Characterisation of microplastics and toxic chemicals extracted from microplastic samples from the North Pacific Gyre
Lorena M. Rios Mendoza A C and Patrick R. Jones B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A University of Wisconsin, Superior Department of Natural Sciences, Chemistry Program, Belknap and Catlin, PO Box 2000, Superior, WI 54880, USA.
B University of the Pacific, Chemistry Department, 3601 Pacific Avenue, 95211, Stockton, CA 95211, USA. Email: pjones@pacific.edu
C Corresponding author. Email: lriosmen@uwsuper.edu
Environmental Chemistry 12(5) 611-617 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN14236
Submitted: 4 November 2014 Accepted: 29 January 2015 Published: 5 August 2015
Environmental context. Microplastics are a new source of toxic compounds in marine and freshwater environments. This research documents the discovery of microplastic fibres in the seawater column and the chemical analysis of associated toxic chemicals in microplastic marine debris. Microplastic pollution is pervasive and hazardous.
Abstract. Initial studies of floating plastic debris in the oceans dealt with macroscopic particles. This research found microscale plastic present as well. Chemical analysis of sorbed materials revealed toxic materials associated with the microparticles. Seawater and plastic fragment samples were collected in September 2007 in the North Pacific Central Gyre. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were detected by mass spectrometry in extracts from the plastic fragments. Net concentrations of PCBs ranged from 1 to 223 ng g–1 plastic. The most common synthetic polymers were found to be polypropylene and polyethylene. Microscopic plastic fibres and particles were also discovered in the seawater samples and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Analysis of filtered seawater samples also revealed toxic materials in concentrations lower than found on the plastic particles.
Additional keywords: marine debris, persistent organic pollutants, POPs, plastic debris, PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls, PAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, synthetic polymers.
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