Degradation of polyethylene microplastics in seawater: Insights into the environmental degradation of polymers
- Da Costa, Joao P.
- Nunes, Ana R.
- Santos, Patrícia S. M.
- Girao, Ana V.
- Duarte, Armando C.
- Rocha-Santos, Teresa
DOIAbstract
Microplastic contamination of aquatic environments has become an increasingly alarming problem. These, defined as particles <5 mm, are mostly formed due to the cracking and embrittlement of larger plastic particles. Recent reports show that the increasing presence of microplastics in the environment could have significant deleterious consequences over the health of marine organisms, but also across the food chain. Herein, we have studied the effects of artificial seawater on polyethylene (PE)-based beads by exposing them up to eight weeks to saltwater in stirred batch reactors in the dark and examined the structural and morphological changes these endured. Electron microscopy observations showed that artificial seawater induces severe micro...
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