Plasticizers – Benefits, Trends, Health, and Environmental Issues
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.
Microplastics are everywhere — but are they harmful? - Nature
The larger microplastics are more likely to exert negative effects, if any, through chemical toxicity. Manufacturers add compounds such as plasticizers, stabilizers and pigments to plastics, and
Plasticizer - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Plasticisers are compounds which increase the plasticity of a material and are often involved in the production of plastic products/packaging, epoxy resins (coating cans for food and beverage), water pipe lining, thermal printing paper, implanted medical devices and in the production of CDs and DVDs, mobile phones, plastic food containers, eye
How Green is Your Plasticizer? - ResearchGate
The multitude of issues plaguing current plasticizers, such as poor safety, long biodegradation times, leaching and limited activity [12], have driven the need for more effective, environmentally
Plasticizer metabolites in the environment - ScienceDirect
The most common plasticizer is di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) whose production is estimated at 1.4 million tonnes per year (Bauer and Herrmann, 1997). It has been demonstrated that plasticizers tend to leach from solid polymer matrices into the environment (Fromme et al., 2002).
- 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.
- Are plasticizers bad for the environment?
- Similarly, soil and sediment contamination studies were fewer, with only 11 studies focusing on sediments. These studies reveal that high plasticizer concentrations, notably in industrial and urban areas, often exceed recommended environmental limits, posing risks to ecological integrity and human health through bioaccumulation.
- How do plasticizers work?
- Plasticizers are products of complex chemical species inserted between molecules of polymers. They are stable and insoluble in liquids and assist molecules by softening and making them more flexible and mobile while decreasing friction and viscosity .
- How do plastic additives affect the environment?
- Environmental releases of plastic additives may also have a wide range of negative impacts on ecosystems. For example, plastic additives have been shown to cause toxic effects on aquatic organisms, soil microorganisms and plants, which can disturb the ecological balance and affect biodiversity (Sridharan et al., 2022; Luo et al., 2022).
- Are plasticizers toxic to marine life?
- Plasticizers are essential additives in the plastic industry, but their current formulations are highly toxic to marine life, which arguably suffers the most from plastic waste pollution.
- 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.
