TY - JOUR
T1 - Residual additives in marine microplastics and their risk assessment – A critical review
AU - Fauser, Patrik
AU - Vorkamp, Katrin
AU - Strand, Jakob
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the risk assessment of plastic-associated residual additives, i.e. residual monomers, degradation products and additives, in the marine environment, also considering effects of weathering and bioavailability. Experimental studies have found a number of organic and metal additive compounds in leachates from plastics, and the analysis of weathered plastic particles, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene particles sampled on beaches and shorelines, has identified residual additives, such as flame retardants, plasticizers, UV stabilizers and antioxidants. While the transfer of e.g. PBDEs to organisms upon ingestion has been demonstrated, studies on uptake and bioaccumulation of plastic-associated chemicals are inconclusive. Studies on hazard and risk assessments are few, and focus on monomers and/or a limited number of high concentration additives, such as phthalates and flame retardants. The risk assessment results vary between low, moderate and high risks of specific additives, and are not necessarily consistent for the same compound. Given the large number of chemicals potentially introduced into the marine environment with plastic particles and the challenges associated with the correct quantification of exposure concentrations and toxicity thresholds, the question arises whether new risk assessment concepts may be needed.
AB - This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the risk assessment of plastic-associated residual additives, i.e. residual monomers, degradation products and additives, in the marine environment, also considering effects of weathering and bioavailability. Experimental studies have found a number of organic and metal additive compounds in leachates from plastics, and the analysis of weathered plastic particles, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene particles sampled on beaches and shorelines, has identified residual additives, such as flame retardants, plasticizers, UV stabilizers and antioxidants. While the transfer of e.g. PBDEs to organisms upon ingestion has been demonstrated, studies on uptake and bioaccumulation of plastic-associated chemicals are inconclusive. Studies on hazard and risk assessments are few, and focus on monomers and/or a limited number of high concentration additives, such as phthalates and flame retardants. The risk assessment results vary between low, moderate and high risks of specific additives, and are not necessarily consistent for the same compound. Given the large number of chemicals potentially introduced into the marine environment with plastic particles and the challenges associated with the correct quantification of exposure concentrations and toxicity thresholds, the question arises whether new risk assessment concepts may be needed.
KW - Bioavailability
KW - Chemicals
KW - Degradation products
KW - Leaching
KW - Monomer residuals
KW - Weathering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126555887&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113467
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113467
M3 - Review
C2 - 35314391
AN - SCOPUS:85126555887
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 177
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
M1 - 113467
ER -