Toxicity of the water-soluble polymer PVP is dependent on molecular weight and feed concentration for a freshwater model species

Water-soluble polymers are emerging freshwater contaminants. Regulation of these chemicals is being reconsidered under EU/UK REACH, however more research is needed to better understand the toxic effects of these chemicals and inform sufficient methods for environmental risk assessment. This study applied standardised environmental chemical testing (OECD 211) to investigate how polymer molecular weight and food concentration impacts the toxicity of a water-soluble polymer. Applying analytical chemistry techniques revealed new insights into the mechanism of toxicity of this freshwater pollutant.