Study of Temperature and UV Wavelength Range Effects on Degradation of Photo-Irradiated Polyethylene Films Using DMA

Kamweru, P. K.; Ndiritu, F. G.; Kinyanjui, Thomas; Muthui, Z. W.; Ngumbu, Richard G.; Odhiambo, P.M.

doi:10.1080/00222348.2010.516172

Cited by 20 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In a similar manner, plastics would go through thermo-oxidative reactions at high temperatures, which would break lengthy polymer chains and produce radicals that are capable of self-proliferating until the energy input is halted. A higher temperature results in a faster oxidation rate, as was proven by Kamweru et al [45] in their research on the synergistic effects of temperature and UV light on the degradation of plastics. Polyester and polyolefin plastics might potentially be degraded if they were exposed to extreme temperature variations, such as the freezing and thawing that occurs in aquatic systems [8,9].…”

Section: Impact Of Disposable Fm On the Environment And Human Healthmentioning

confidence: 70%

Environmental and Human Health Impact of Disposable Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Wood-Feeding Termites as a Model for Plastic Biodegradation

Al-Tohamy

Ali

Zhang

et al. 2022

Appl Biochem Biotechnol

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented form of plastic pollution: personal protective equipment (PPE). On the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a tremendous increase in the production of plastic-based PPE. To control the spread of the virus, face masks (FMs) are used as primary PPE. Thus, the production and usage of FM significantly increased as the COVID-19 pandemic was still escalating. The primary raw materials for the manufacturing of FMs are non-biodegradable synthetic polymers derived from petrochemicals. This calls for an urgent need to develop novel strategies for the efficient degradation of plastics. Furthermore, most of these masks contain plastic or other derivatives of plastic. The extensive usage of FM generates millions of tons of plastic waste for the environment in a short span of time. However, their degradation in the environment and consequences are poorly understood. Therefore, the potential impacts of disposable FM on the environment and human health during the COVID-19 pandemic are clarified in the present study. Despite structural and recalcitrance variations, lignocellulose and plastic polymers have physicochemical features, including carbon skeletons with comparable chemical bonds as well as hydrophobic properties in amorphous and crystalline regions. In this review, we argue that there is much to be learned from termites by transferring knowledge from research on lignocellulose degradation by termites to that on plastic waste.

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Section: Impact Of Disposable Fm On the Environment And Human Healthmentioning

confidence: 70%

Environmental and Human Health Impact of Disposable Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Wood-Feeding Termites as a Model for Plastic Biodegradation

Al-Tohamy

Ali

Zhang

et al. 2022

Appl Biochem Biotechnol

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“…In the environment, during solar radiation, plastic waste is also affected by atmospheric oxygen, so the process is often referred to as oxidative photodegradation. Thermal oxidation of plastics occurs in conjunction with photodegradation, especially on beaches or sidewalks that are exposed directly to sunlight [ 133 , 134 ]. Polymers containing aromatic rings in their structure (PS and PET) were found to be more susceptible to oxidation compared to polymers formed by aliphatic chains (PE and PP) [ 64 ].…”

Section: Plastics Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics Derived from Food Packaging Waste—Their Origin and Health Risks

et al. 2023

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Plastics are commonly used for packaging in the food industry. The most popular thermoplastic materials that have found such applications are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and polystyrene (PS). Unfortunately, most plastic packaging is disposable. As a consequence, significant amounts of waste are generated, entering the environment, and undergoing degradation processes. They can occur under the influence of mechanical forces, temperature, light, chemical, and biological factors. These factors can present synergistic or antagonistic effects. As a result of their action, microplastics are formed, which can undergo further fragmentation and decomposition into small-molecule compounds. During the degradation process, various additives used at the plastics’ processing stage can also be released. Both microplastics and additives can negatively affect human and animal health. Determination of the negative consequences of microplastics on the environment and health is not possible without knowing the course of degradation processes of packaging waste and their products. In this article, we present the sources of microplastics, the causes and places of their formation, the transport of such particles, the degradation of plastics most often used in the production of packaging for food storage, the factors affecting the said process, and its effects.

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“…Chain scission and cross-linking of the polymers are responsible for the thermal degradation process [70,71]. In the environmental matrix related to beaches and coastal shorelines, slow thermal degradation of plastics may occur concurrently with photodegradation (due to the presence of sunlight), resulting in enhanced plastic degradation [72].…”

Section: Thermal Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of Their Sources, Formation, Fate, and Ecotoxicological Impact

Haque¹,

Fan²

2023

Environmental Sciences

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Global plastic production is on the rise, and improper plastic management leads to the disposal of plastic in the environment, wherein it enters the environment, after degradation, as microplastics (size < 5 mm) and nanoplastics (size < 1 μm). The most common sink for the microplastics is the marine environment, including the sediment, deep sea, shorelines, and oceans. The objective of this study is to collate the environmental impact assessment of the microplastics in the marine habitat, focusing on the following main elements: (a) source and type of microplastics, specifically leading to the marine sink; (b) degradation pathways; (c) ecotoxicological impact on marine biota, since the smaller-sized microplastics can be digested by the marine biota and cause threats to them; (d) fate of microplastic in the marine environment, including the modes of transport and deposition. This chapter aims to provide a deeper insight into the fate of microplastics once it enters the marine environment, and the information could be a useful reference for the development of microplastic risk management strategies.

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Study of Temperature and UV Wavelength Range Effects on Degradation of Photo-Irradiated Polyethylene Films Using DMA

Cited by 20 publications

References 15 publications

Environmental and Human Health Impact of Disposable Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Wood-Feeding Termites as a Model for Plastic Biodegradation

Environmental and Human Health Impact of Disposable Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Wood-Feeding Termites as a Model for Plastic Biodegradation

Microplastics Derived from Food Packaging Waste—Their Origin and Health Risks

Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of Their Sources, Formation, Fate, and Ecotoxicological Impact

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