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Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials

[Image: see text] Increased demand for recycling plastic has prompted concerns regarding potential introduction of hazardous chemicals into recycled goods. We present a broad screening of chemicals in 21 plastic flake and pellet samples from Canadian recycling companies. From target analysis, the or...

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Autores principales: Chibwe, Leah, De Silva, Amila O., Spencer, Christine, Teixera, Camilla F., Williamson, Mary, Wang, Xiaowa, Muir, Derek C. G.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: American Chemical Society 2023
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9979653/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36787488
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c07254
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author Chibwe, Leah
De Silva, Amila O.
Spencer, Christine
Teixera, Camilla F.
Williamson, Mary
Wang, Xiaowa
Muir, Derek C. G.
author_facet Chibwe, Leah
De Silva, Amila O.
Spencer, Christine
Teixera, Camilla F.
Williamson, Mary
Wang, Xiaowa
Muir, Derek C. G.
author_sort Chibwe, Leah
collection PubMed
description [Image: see text] Increased demand for recycling plastic has prompted concerns regarding potential introduction of hazardous chemicals into recycled goods. We present a broad screening of chemicals in 21 plastic flake and pellet samples from Canadian recycling companies. From target analysis, the organophosphorus ester flame retardants and plasticizers exhibited the highest detection frequencies (DFs) (5–100%) and concentrations (<DL-4,700 ng/g), followed by brominated/chlorinated flame retardants (<DL-2,150 ng/g, 5–76% DFs). The perfluoroalkyl acids were least detected at the lowest concentrations (<0.01–0.70 ng/g, 5–19% DFs). Using nontargeted analysis, 217 chemicals were identified as Level 1 (authentic standard) or 2 (library match), with estimated individual concentrations up to 1030 ng/g (highest: 2-hexyl hydroxy benzoate, 100% DF). Total (Σ60) element concentrations were between 0.005 and 2,980 mg/kg, with highest concentrations for calcium (2,980 mg/kg), sodium (617 mg/kg), and iron (156 mg/kg). Collectively >280 chemicals were detected in recycled plastic pellets and flakes, suggesting potential incorporation into recycled goods. Individual concentrations indicate unintentional trace contamination following European Union threshold limits for recycled granules (500 mg/kg) and waste plastic flakes (1,000 mg/kg), although do not reflect toxicological thresholds, if any. Our study highlights that while recycling addresses sustainability goals, additional screening of goods and products made from recycled plastics is needed to fully document potentially hazardous chemicals and exposure.
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spelling pubmed-99796532023-03-03 Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials Chibwe, Leah De Silva, Amila O. Spencer, Christine Teixera, Camilla F. Williamson, Mary Wang, Xiaowa Muir, Derek C. G. Environ Sci Technol [Image: see text] Increased demand for recycling plastic has prompted concerns regarding potential introduction of hazardous chemicals into recycled goods. We present a broad screening of chemicals in 21 plastic flake and pellet samples from Canadian recycling companies. From target analysis, the organophosphorus ester flame retardants and plasticizers exhibited the highest detection frequencies (DFs) (5–100%) and concentrations (<DL-4,700 ng/g), followed by brominated/chlorinated flame retardants (<DL-2,150 ng/g, 5–76% DFs). The perfluoroalkyl acids were least detected at the lowest concentrations (<0.01–0.70 ng/g, 5–19% DFs). Using nontargeted analysis, 217 chemicals were identified as Level 1 (authentic standard) or 2 (library match), with estimated individual concentrations up to 1030 ng/g (highest: 2-hexyl hydroxy benzoate, 100% DF). Total (Σ60) element concentrations were between 0.005 and 2,980 mg/kg, with highest concentrations for calcium (2,980 mg/kg), sodium (617 mg/kg), and iron (156 mg/kg). Collectively >280 chemicals were detected in recycled plastic pellets and flakes, suggesting potential incorporation into recycled goods. Individual concentrations indicate unintentional trace contamination following European Union threshold limits for recycled granules (500 mg/kg) and waste plastic flakes (1,000 mg/kg), although do not reflect toxicological thresholds, if any. Our study highlights that while recycling addresses sustainability goals, additional screening of goods and products made from recycled plastics is needed to fully document potentially hazardous chemicals and exposure. American Chemical Society 2023-02-14 /pmc/articles/PMC9979653/ /pubmed/36787488 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c07254 Text en © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Permits the broadest form of re-use including for commercial purposes, provided that author attribution and integrity are maintained (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Chibwe, Leah
De Silva, Amila O.
Spencer, Christine
Teixera, Camilla F.
Williamson, Mary
Wang, Xiaowa
Muir, Derek C. G.
Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials
title Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials
title_full Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials
title_fullStr Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials
title_full_unstemmed Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials
title_short Target and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals and Metals in Recycled Plastic Materials
title_sort target and nontarget screening of organic chemicals and metals in recycled plastic materials
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9979653/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36787488
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c07254
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