Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Groundwater

In this study, a human health risk assessment was performed on the ingestion route of groundwater containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics (MPs), and the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a representative additive, were determined. In particular,...

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Main Authors: Ki-Han Song, Sang-Gyu Yoon, Jin-Yong Lee, Jinsung An
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/2/105
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author Ki-Han Song
Sang-Gyu Yoon
Jin-Yong Lee
Jinsung An
author_facet Ki-Han Song
Sang-Gyu Yoon
Jin-Yong Lee
Jinsung An
author_sort Ki-Han Song
collection DOAJ
description In this study, a human health risk assessment was performed on the ingestion route of groundwater containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics (MPs), and the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a representative additive, were determined. In particular, the impact of volume diversity according to the shape (morphology) of PVC MP (fragment, fiber, film) on the risk characterization was intensively explored. Firstly, a continuous particle size distribution following a power function was derived using the abundance ratio of PVC MPs by size in the investigated groundwater, and human health risk assessment for DEHP in the PVC MPs was performed through the volume distribution according to the shape of MPs. DEHP human health risk assessment showed an excess cancer risk (ECR) of below 10<sup>−6</sup> for a 95% cumulative probability for all MP shapes, but the values varied depending on the shape. Sensitivity analysis showed that the parameter that most affected human health risk was MP volume, second to concentration, which is dependent on MP shape. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the variety of MP shapes during human health risk assessment, and it can be achieved through probabilistic risk assessment utilizing the probability distribution for size and shape of MPs.
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spelling doaj-art-6ed0f3f40a2c46ecac10fdbab80545932025-08-20T03:12:23ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-01-0113210510.3390/toxics13020105Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in GroundwaterKi-Han Song0Sang-Gyu Yoon1Jin-Yong Lee2Jinsung An3Department of Civil Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Smart City Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA, Ansan 15588, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Smart City Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA, Ansan 15588, Republic of KoreaIn this study, a human health risk assessment was performed on the ingestion route of groundwater containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics (MPs), and the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a representative additive, were determined. In particular, the impact of volume diversity according to the shape (morphology) of PVC MP (fragment, fiber, film) on the risk characterization was intensively explored. Firstly, a continuous particle size distribution following a power function was derived using the abundance ratio of PVC MPs by size in the investigated groundwater, and human health risk assessment for DEHP in the PVC MPs was performed through the volume distribution according to the shape of MPs. DEHP human health risk assessment showed an excess cancer risk (ECR) of below 10<sup>−6</sup> for a 95% cumulative probability for all MP shapes, but the values varied depending on the shape. Sensitivity analysis showed that the parameter that most affected human health risk was MP volume, second to concentration, which is dependent on MP shape. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the variety of MP shapes during human health risk assessment, and it can be achieved through probabilistic risk assessment utilizing the probability distribution for size and shape of MPs.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/2/105microplasticsadditivesprobabilistic risk assessmentMonte Carlo simulationprobability distribution
spellingShingle Ki-Han Song
Sang-Gyu Yoon
Jin-Yong Lee
Jinsung An
Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Groundwater
Toxics
microplastics
additives
probabilistic risk assessment
Monte Carlo simulation
probability distribution
title Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Groundwater
title_full Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Groundwater
title_fullStr Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Groundwater
title_full_unstemmed Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Groundwater
title_short Significance of Morphology in Characterizing Human Health Risk from di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Groundwater
title_sort significance of morphology in characterizing human health risk from di 2 ethylhexyl phthalate in polyvinyl chloride microplastics in groundwater
topic microplastics
additives
probabilistic risk assessment
Monte Carlo simulation
probability distribution
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/2/105
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