The increase of plastic production from the middle of the twentieth century was inevitably followed by an increase in the amount of plastic dumped in the natural environment. There, the plastic debris are exposed to sunlight, temperature, humidity, and physical stress. This can induce photo-oxidative and thermal degradation. This review discusses the mechanism of plastics UV weathering and its characteristics. Comparison of the photodegradation rate and physico-chemical properties are made according to the weathering mode (natural/accelerated) and medium (air/water). Since the photodegradation can lead to plastics fragmentation, this phenomenon is described along with the methodologies used in literature to evaluate the fragmentation. The impact of the photodegraded plastic debris on the marine environment is also presented in term of (i) photodegradation products and stabilizers leakage, (ii) organic pollutants accumulation, transfer, and leakage, and (iii) toxicity on marine organisms.

从 20 世纪中叶开始，塑料产量的增加不可避免地伴随着倾倒在自然环境中的塑料量的增加。在那里，塑料碎片暴露在阳光、温度、湿度和物理压力下。这会导致光氧化和热降解。本综述讨论了塑料紫外线老化的机理及其特性。根据风化模式（自然/加速）和介质（空气/水）对光降解率和理化性质进行比较。由于光降解会导致塑料碎裂，因此在文献中描述了这种现象以及用于评估碎裂的方法。