Abstract
Plastic pollution in the marine environment has become a major topic of research in recent years because of the harmful effects of plastics on marine biota. One area of particular concern arises from the ability of microplastic particles to adsorb potentially toxic elements (PTE). These PTE’s can then be transferred to marine biota upon ingestion of the plastics. It has been noted that even virgin (newly produced) pellets can adsorb PTE, although the mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of artificial weathering on the surface chemical characteristics of plastic micropellets in order to improve understanding of PTE-pellet interactions. Virgin pellets of different types (polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and polystyrene) were subjected to three simulated weathering processes under controlled conditions: solar irradiation, physical abrasion, and exposure to seawater. An Atlas SUNTEST XLS+ Weatherometer was used to simulate the sunlit conditions that pellets experience when floating at the ocean’s surface. Sandpaper was used to simulate the mechanical effects of sand and particles polishing the surfaces of the pellets whilst in suspension in the oceans or following beaching. Finally, pellets were treated with a solution of Lake Products Co SEA SALT (ASTM D-1141-98) to study the effects of contact with artificial seawater on surface chemistry. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to analyse the plastic pellets before weathering and to monitor changes occurring in their surface composition during weathering over a period of several weeks.
The results will provide insight into the mechanisms by which both virgin and weathered pellets can adsorb PTE in the marine environment.
1A. L. Andrady, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 2011, 62, 1596–1605.
2L. A. Holmes, A. Turner and R. C. Thompson, Environ. Pollut., 2012, 160, 42–48.
3A. Turner and L. A. Holmes, Environ. Chem., 2015, 12, 600–610.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of artificial weathering on the surface chemical characteristics of plastic micropellets in order to improve understanding of PTE-pellet interactions. Virgin pellets of different types (polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and polystyrene) were subjected to three simulated weathering processes under controlled conditions: solar irradiation, physical abrasion, and exposure to seawater. An Atlas SUNTEST XLS+ Weatherometer was used to simulate the sunlit conditions that pellets experience when floating at the ocean’s surface. Sandpaper was used to simulate the mechanical effects of sand and particles polishing the surfaces of the pellets whilst in suspension in the oceans or following beaching. Finally, pellets were treated with a solution of Lake Products Co SEA SALT (ASTM D-1141-98) to study the effects of contact with artificial seawater on surface chemistry. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to analyse the plastic pellets before weathering and to monitor changes occurring in their surface composition during weathering over a period of several weeks.
The results will provide insight into the mechanisms by which both virgin and weathered pellets can adsorb PTE in the marine environment.
1A. L. Andrady, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 2011, 62, 1596–1605.
2L. A. Holmes, A. Turner and R. C. Thompson, Environ. Pollut., 2012, 160, 42–48.
3A. Turner and L. A. Holmes, Environ. Chem., 2015, 12, 600–610.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2019 |
| Event | 35th International Conference on Geochemistry and Health : SEGH 2019 - Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom Duration: 1 Jul 2019 → 5 Jul 2019 Conference number: 35 https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/segh-19/ https://segh.net/f/35th-international-conference-on-geochemistry-and-health |
Conference
| Conference | 35th International Conference on Geochemistry and Health |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Manchester |
| Period | 1/07/19 → 5/07/19 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- microplastics particles
- microplastics pellets
- virgin microplastics
