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Publikationstyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Erscheinungsjahr
2023
A new concept for the ecotoxicological assessment of plastics under consideration of aging processes
A new concept for the ecotoxicological assessment of plastics under consideration of aging processes
Autor:innen
Herausgeber
Quelle
Applied research
(2023) vom 8.5.2023
(2023) vom 8.5.2023
Schlagwörter
Ökotoxikologie, Mikroplastikpartikel, Polystyrol, Verwitterung
Zitation
Kittner, Maria, Lisa Isernhinke, Korinna Altmann, Ulrike Braun and Marcus Lukas, 2023. A new concept for the ecotoxicological assessment of plastics under consideration of aging processes. Applied research [online]. 2023. vol. (2023) vom 8.5.2023. DOI 10.60810/openumwelt-1892. Verfügbar unter: https://openumwelt.de/handle/123456789/1549
Zusammenfassung englisch
Microplastics are widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial environments, but up tonow less is known about (eco)toxicological impacts under realistic conditions. Researchso far has focused mainly on impacts on organisms by fresh, single-origin plasticfragments or beads. However, plastics found in the environment are complex incomposition, this means different polymer types and sources, with and withoutadditives and in all stages of age, and therefore, in a more or less advanced stage ofdegradation. For oxidized degradation products that might be released from plasticmaterials during aging, there is a lack of information on potentially adverse effects onaquatic biota. The latter is of particular interest as oxidized degradation products mightbecome more water soluble due to higher polarity and are more bioavailable, therefore.The present study focused on plastic leachates of polystyrene (PS) and polylactic acid(PLA), which were derived from alternating stress by hydrolysis and ultraviolet (UV)radiation-representing a realistic scenario in the environment. Test specimens of PS,PLA, or a PLA/PS layer (each 50%) were alternately exposed to UV radiation for 5 daysfollowed by hydrolysis for 2 days, for several weeks alternating. Ecotoxicological effectsof the storage water (artificial freshwater) of the test specimens and additionally, in asecond experimental setup, the effects of five potential polymer degradation productswere detected by 72 h algae growth inhibition tests withDesmodesmus subspicatus.Results clearly indicate inhibitory effects on algae growth by contaminants in thestorage water of stressed plastics with increasing growth inhibition of proceedinghydrolysis and UV stress times. Different polymers caused variable inhibitions of algaegrowth with stronger inhibitions by PS and less effects by PLA and the mixed layer ofboth. Moreover, not microplastic particles but the resulting dissolved degradationproducts after aging caused theecotoxicological effectsââą Ìwith strong effects by theoxidized degradation products. The existing data highlight the relevance of plastic agingas a framework for microplastic ecotoxicity evaluation and allow a proof of concept. © 2023 The Authors.