Plasticizer - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Plasticizers lead to some environmental risks because of their eventual toxicity and the propensity to migrate toward other neighboring materials that could induce discoloration, stress cracking, and fogging. In addition, one must be vigilant for regulations concerning contact with food and medical articles.
Plasticizers – Benefits, Trends, Health, and Environmental
Plasticizers are colorless and odorless esters, mainly phthalates, that increase the elasticity of a material (e.g., polyvinylchloride (PVC)). Plasticizers soften the PVC to make it flexible and bendable. This opens up a huge range of possibilities for new applications. One of the main benefits of plasticizers is the durability they confer onto
Diverging trends of plasticizers (phthalates and non
The fate of plasticizers can differ in indoor and aquatic environments, because environmental conditions are not comparable. The predominant fate of phthalates in aerobic aquatic environments is biodegradation [ 102 ], whereas losses in indoor environments caused by microbial degradation could only be demonstrated at elevated humidity [ 16 ].
Production, Use, and Fate of Phthalic Acid Esters
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are the most common plasticizers, approximately 90% of which are used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, but they are also endocrine disruptors that have attracted considerable attention. The metabolism of PAEs in PVC products in China from 1958 to 2025 was studied using dynamic material flow analysis.
Title: A Review on Plasticizers and Eco-Friendly
Plasticizers are chemical additives added into polymers to influence desirable mechanical properties such as processability and ductility. These properties are a result of the association of...
- Are plasticizers safe?
- There is also a lack of scientific data on most emerging plasticizers. This way, we call for increased research and timely regulatory action to prevent global contamination and health risks. Finally, this study presents a scientifically robust protocol to avoid harmful substitutions and ensure the production of safer chemicals.
- How do plasticizers affect polymers?
- Plasticizers can also affect other properties of polymers such as the degree of crystallinity, optical clarity, electric conductivity, fire behavior, and resistance to biological degradation. Poly (vinyl chloride) processing is by far the most important use of plasticizers, consuming over 80% of plasticizer production.
- Why do plasticizers need a better environmental profile?
- Therefore, there is a need for a better environmental profile for sustainability and the development of society (Rani et al. 2014, 2017 ). Plasticizers are low molecular weight (300–600 g mol −1) chemicals added to the polymer base within 10–70% of the weight of polymer during their manufacturing process.
- What research should be done about plasticizer degradation?
- Future research should focus on further elucidating the mechanisms of plasticizer degradation, investigating the metabolic pathways or enzymes involved in degradation by the identified bacterial genera, and conducting life cycle assessments of products containing plasticizers to better understand their overall environmental impacts.
- Can microbes mitigate plasticizers from the environment?
- This suggests that naturally occurring microbes are capable of mitigate the plasticizers from the environment. Changes in microbial communities and the fate of plasticizers in sediment offer important insights into the lasting environmental effects of microplastic contamination.
- Are emerging plasticizers a regrettable substitution?
- This review compiles available data on toxicity, exposure, environmental effects, and safe production of emerging plasticizers. It identifies gaps in scientific research and provides evidence that emerging plasticizers are potential cases of regrettable substitution.
