Microplastics release precursors of chlorinated and brominated disinfection byproducts in water
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Date
2020-03-09
Authors
Ateia, Mohamed
Kanan, Amer
Karanfil, Tanju
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent global pollutants that are being detected in aquatic ecosystems and
drinking water sources around the world. In addition to plastic polymers, MPs contain various chemical
substances (known as “additives”) that can leach and risk water quality. In this paper, we investigated for
the first time the potential release of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) precursors when MPs are exposed to
hydrolysis and/or degradation by simulated sunlight. Seventeen MPs with seven different polymer types
were collected either as commercial products (e.g. drinking water bottles, shopping bags, recycled
plastics, etc.) or pure/virgin polymers. Results showed high release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
from five MP samples and a significant increase in bromide concentrations from four MPs. DBPs formation
potential (DBPFP) experiments with MPs’ leachates showed higher concentrations of chlorinated
trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), and total organic halogens (TOX) in three samples,
while a significant shift to brominated DBPs was observed in samples containing bromide. Extending the
leaching experiments to four consecutive cycles showed that the leaching of DOC and DBPs’ precursor
significantly decreased after the second leaching cycle. Further analysis revealed that the reactivity of the
leached DOC e indicated by THMFP yields e was comparable to those of several raw waters that supply
drinking water treatment plants. The leached THMs and TOX from MPs that were exposed to UVA
irradiation were in general higher than MPs that were run under dark conditions.
Description
Keywords
Microplatics , Additives , Disinfection byproducts , BromideHydrolysis , UVA irradiation