Researchers probe hidden risks in plastic additives

Researchers at Estonia’s Institute of Chemical and Biological Physics are testing whether replacement plasticisers are safer than the substances they replaced, ERR reports. The scientists are also developing a method to track microplastics in water.

Plastic contains more than its polymer base: each type usually includes around 20 additives, introduced accidentally, during production or for a specific purpose. A recent review linked more than 16,000 additives to plastic materials; senior researcher Margit Heinlaan said more than 90% were classified as hazardous or had no official hazard classification.

The researchers first focused on plasticisers, which make plastic flexible and have included many toxic compounds. Although banned plasticisers have been replaced at a rapid pace for about a decade, Heinlaan said it remains unclear whether the alternatives are safer or whether the risk of harmful biological effects persists.

The team tests the effects of new substances on water fleas, which serve as model organisms. Researcher Meeri Visnapuu said the tests stop the animals’ metabolism and kill them, providing information about how the chemicals harm aquatic and terrestrial organisms.

Junior researcher Yemi Ayankunle Ayankoya is developing a laboratory method to collect microplastic particles from different stages of wastewater treatment, as well as from groundwater and drinking water. The three-day process produces material for detailed examination under a microscope.

The research aims to help prevent the particles from entering bodies of water and the wider environment. It will also provide data on how well wastewater treatment plants remove them and support the development of systems to stop their release.

Heinlaan said potential health and environmental effects should be considered from the beginning when developing any material.