Assessing the adverse impacts of biodegradable plastic bags: Chemical elements and radionuclides considerations

Biodegradable plastic (BP) products are considered potential substitute for conventional plastics and are increasingly used in various fields and applications. However, concerns remain regarding their safety and potential impact on the humans and ecosystems. This research examined pristine BP shopping bags (collected from local market in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) for their elemental content and natural radionuclides, 40 K, Th, and U, using neutron activation analysis. The results obtained revealed that BP bags contain higher mass fractions of potentially toxic elements (e.g., Cr, Co, Ba, Zn, Mn, V, Cd, Mo), halogens (Br and Cl), and natural radionuclides compared to conventional plastic bags. To assess the potential human health risks associated with BP shopping bags, the radiological and elemental hazards were evaluated by calculating the relevant hazard indices over a long exposure period. For non-carcinogenic risks, the average daily intake of each element through different exposure pathways, as well as the hazard quotient, hazard index, and total exposure hazard index, were estimated. For carcinogenic risks, the incremental lifetime cancer risk was calculated. Possible hazards arising from radiological exposure were assessed by determining the excess lifetime cancer risk and other indices. Overall, the results showed that BP bags don’t pose a significant radiological or elemental threat to human health. However, attention should be given for controlling and monitoring the Cr content in BP bags. For more accurate health risk assessment, studies on leaching of chemical elements and radionuclides under different environmental and biological conditions will be carried out in future works.