Major
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Program
Anticipated Graduation Year
3rd
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Plastic has become a ubiquitous threat to essentially every corner of the globe due to massive production rates, waste mismanagement, and the polymer’s resistance to degradation (1). Plastic pollution is known to cause numerous harmful ecological effects, such as the leaching or accumulation of toxic additives into wildlife. Such toxins may then rise through the food chain, where they are ultimately consumed by humans (2). These can include persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, and emerging contaminants, such as certain flame retardants, which are ubiquitous endocrine disruptors susceptible to photodegradation (3). The objective of this study is to investigate the polyethylene mediated photolysis of the flame retardants tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA).
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Paul Chiarelli, Professor of Chemistry, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Xiolmara Martinez, Ph.D Candidate, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Polyethylene Mediated Photolysis of Halogenated Flame Retardants in an Aqueous Environment
Plastic has become a ubiquitous threat to essentially every corner of the globe due to massive production rates, waste mismanagement, and the polymer’s resistance to degradation (1). Plastic pollution is known to cause numerous harmful ecological effects, such as the leaching or accumulation of toxic additives into wildlife. Such toxins may then rise through the food chain, where they are ultimately consumed by humans (2). These can include persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, and emerging contaminants, such as certain flame retardants, which are ubiquitous endocrine disruptors susceptible to photodegradation (3). The objective of this study is to investigate the polyethylene mediated photolysis of the flame retardants tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA).