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Persistent, mobile, and toxic plastic additives in Canada: properties and prioritization.
Eric Fries1, Tanjot Grewal1,2, Roxana Sühring1
1Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada. roxana.suehring@ryerson.ca.
Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts
|September 30, 2022
Summary
Many plastic additives are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT). This study found over half of registered PMT plastic additives show poor removal in wastewater treatment, identifying key properties for screening.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Toxicology
- Water Treatment Technology
Background:
- Plastic additives pose risks to human and environmental health.
- Persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) additives are a growing concern due to their poor removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the removal efficiency of PMT plastic additives in WWTPs using in silico methods.
- To identify physical-chemical properties and structural features associated with low retention of PMT plastic additives.
Main Methods:
- Performed an in silico analysis using the SimpleTreat model to predict the retention of registered PMT plastic additives in Canada.
- Defined ranges for log K_aw, log K_ow/D_ow, and log K_oc/D_oc indicative of low retention.
Main Results:
- Identified 124 PMT plastic additives, with 52% predicted to have less than 20% removal in WWTPs.
- Established specific ranges for physical-chemical properties linked to poor retention.
- Found non-halogenated, nitrogen-containing PMT additives are most likely to be poorly retained.
Conclusions:
- The study provides screening and prioritization criteria for identifying PMT plastic additives with low WWTP removal.
- A suspect list of PMT plastic additives prone to environmental release was generated.
- Highlights the need for targeted strategies to manage PMT plastic additives in water.
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