{
  "abstract": "Despite recent regulatory efforts, large amounts of legacy plastics containing lead (Pb) additives continue to degrade in the environment. As plastics degrade to micro- and nanoscales, Pb can either be released into the environment or subsequently adsorb onto micro- and nanoplastics. This variability in Pb speciation, with each form displaying distinct leaching behaviour, complicates environmental risk assessment. Here, we compile a dataset of plastic debris collected from beaches worldwide, revealing an average Pb concentration of 110 mg kg−1, with nearly 15% items exceeding current regulatory limits. A Pb–Cr relationship is observed in nearly half of the samples, which cluster along a Pb/Cr ratio close to 4, suggesting the presence of historical PbCrO4 pigment and associated with low Pb availability. However, Pb L3-edge HERFD-XANES spectra indicate significant variability in Pb speciation, pointing to the presence of multiple, previously underrecognized Pb-based additives including organo–Pb compounds. Although these plastics do not contain the highest total Pb concentrations, those containing organic Pb additives exhibit the greatest Pb availability, demonstrating that bulk Pb content alone is a poor predictor of environmental behaviour upon degradation. The high spectral resolution of HERFD-XANES further allows the discrimination of incorporated and adsorbed Pb species, providing direct insights into Pb binding environment, leachability, and potential toxicity. Our results demonstrate that human-health risk assessments should not rely solely on total Pb concentrations, but rather on Pb speciation, which ultimately governs leaching behaviour and bioavailability.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Quentin Bollaert"
    },
    {
      "name": "Charlotte Catrouillet"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mélanie Davranche"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jean-Pascal Rueff"
    },
    {
      "name": "James Ablett"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sandra Benter"
    },
    {
      "name": "Imane Khatib"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aicha El Kharraf"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anne-Catherine Pierson-Wickmann"
    },
    {
      "name": "Julien Gigault"
    },
    {
      "name": "Delphine Vantelon"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2sm5qygwvrxfh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1039/d6em00629a",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "2sm5qygwvrxfh",
  "issns": [
    "2050-7887"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05843862v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sde"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2310|Microplastics and Plastic Pollution"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221865855",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05843862/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": "Royal Society of Chemistry",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2sm5qygwvrxfh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:20:17Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05843862",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05843862v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "hal:0.sde",
      "subfield": "environmental-science"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Beyond total lead (Pb) content: speciation as a key control on plastic toxicity",
  "title_text": "Beyond total lead (Pb) content: speciation as a key control on plastic toxicity",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T12:20:47Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2sm5qygwvrxfh",
  "venue": "Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts",
  "versions": []
}