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Circular economy without chemicals controls? Evidence of recirculated toxic plasticizers in flexible PVC products
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Document Title
Circular economy without chemicals controls? Evidence of recirculated toxic plasticizers in flexible PVC products
Author
Ramungul N. Boontongkong Y. Viwatthanasittiphong P. Chuayrueng N. Temtanapat Y. Koonhorm S. Ausavanonkulporn A.
Affiliations
Environment Research Group National Metal and Materials Technology Center National Science and Technology Development Agency Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand; Department of Computer Science Faculty of Science and Technology Thammasat University Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand
Type
Article
Source Title
Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment
ISSN
27715949
Year
2023
Volume
2
Issue
1
Open Access
All Open Access Gold
Publisher
OAE Publishing Inc.
DOI
10.20517/jeea.2022.081601
Abstract
The global push towards a circular economy (CE) has led to increasing efforts to improve resource utilization efficiency including plastics recycling. However the presence of additives especially those that are toxic complicates plastics recycling in several ways. Without sufficient controls the spread of hazardous additives via recycling activities represents a significant public health challenge particularly among developing nations. This study demonstrates evidence of such uncontrolled recycling based on an investigation of four household flexible PVC product groups available in Thailand. A versatile pyrolysis/thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py/TD-GC-MS) method was employed to simultaneously screen 18 target plasticizers in these products. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) are the most frequently detected primary plasticizers. DEHP is dominant in vinyl boots flooring sheets and hoses while DINP is dominant in cable sheaths likely due to a spill-over effect from the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are secondary plasticizers that are also detected in most samples except for boots. The other plasticizers detected include other ortho-phthalates and non-phthalates. These results provide insight into combinatory patterns of plasticizer 慶ocktails� that comprise restricted as-yet-unrestricted and non-restricted plasticizers embedded in the same individual samples with a maximum of seven plasticizers found in a single cable sheath. These findings indicate the existence of potentially risky recycling practices that target embedded plasticizers to save cost without due consideration of their inherent toxicity. Proper interventions are necessary to ensure that CE and chemical safety can be synergized. ? The Author(s) 2023.
License
CC BY
Rights
Authors
Publication Source
Scopus