Issue 2, 2022

Release of microplastic fibres and fragmentation to billions of nanoplastics from period products: preliminary assessment of potential health implications

Abstract

Health effects related to the plastic content of disposable period products have not been recognized or scientifically addressed. To begin to understand their potential impact on the environment and human health, this study employed standardised in vitro tests (Syngina), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confocal Raman microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) to characterize the bulk chemical composition of different components in period products, and quantified the amount of fibres released using in vitro experiments, and measured their fragmentation into smaller particles (nanoplastics) under conditions that mimic vaginal fluids. It was found that 12 out of 24 of the tested products contain synthetic polymers (plastics) that would be in direct contact with the vaginal wall when in use. Many of the products released fibres during in vitro tests and also fragmented to release up to 17 billion nanoplastics per tampon. These micro fibres and nanoplastics could be released into the environment upon disposal. The health implications within the body are unknown, but due to the large quantity of nano size plastics being released, public health concern could manifest in three ways: from the nanoplastics themeselves, from release of contaminants adsorbed to the nanoplastics and finally, from leaching of additives associated with the production of the plastics.

Graphical abstract: Release of microplastic fibres and fragmentation to billions of nanoplastics from period products: preliminary assessment of potential health implications

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Aug 2021
Accepted
21 Dec 2021
First published
22 Dec 2021

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2022,9, 606-620

Release of microplastic fibres and fragmentation to billions of nanoplastics from period products: preliminary assessment of potential health implications

L. P. Munoz, A. G. Baez, D. Purchase, H. Jones and H. Garelick, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2022, 9, 606 DOI: 10.1039/D1EN00755F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements