Plasticizers – Benefits, Trends, Health, and Environmental Issues
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 PVC applications, which can ensure high performances for up to 50 years.
Diverging trends of plasticizers (phthalates and non-phthalates)
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 ].
THE ENVIRONMENTAL FATE OF PLASTICIZERS - ResearchGate
Download Citation | On Jan 1, 2025, William R. Roy published THE ENVIRONMENTAL FATE OF PLASTICIZERS | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate
CSIRO PUBLISHING | Environmental Chemistry
Environmental context Many human activities cause the release of plastic and associated plasticisers to land, where chemicals may persist for extended periods and be taken up by organisms. However, quantitative information of the terrestrial occurrence, fate and exposure of phthalate and non-phthalate plasticisers is lacking. Research into this field is needed, especially as society moves away
How Green is Your Plasticizer? - ResearchGate
Plasticizers are additives that are used to impart flexibility to polymer blends and improve their processability. Plasticizers are typically not covalently bound to the polymers, allowing them...
- How big is the global plasticizer market?
- The global plasticizer market is projected to increase from $17 billion in 2022 to $22.5 billion in 2027. Various emerging/alternative plasticizers entered the market following the ban on several phthalate plasticizers because of their harmful effects. However, there are limited data (especially peer-reviewe 2024 Green Chemistry Reviews
- How do plasticizers affect the environment?
- Human and environmental exposure to plasticizers can occur in different ways. The most prevalent causes of these exposures include point-source pollution from plasticizer manufacturing or plastic formulation, and leaching, migration and evaporation of plasticizers.
- Are emerging/alternative plasticizers harmful?
- Various emerging/alternative plasticizers entered the market following the ban on several phthalate plasticizers because of their harmful effects. However, there are limited data (especially peer-reviewed) on emerging plasticizers’ toxicity and environmental impact.
- 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.
- What makes a good plasticizer?
- Ideal plasticizers should be highly compatible with polymers, stable in both high and low temperature environments, sufficiently lubricating over a wide temperature range, insensitive to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, leaching and migration resistant, inexpensive and should fulfill health and safety regulations.
- 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.
