Exposure of microplastics to organic matter in waters enhances microplastic encapsulation into calcium carbonate

Drinking Boiled Tap Water Reduces Human Intake of Nanoplastics and Microplastics

“…This may be attributed to the presence of negative surface charges (Figure 2e,f) on both bare-PS and carboxyl-PS, which attracts Ca 2+ and accelerates nucleation and growth of CaCO 3 crystals. 18 On the contrary, positive surface charges on amino-PS at the initial stage (Figure 2e,f) would resist crystal nucleation and aggregation of PS particles. When the water temperature increased, the zeta potential of the positively charged amino-PS decreased, and the water system could overcome the energy barrier and generate charge reversal (Figure 2e,f).…”

“…During the heating process (25–90 °C), the precipitation efficiencies of bare-PS and carboxyl-PS were mostly higher than those of amino-PS for both 1 and 0.1 μm sizes (Figure c,d). This may be attributed to the presence of negative surface charges (Figure e,f) on both bare-PS and carboxyl-PS, which attracts Ca 2+ and accelerates nucleation and growth of CaCO 3 crystals . On the contrary, positive surface charges on amino-PS at the initial stage (Figure e,f) would resist crystal nucleation and aggregation of PS particles.…”

“…Nanoplastics become encapsulated in CaCO 3 polymorphs (i.e., calcite, aragonite, and vaterite) during crystal growth (Figure c). The zeta potential decreases as strong Brownian motion increases the particle collision frequency (Figure e,f), and most NPs are attracted to the growing CaCO 3 crystal planes leading to heteroaggregation between NPs and CaCO 3 crystals. , When the growth of CaCO 3 crystals is complete, attracted NPs are continuously encapsulated by newly generated CaCO 3 crystals (Figure c) . Some NPs may deposit into immature CaCO 3 crystals directly before full crystal growth is complete.…”

Coextruded polylactide/encapsulated cinnamon essential oil/graphene nanoplatelets trilayer films: Morphological, barrier, thermal, rheological and antimicrobial properties

“…Furthermore, the creation of microplastics due to their continued fragmentation and release to the environment has been reported to be reached and incorporated into our bodies via the consumption of marine foods and through the food chain via trophic transfer, resulting in severe health hazards. [1][2][3][4] Due to strong public opinion and stricter environmental legislation against single-use plastic films for their negative impact on the environment and society, food industries are forced to reduce their use of nonbiodegradable fossil plastic packaging and search for alternative biodegradable films.…”

“…However, the omnipresent status of plastic waste identified as white pollution, including contamination in the deep ocean, the ice blocks of the Antarctic region, and the Swiss Alps, contributes to the disbalances of the ecosystem and its overall impact on climate change. Furthermore, the creation of microplastics due to their continued fragmentation and release to the environment has been reported to be reached and incorporated into our bodies via the consumption of marine foods and through the food chain via trophic transfer, resulting in severe health hazards 1–4 . Due to strong public opinion and stricter environmental legislation against single‐use plastic films for their negative impact on the environment and society, food industries are forced to reduce their use of nonbiodegradable fossil plastic packaging and search for alternative biodegradable films.…”