Plasticizer environmental fate

Predicting the environmental fate and movement of plasticizers is currently hampered by a lack of information. There is also a lack of monitoring data to assess nonpoint sources. The aqueous solubility - a fundamental environmental property - of two of the 23 plasticizers has not been determined. As noted in this chapter, many properties such as Henry s Law constants, vapor pressure, organic carbon-water partition coefficients, octanol-water partition coefficients, bioconcentration factors, and photooxidation rates in the atmosphere were estimated using stractural analog models, empirical relationships based on other chemicals. Both biodegradation and adsorption appear to be the major mechanisms that control the fate of plasticizers released into the environment. Despite the... 

Physicochemical properties and environmental fate data for selected plasticizers ... 

The environmental fate of plasticizers results from their chemical constitution. Most of them contain the ester group and thus the hydrolysis of ester bond is the main reaction in aqueous medium. According to Wolfe et al. [9] it appears that this reaction at pH 7 may be too slow and is negligible (the half-life time exceeds 100 days). 

The toxicity profile of the biocide is very important. Biocides that can be leached out of the plastic or bloom to the surface are an exposure risk to humans and the environment. Fish toxicity is also very important in pond and ditch liner applications. The environmental fate of the biocide must also be considered. It is desirable that the biocide is biodegradable and not persistent in the environment after it is done protecting the plastic. Extensive supporting documentation is required on the toxicity and environmental fate of any new product. 

In this chapter we are going to explore whether a deeper investigation of the environmental fate and ecotoxicity of substances, released during the biodegradation of polymers and plastics, is possible by applying the principles of the Enropean Regulation 1907/2006, called REACH Registration, Evaluation, Anthorisation and Restriction of Chemicals [11]. 

Knowledge of the environmental fate and ecotoxicological profile of intermediates released during biodegradation would obviously enable a better characterisation of the environmental behaviour of the overall biodegradable polymer (or plastic), and would confirm and strengthen any conclusion on the absence of ecotoxicological effects, as already inferred from the bioassays prescribed by the aforementioned standards. 

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Abstract Phthalates are chemicals that have been used for over 80 years in large quantities due to their wide range of applications, mainly in the plastic industry. For many years, these compounds were not considered dangerous for humans due to their low toxicity shown in the preliminary studies and their low persistence. However, research conducted in recent years has evidenced their activity as endocrine disrupters, and they are now considered as emerging contaminants and included in the priority list of dangerous substances in the legislation of many countries. This chapter provides an overview on the properties, major uses, emission sources, environmental and human levels, current legislation, behavior and fate of phthalates, and their metabolites, with special emphasis on their toxicity and human exposure. 

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