Recycling of plastic waste: Presence of phthalates in plastics from households and industryShow others and affiliations
2016 (English)In: Waste Management, ISSN 0956-053X, E-ISSN 1879-2456, Vol. 54, p. 44-52Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Plastics recycling has the potential to substitute virgin plastics partially as a source of raw materials in plastic product manufacturing. Plastic as a material may contain a variety of chemicals, some potentially hazardous. Phthalates, for instance, are a group of chemicals produced in large volumes and are commonly used as plasticisers in plastics manufacturing. Potential impacts on human health require restricted use in selected applications and a need for the closer monitoring of potential sources of human exposure. Although the presence of phthalates in a variety of plastics has been recognised, the influence of plastic recycling on phthalate content has been hypothesised but not well documented. In the present work we analysed selected phthalates (DMP, DEP, DPP, DiBP, DBP, BBzP, DEHP, DCHP and DnOP) in samples of waste plastics as well as recycled and virgin plastics. DBP, DiBP and DEHP had the highest frequency of detection in the samples analysed, with 360 μg/g, 460 μg/g and 2700 μg/g as the maximum measured concentrations, respectively. Among other, statistical analysis of the analytical results suggested that phthalates were potentially added in the later stages of plastic product manufacturing (labelling, gluing, etc.) and were not removed following recycling of household waste plastics. Furthermore, DEHP was identified as a potential indicator for phthalate contamination of plastics. Close monitoring of plastics intended for phthalates-sensitive applications is recommended if recycled plastics are to be used as raw material in production.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2016. Vol. 54, p. 44-52
Keywords [en]
Waste Management and Disposal, Compositional data, Contaminants, Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), Quality recycling, Solid waste, Chemicals, Elastomers, Endocrine disrupters, Esters, Impurities, Manufacture, Plastic products, Plastics applications, Potassium compounds, Recycling, Solid wastes, Solvents, Analytical results, Endocrine disrupting chemicals, Plastics manufacturing, Plastics recycling, Potential indicators, Product manufacturing, Sensitive application, Plastics industry
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Research subject
Natural Science, Environmental Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-66638DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2016.05.014OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-66638DiVA, id: diva2:1120071
2017-07-052017-07-052017-11-10Bibliographically approved