Issue 1, 2016

Implications of observed PBDE diffusion coefficients in low density polyethylene and silicone rubber

Abstract

A film-stacking technique was used to estimate diffusion coefficients of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in low density polyethylene (LDPE) and silicone rubber. Substantially higher PBDE diffusion coefficients were observed for silicone rubber (AlteSil™) than for LDPE. A much steeper decrease in LDPE diffusion coefficients was found with increasing PBDE molecular weight than that for silicone rubber. From a passive sampling point-of-view, this means that for equivalent polymer–water partition coefficients for these two materials, the mass transfer resistance for these substances in the LDPE will be significantly higher than that for silicone rubber. Boundary layer control of the uptake process for silicone rubber can be expected for PBDEs. With a microplastic perspective, the low diffusion coefficients of PBDEs and in particular of decabromo diphenyl ether (BDE 209) in LDPE imply that the polymer diffusion coefficients for these plastic additives used as flame retardants need to be taken into account when considering the risk posed by microplastic particle ingestion by marine organisms.

Graphical abstract: Implications of observed PBDE diffusion coefficients in low density polyethylene and silicone rubber

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 out 2015
Accepted
30 nov 2015
First published
18 dez 2015

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016,18, 87-94

Author version available

Implications of observed PBDE diffusion coefficients in low density polyethylene and silicone rubber

J. F. Narváez Valderrama, K. Baek, F. J. Molina and I. J. Allan, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016, 18, 87 DOI: 10.1039/C5EM00507H

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