Quantifying the effects of chlorine disinfection on microplastics by time-resolved inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Using current water treatment systems, significant amounts of microplastics (MPs) are passing through and being released into the aquatic environment. However, we do not clearly know what effects disinfection processes have had on these particles. In this study, we applied inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operating in time-resolved analysis (TRA) mode for quantifying changes in the chlorine (Cl) content of MPs under a variety of water treatment scenarios.

Hybrid radical coupling during MnO-mediated transformation of a mixture of organic UV filters: Chemistry and toxicity assessment.

Manganese oxide (MnO) is one of the most abundant metal oxides, and it is renowned for its ability to degrade various phenolic micropollutants. However, under MnO-mediated transformation, BP-3 transforms into 12 different radical-coupled transformation products (TPs) out of 15 identified TPs. These radical-coupled TPs are reported with adverse environmental impacts.

Comparative physicochemical properties and toxicity of organic UV filters and their photocatalytic transformation products.

Transformation products (TPs) of micropollutants contaminating our water resources have become an emerging issue due to the potential threats they pose to environmental and human health. This study investigated the transformation chemistry, toxicity, physicochemical properties and environmental behavior resulting from photocatalytic transformation of organic UV filters as model micropollutants. 3-Benzylidene camphor (3-BC), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HB) and octocrylene (OC) were effectively degraded by UV-A/TiO treatment, with TPs identified and characterized with high resolution mass spectrometry.

Risks of organic UV filters: a review of environmental and human health concern studies.

Organic UV filters are compounds that absorb UV irradiation by their highly conjugated structure. With the developing consciousness over the last century of the skin damage UV radiation can cause, the demand for organic UV filters has risen, for use not only in sunscreens, but also in other personal care products. The massive production and usage of these organic UV filters has resulted in extensive release into the aquatic environment, and thereby making an important group of emerging contaminants.