Chen Huier, Xu Liheng, Yu Kuai, Wei Fang, Zhang Ming
Department of Environmental Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2023 Jan 1;854:158606. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158606. Epub 2022 Sep 9.
Global concern over microplastics (MPs) is increasing because of the potential threat these substances pose to ecosystem and human health. Disposable cups, frequently used as containers of beverages, are typically made of plastic or plastic-coated paper. The release of MPs from disposable cups during use may provide a direct exposure pathway for humans. In this study, the MP release capacities of 90 batches of commercial disposable cups, including polyethylene (PE)-coated paper cups, polypropylene (PP) cups, and polystyrene (PS) cups, were investigated under daily use conditions, and the properties of released MP particles are characterized with Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The MPs release into containing beverages is detected for each of the tested cups in this study. The released MPs particles are in irregular shapes and dominantly smaller than 20 μm. The quantities of released MPs are in the range of 675-5984, 781-4951, and 838-5215 particles/L for PE-coated paper cups, PP cups and PS cups, respectively, when containing pure water at 95 °C for 20 min. No significant difference in the quantity of MP released is observed among the three types of the cups in the experimental conditions. High temperature is found to promote the release of MPs from disposable cups. The MP release is notable when the cups are used for a second time, although at a slightly lower level than the first use. Acidic carbonated beverages obviously enhance MP release from PE-coated cups over that of ultrapure water.
由于微塑料（MPs）对生态系统和人类健康构成潜在威胁，全球对其的关注度日益增加。一次性杯子常被用作饮料容器，通常由塑料或涂塑纸制成。一次性杯子在使用过程中释放微塑料可能为人类提供直接接触途径。在本研究中，对90批次的商用一次性杯子（包括聚乙烯（PE）涂层纸杯、聚丙烯（PP）杯和聚苯乙烯（PS）杯）在日常使用条件下的微塑料释放能力进行了研究，并用拉曼光谱、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和原子力显微镜（AFM）对释放的微塑料颗粒的特性进行了表征。本研究检测了每个测试杯子中微塑料向盛装饮料中的释放情况。释放的微塑料颗粒形状不规则，主要小于20μm。当在95℃下盛装纯水20分钟时，PE涂层纸杯、PP杯和PS杯释放的微塑料数量分别在675 - 5984、781 - 4951和838 - 5215颗粒/升范围内。在实验条件下，三种类型的杯子之间微塑料释放量没有显著差异。发现高温会促进一次性杯子中微塑料的释放。杯子第二次使用时微塑料释放量显著，尽管略低于第一次使用。酸性碳酸饮料明显比超纯水更能增强PE涂层杯中的微塑料释放。
