount of MPW input to rivers is expected to increase nearly 3-fold, however improved plastic waste strategies through better governance can decrease plastic pollution by up to 72%. Currently, most plastic input occurs along anthropogenically modified rivers (49%) yet these represent only 23% of rivers by surface area. Another 17% of MPW occur in free-flowing actively migrating meandering rivers that likely retain most plastic waste within sedimentary deposits, increasing retention times and likelihood of biochemical weathering. Active braided rivers receive less MPW (14%), but higher water discharge will also increase fragmentation to form microplastics. Only 20% of plastic pollution is found in non-migrating and free-flowing rivers; these have the highest probability of plastics remaining within the water column and being transferred downstream. This study demonstrates the spatial variability in MPW affecting different global river systems with different retention, fragmentation, and biochemical weathering rates of plastics. Targeted mitigation strategies and environmental risk assessments are needed at both international and national levels that consider river system dynamics.

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“…Plastics, produced on an industrial scale since the 1950s, are partly carelessly introduced into the environment, referred to as “littering” . Via various pathways, mainly wastewater, wind, and rain runoff, plastic enters rivers and finally deposits in sinks throughout the river’s course or oceans. , Environmental factors acting on the plastics, such as UV radiation, degrade the plastic, inevitably fragmenting it due to mechanical forces. , According to the general scientific consensus, if these fragments are smaller than 5 mm, they are defined as microplastics (MPs) . However, this value represents only the upper margin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Microplastics’ Vertical Concentration Transport (Rouse) Profiles in Flumes

Born

Brüll

Schaefer

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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The transport behavior of microplastics (MPs) in the fluvial environment is scarcely researched. Besides settling velocities and critical shear stress for erosion, only a few investigations aim at MPs’ vertical concentration profile and the underlying theory required. Therefore, this paper’s experiments investigate vertical concentration profiles of approximately spherical MP particles (d = 1–3 mm) with densities close to water (0.91–1.13 g/cm3) in flow channels, coupling them with fundamental theory for the first time. The experiments were conducted in a tiling flume (slope of 0–2.4%) at 67 and 80 mm water depth, with a turbulent flow, velocities ranging from 0.4 to 1.8 m/s, and turbulence kinetic energy from 0.002 to 0.08 m2/s2. The measured profiles confirm the assumption that the concentration profile shapes of settling plastics are similar to those of sediments and running reversed for buoyant plastics. Furthermore, the hypothesis of the Rouse formula’s applicability for floating and sinking plastics could be confirmed for approximately uniform flows. Future studies tying in with this research should increase particle properties and hydraulic parameter variation.

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From model to nature — A review on the transferability of marine (micro-) plastic fragmentation studies

Cited by 38 publications

References 107 publications

Quantifying the fragmentation of polypropylene upon exposure to accelerated weathering

Quantifying the fragmentation of polypropylene upon exposure to accelerated weathering

Leaving a plastic legacy: current and future scenarios for mismanaged plastic waste in rivers

Determination of Microplastics’ Vertical Concentration Transport (Rouse) Profiles in Flumes

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