Persistent, mobile, and toxic plastic additives in Canada: properties and prioritization

Abstract

The hazards of many plastic additives on human and environmental health are well documented. However, little emphasis has been put on plastic additives that are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT)...

Dynamic Source Distribution and Emission Inventory of a Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic (PMT) Substance, Melamine, in China

“…This is also a potential source of uncertainty. However, despite the existence of various wastewater treatment processes, the literature indicated that melamine was hardly biodegraded in STP and was mainly removed by activated sludge adsorption. , Moreover, the latest SimpleTreat model screening showed that nearly 77.5% of melamine in STP entered the environment from effluent . Based on these reports, the EFs of melamine in STP selected in this study had good reliability, and the parameter sensitivity analysis also demonstrated that they had little impact on the estimated results.…”

“…25,67 Moreover, the latest SimpleTreat model screening showed that nearly 77.5% of melamine in STP entered the environment from effluent. 49 Based on these reports, the EFs of melamine in STP selected in this study had good reliability, and the parameter sensitivity analysis also demonstrated that they had little impact on the estimated results. We acknowledge that this study does not contain a complete picture of melamine emissions to the environment but rather quantifies emissions that were associated with the direct production and use of melamine.…”

“…Melamine is mostly employed in commercial products in the form of resins . For a series of excellent characteristics including flame retardancy, moisture-proof, and insulation, melamine resins are widely used in various consumer products, such as surface decorative panels, adhesives, coatings, and molding compounds. , Melamine is also widely used as a wet-strength agent for paper, a flame retardant for textiles, and a high-efficiency water reducing agent for concrete. , It has been detected in building products, tableware, childcare facilities, and infant clothing. , Available studies show that melamine could hardly be removed in the wastewater treatment systems, and a large fraction emitted via water would be released into the environment . However, the current research on the emissions of melamine and other PMT substances is still in its infancy, − with limited to no quantitative understandings …”

Managing PMT/vPvM substances in consumer products through the concepts of essential-use and functional substitution: a case-study for cosmetics

“…Previous studies ranked PMT/vPvM substances based on their emission potential to the environment 43 or their mobility through waste water treatments. 44 Half of the PMT/vPvM substances identied in the CosIng database are listed on these prioritisation lists (Table SI2.1 †). This emphasises that, whilst we selected the most frequently occurring PMT/vPvM substances in cosmetics based on data from Kemiluppen and Cosmethics, many other relevant substances, uses and consequent emissions need to be addressed in future studies.…”

Ranking the accelerated weathering of plastic polymers

“…12 Understanding the environmental degradation of plastics is essential to understanding the risks posed by plastic litter, and how this varies depending on the polymer in question. Environmental degradation can release hazardous chemicals added to plastics, such as ame-retardants, stabilizers or plasticizers, 13,14 and enhance the sorption of hazardous pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), e.g., Udenby et al 15 Several weathering processes affect environmental plastics: biodegradation, photodegradation, thermo-oxidative degradation, thermal degradation, hydrolysis 16 and mechanical degradation (abrasion). Polymer degradation can be dened as depolymerisation, overall mass loss, or complete mineralization to CO 2 and H 2 O and involves both physical (related to the bulk structure) and chemical (molecular level) changes.…”