Polyurethane microplastics and associated tris(chloropropyl)phosphate additives both affect development in larval fathead minnow Pimephales promelas.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics (< 5 mm) are a diverse class of contaminants ranging in morphology, polymer type, and chemical cocktail. Microplastic toxicity can be driven by one or a combination of these characteristics. Most studies, however, evaluate the physical effect of the most commercially available polymers. By disregarding other polymers with high consumption and/or production rates, and the chemical constituents of plastics, we fail to have a holistic understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity. Polyurethane is understudied in terms of effects testing yet considered one of the most hazardous polymers due to its chemical composition. Polyurethane is a high production polymer and is found in common consumer products ranging from packaging to spray foam insulation. To better understand the physico-

SUBMITTER: Hamilton BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11816313 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature