| 1. |
- Lithner, Delilah, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Acute toxicity of leachates from plastic polymer based (synthetic) textiles to Daphnia magna
- 2010
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Ingår i: Abstract book. SETAC Europe 20th annual meeting 23-27 May 2010, Seville, Science and Technology for Environmental Protection..
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Synthetic fibres, made from plastic polymers and additives, are replacing natural fibres in many textiles. A lot of chemicals are needed in the fibre and textile production and several are hazardous for human health and the environment. Chemicals are released mainly during the production phase, but also during the use phase (i.e. wearing and washing) and the disposal phase. The aim of this study was to investigate the release to water of toxic chemicals from plastic polymer based (synthetic) textiles. Altogether 22 unwashed synthetic textile products, mainly clothes and clothing fabrics, but also furniture and technical fabrics, were tested. The plastic polymers present were: PET (polyester), polyamide (nylon), polyacrylonitrile (acrylic), polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic polyurethane (elastane), PVC and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®). The textiles were leached in deionised water at 50 degrees C for 3 days, and the water phase was tested for acute toxicity to Daphnia magna. Since the chemicals in textiles are essentially unknown for the buyer, standardized bioassays with aquatic c organisms like D. magna have an important role in identifying toxic textiles, and the use of these bioassays is recommended as part of eco-labelling systems for textiles.
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| 2. |
- Lithner, Delilah, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Comparative acute toxicity of leachates from plastic products made of polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and epoxy to Daphnia magna.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Environmental science and pollution research international. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1614-7499 .- 0944-1344. ; 19:5, s. 1763-1772
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: The large global production of plastics and their presence everywhere in the society and the environment create a need for assessing chemical hazards and risks associated with plastic products. The aims of this study were to determine and compare the toxicity of leachates from plastic products made of five plastics types and to identify the class of compounds that is causing the toxicity. METHODS: Selected plastic types were those with the largest global annual production, that is, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or those composed of hazardous monomers (e.g., PVC, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene [ABS], and epoxy). Altogether 26 plastic products were leached in deionized water (3days at 50°C), and the water phases were tested for acute toxicity to Daphnia magna. Initial Toxicity Identification Evaluations (C18 filtration and EDTA addition) were performed on six leachates. RESULTS: For eleven leachates (42%) 48-h EC50s (i.e the concentration that causes effect in 50 percent of the test organisms) were below the highest test concentration, 250 g plastic/L. All leachates from plasticized PVC (5/5) and epoxy (5/5) products were toxic (48-h EC50s ranging from 2 to 235g plastic/L). None of the leachates from polypropylene (5/5), ABS (5/5), and rigid PVC (1/1) products showed toxicity, but one of the five tested HDPE leachates was toxic (48-h EC50 17-24g plastic/L). Toxicity Identification Evaluations indicated that mainly hydrophobic organics were causing the toxicity and that metals were the main cause for one leachate (metal release was also confirmed by chemical analysis). CONCLUSIONS: Toxic chemicals leached even during the short-term leaching in water, mainly from plasticized PVC and epoxy products.
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| 3. |
- Lithner, Delilah, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Comparative acute toxicity of leachates from plastic products of PP, HDPE, PVC, ABS and epoxy
- 2010
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Ingår i: Abstract book. SETAC Europe 20th annual meeting 23-27 May 2010, Seville, Science and Technology for Environmental Protection..
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Plastic products can contain chemicals (additives and monomers) that are hazardous to human health and the environment. Some of them may leach during the use phase or the disposal phase which often includes dumping in oceans, land filling or littering. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute toxicity to Daphnia magna of chemicals leaching from plastic products made of five different plastic types. The tested plastic types were polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and epoxy. Altogether 26 plastic products were tested. Leaching was performed by diffusion in deionized water at 50 °C for three days, and the water phase was tested for acute toxicity to D. magna. Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) phase I was performed on toxic leachates.
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| 4. |
- Lithner, Delilah, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Environmental and health hazard ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition
- 2010
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Ingår i: Abstract book. SETAC Europe 20th annual meeting 23-27 May 2010, Seville, Science and Technology for Environmental Protection..
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The large material group of plastics, with its continuously growing global production, offers many benefits to the society, but unfortunately also drawbacks. During the production phase large amounts of chemicals are needed that mostly are derived from fossil fuels. Several of these are also hazardous for human health and the environment and may be released during the production, use and disposal of the plastic product. The aim of this study was to provide guidance for distinguishing between plastic polymers made of more or less environmentally friendly substances and to identify the need for substitution of polymers and/or chemical substances used in polymer production. A hazard ranking model for environmental and human health hazard classifications was developed and applied to more than 50 plastic polymer types, representing both thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Hazard ranking models, as the one in this study, can be a useful tool for comparing substances, mixtures or articles that can be used in hazard or risk assessment.
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| 5. |
- Lithner, Delilah, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Environmental and health hazard ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition
- 2011
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Ingår i: Science of The Total Environment. - 0048-9697. ; 409:18, s. 3309-3324
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plastics constitute a large material group with a global annual production that has doubled in 15 years (245 million tonnes in 2008). Plastics are present everywhere in society and the environment, especially the marine environment, where large amounts of plastic waste accumulate. The knowledge of human and environmental hazards and risks from chemicals associated with the diversity of plastic products is very limited. Most chemicals used for producing plastic polymers are derived from non-renewable crude oil, and several are hazardous. These may be released during the production, use and disposal of the plastic product. In this study the environmental and health hazards of chemicals used in 55 thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers were identified and compiled. A hazard ranking model was developed for the hazard classes and categories in the EU classification and labelling (CLP) regulation which is based on the UN Globally Harmonized System. The polymers were ranked based on monomer hazard classifications, and initial assessments were made. The polymers that ranked as most hazardous are made of monomers classified as mutagenic and/or carcinogenic (category 1A or 1B). These belong to the polymer families of polyurethanes, polyacrylonitriles, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy resins, and styrenic copolymers. All have a large global annual production (1–37 million tonnes). A considerable number of polymers (31 out of 55) are made of monomers that belong to the two worst of the ranking model's five hazard levels, i.e. levels IV–V. The polymers that are made of level IV monomers and have a large global annual production (1–5 million tonnes) are phenol formaldehyde resins, unsaturated polyesters, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, and urea-formaldehyde resins. This study has identified hazardous substances used in polymer production for which the risks should be evaluated for decisions on the need for risk reduction measures, substitution, or even phase out.
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| 6. |
- Lithner, Delilah, 1973
(författare)
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Environmental and health hazards of chemicals in plastic polymers and products
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Plastics are extremely diverse in terms of chemical composition, properties and possible applications, and are widely distributed in the society and the environment. In the last 15 years the global annual production has doubled, reaching 245 million tons in 2008. Several of the chemicals used to produce plastics are hazardous for human health and the environment. These, and their degradation products, may be released during the life cycle of a plastic product. The plastic polymers are not considered as toxic, but in plastic products there may be non-bound residual monomers, polymerisation chemicals, degradation products, and additives which have toxic properties. The overall aim of this thesis, which is based on five papers [I-V], was to study the environmental and health hazards of chemicals in plastic polymers and products. Leaching tests, toxicity tests and Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIEs) were made on plastic products [I, II], synthetic textiles [III], and discarded electronic products [IV]. A hazard ranking model was developed and used to rank plastic polymers based on monomer composition and environmental and health hazard classifications [V]. Also other hazardous substances needed to produce each polymer were identified [V]. Substances causing acute toxicity to Daphnia magna (water flee) leached from one third of all 83 plastic products/textiles even during short term (1-3 d) leaching in deionised water [I-III]. The toxic leachates came mainly from products that were soft to semi-soft, i.e. plasticised PVC (11/13) and polyurethane (3/4), and from epoxy products (5/5), and from synthetic textiles made of various plastic fibres [I-III]. The electronic product leachates that were acutely toxic came from mixed material and metal components, and not from plastics components. TIEs, performed on some leachates, indicated that the major toxicants were hydrophobic organics for the plastic product and synthetic textile leachates [I-III], and metals for the electronic product leachates [IV]. The polymers ranked as most hazardous are made of monomers classified as mutagenic and/or carcinogenic (category 1A or 1B). These belong to the polymer families of polyurethanes, polyacrylonitriles, PVC, epoxy resins, and styrenic copolymers (ABS, SAN and HIPS), and have a large global production (1-37 million tons/year). A considerable number of polymers, 31 out of 55, are made of monomers that belong to the two highest of the ranking model’s five hazard levels [V]. Examples of such polymers, with a large global production (1-5 million tons/year), are phenol formaldehyde resins, unsaturated polyesters, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, and ureaformaldehyde resins [V]. The ranking model was useful for identifying and comparing hazardous substances, and the results from the hazard identification can be used for further hazard and risk assessment for decisions on the need for risk reduction measures, substitution or phase out. In conclusion, considering the extensive dispersion in the society and the environment, the growing production, and the release and use of many hazardous chemicals, it is important to further assess the risks of chemicals associated with plastic polymers and products.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Lithner, Delilah, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Toxicity of Electronic Waste Leachates to Daphnia magna: Screening and Toxicity Identification Evaluation of Different Products, Components, and Materials.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-0703 .- 0090-4341. ; 62:4, s. 579-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Electronic waste has become one of the fastest growing waste problems in the world. It contains both toxic metals and toxic organics. The aim of this study was to (1) investigate to what extent toxicants can leach from different electronic products, components, and materials into water and (2) identify which group of toxicants (metals or hydrophobic organics) that is causing toxicity. Components from five discarded electronic products (cell phone, computer, phone modem, keyboard, and computer mouse) were leached in deionised water for 3days at 23°C in concentrations of 25g/l for metal components, 50g/l for mixed-material components, and 100g/l for plastic components. The water phase was tested for acute toxicity to Daphnia magna. Eighteen of 68 leachates showed toxicity (with immobility of D. magna≥50% after 48h) and came from metal or mixed-material components. The 8 most toxic leachates, with 48h EC(50)s ranging from 0.4 to 20g/l, came from 2 circuit sheets (key board), integrated drive electronics (IDE) cable clips (computer), metal studs (computer), a circuit board (computer mouse), a cord (phone modem), mixed parts (cell phone), and a circuit board (key board). All 5 electronic products were represented among them. Toxicity identification evaluations (with C18 and CM resins filtrations and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid addition) indicated that metals caused the toxicity in the majority of the most toxic leachates. Overall, this study has shown that electronic waste can leach toxic compounds also during short-term leaching with pure water.
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