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UV-B degradation affects nanoplastic toxicity and leads to release of small toxic substances

Ekvall, Mikael T. LU ; Svensson, Raluca LU ; García Martínez, Josep LU ; Krais, Annette M. LU orcid ; Bernfur, Katja LU ; Leiding, Thom LU ; Lundqvist, Martin LU and Cedervall, Tommy LU (2025) In Environmental Science: Nano 12(2). p.1177-1185
Abstract

Fragmented micro- and nanoplastics are widespread pollutants with adverse effects on the environment. However, the breakdown process does not end with micro- and nanoplastics but is expected to continue until carbon dioxide has been formed. During this process the plastics will undergo chemical changes and small molecules may be released. We have broken down small amine-modified (∅53 nm) and carboxyl-modified (∅62 nm) polystyrene nanoparticles by UV-B irradiation during 100 days. We see a decreasing size and an oxidation of the nanoparticles over time. Simultaneously, the acute toxicity to zooplankton Daphnia magna decreases. UV-B irradiation releases small, dissolved molecules that are toxic to Daphnia magna. The dissolved molecules... (More)

Fragmented micro- and nanoplastics are widespread pollutants with adverse effects on the environment. However, the breakdown process does not end with micro- and nanoplastics but is expected to continue until carbon dioxide has been formed. During this process the plastics will undergo chemical changes and small molecules may be released. We have broken down small amine-modified (∅53 nm) and carboxyl-modified (∅62 nm) polystyrene nanoparticles by UV-B irradiation during 100 days. We see a decreasing size and an oxidation of the nanoparticles over time. Simultaneously, the acute toxicity to zooplankton Daphnia magna decreases. UV-B irradiation releases small, dissolved molecules that are toxic to Daphnia magna. The dissolved molecules include aminated alkyls, styrene remnants and secondary circularization products. The study shows that UV-B radiation can change the original toxicity of nanoplastics and release new toxic substances.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Environmental Science: Nano
volume
12
issue
2
pages
9 pages
publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
external identifiers
  • scopus:85215559588
ISSN
2051-8153
DOI
10.1039/d4en00795f
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Royal Society of Chemistry. All rights reserved.
id
633d3d24-f95d-48ec-8a8b-a71b6a273da5
date added to LUP
2025-04-04 08:43:24
date last changed
2025-06-27 22:57:30
@article{633d3d24-f95d-48ec-8a8b-a71b6a273da5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Fragmented micro- and nanoplastics are widespread pollutants with adverse effects on the environment. However, the breakdown process does not end with micro- and nanoplastics but is expected to continue until carbon dioxide has been formed. During this process the plastics will undergo chemical changes and small molecules may be released. We have broken down small amine-modified (∅53 nm) and carboxyl-modified (∅62 nm) polystyrene nanoparticles by UV-B irradiation during 100 days. We see a decreasing size and an oxidation of the nanoparticles over time. Simultaneously, the acute toxicity to zooplankton Daphnia magna decreases. UV-B irradiation releases small, dissolved molecules that are toxic to Daphnia magna. The dissolved molecules include aminated alkyls, styrene remnants and secondary circularization products. The study shows that UV-B radiation can change the original toxicity of nanoplastics and release new toxic substances.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ekvall, Mikael T. and Svensson, Raluca and García Martínez, Josep and Krais, Annette M. and Bernfur, Katja and Leiding, Thom and Lundqvist, Martin and Cedervall, Tommy}},
  issn         = {{2051-8153}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{1177--1185}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society of Chemistry}},
  series       = {{Environmental Science: Nano}},
  title        = {{UV-B degradation affects nanoplastic toxicity and leads to release of small toxic substances}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4en00795f}},
  doi          = {{10.1039/d4en00795f}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}