Spatio-temporal variation of plastic pellets dispersion in the coastline of Sri Lanka: An assessment of pellets originated from the X-Press Pearl incident during the Southwest monsoon in 2021

Jayathilaka, R.M.R.M.; Weerakoon, W.R.W.M.A.P.; Indika, K.W.; Arulananthan, K.; Kithsiri, H.M.P.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114145

Cited by 16 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…For instance, in 2016 at the study site used in our study a tank-truck lost 8 tons of plastic pellets, leading to high contamination of the coastline even many years after the accident (Gravier and Haut, 2020). Marine organisms may even experience more extreme concentrations, such as seen in Sri Lanka with up to 85 g of pellets per kg of sediment after the spill-over at sea of containers carrying 78 tonnes of plastic pellet in 2021 (Jayathilaka et al, 2022). To study the response of mussels to chemical cues from their predator, a solution of crab cues was used.…”

Section: Treatment Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size-dependent response of the mussel collective behaviour to plastic leachates and predator cues

Uguen

Gaudron

Nicastro

et al. 2023

Science of The Total Environment

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Section: Treatment Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size-dependent response of the mussel collective behaviour to plastic leachates and predator cues

Uguen

Gaudron

Nicastro

et al. 2023

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Five days after the fire began, an estimated 70 billion nurdles (∼1680 tons) and pieces of burnt plastic began to litter the Sri Lankan coastline, making it the largest maritime plastic spill in history. , During the event, the plastic was exposed to combustion, heat, chemicals, and petroleum products that led to what was initially described as a “burnt nurdle continuum” of debris . Subsequent analyses by James et al and others − revealed that the plastic was more discontinuous in its appearance than initially thought, diverging in its properties depending on the extent of its presumed exposure to the conditions of the ship fire . Hence, we sorted the recovered plastic into five discrete, operationally defined visual categories (i) seemingly unburnt white nurdles (Figure A), (ii) discolored orange nurdles resulting from prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures near or below the melting point (Figure B), (iii) discolored gray nurdles resulting from exposure to fire (Figure C), (iv) burnt plastic pieces (Figure D), or (v) large (>6 cm) charred, amalgamations of burnt plastic termed “combustion remnants” (Figure E).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10.1021/acsenvironau.3c00011. Abbreviations for PAHs; map of sample locations; image of oil-nurdle agglomerate; PCA for source apportionment using EPA16 PAH; PCA for source apportionment using EPA16 and alkylated PAH; PAH composition of background plastic; model fits for weathered PAHs; change in diagnostic ratios with time; PAH content measured by IPEN; table for hazardous waste determination of spilled plastic; table of sample details; PAH diagnostic ratios; details of PCA for source apportionment using EPA16 PAH; details of PCA for source apportionment using EPA16 and alkylated PAH; attributes of marine plastic debris in the literature suggestive of pyroplastic (PDF) Spreadsheet of PAH data for all samples; PAH data from a literature survey of burning plastic; petroleum biomarker data; literature survey of PAH content for nurdles and marine debris (XLSX)AuthorsChristopher M. Reddy − Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,…”

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confidence: 99%

Fire and Oil Led to Complex Mixtures of PAHs on Burnt and Unburnt Plastic during the M/V X-Press Pearl Disaster

et al. 2023

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In May 2021, the M/V X-Press Pearl container ship burned for 2 weeks, leading to the largest maritime spill of resin pellets (nurdles). The disaster was exacerbated by the leakage of other cargo and the ship's underway fuel. This disaster affords the unique opportunity to study a time-stamped, geolocated release of plastic under real-world conditions. Field samples collected from beaches in Sri Lanka nearest to the ship comprised nurdles exposed to heat and combustion, burnt plastic pieces (pyroplastic), and oil-plastic agglomerates (petroplastic). An unresolved question is whether the 1600+ tons of spilled and recovered plastic should be considered hazardous waste. Due to the known formation and toxicity of combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we measured 20 parent and 21 alkylated PAHs associated with several types of spilled plastic. The maximum PAH content of the sampled pyroplastic had the greatest amount of PAHs recorded for marine plastic debris (199,000 ng/g). In contrast, the sampled unburnt white nurdles had two orders of magnitude less PAH content. The PAH composition varied between the types of spilled plastic and presented features typical of and conflicting with petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Nevertheless, specific markers and compositional changes for burning plastics were identified, revealing that the fire was the main source of PAHs. Eight months after the spill, the PAH contents of sampled stray nurdles and pyroplastic were reduced by more than 50%. Due to their PAH content exceeding levels allowable for plastic consumer goods, classifying burnt plastic as hazardous waste may be warranted. Following a largely successful cleanup, we recommend that the Sri Lankans re-evaluate the identification, handling, and disposal of the plastic debris collected from beaches and the potential exposure of responders and the public to PAHs from handling it. The maritime disaster underscores pyroplastic as a type of plastic pollution that has yet to be fully explored, despite the pervasiveness of intentional and unintentional burning of plastic globally.

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Formation of secondary microplastics during degradation of plastics originating from the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster

Gunawardhana,

Perera,

Ratnayake

et al. 2024

Discov Environ

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The MV X-Press Pearl maritime incident had a profound impact on the marine and coastal ecosystems along the west coast of Sri Lanka. Considerable quantities of plastic pellets, specifically nurdles or pellets measuring less than 5 mm and estimated at 1680 tonnes, were released into the Indian Ocean. A notable portion of these plastic pellets/primary microplastics (MPs), has the potential to degrade into secondary MPs. The objective of this study was to investigate and understand the degradation process of plastic pellets into secondary MPs under the extreme conditions of fire and exposure to chemicals during the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster. Beach sand samples were collected from 40 locations along the affected west coast of Sri Lanka, at both mean sea level and the berm. An additional 20 samples were collected for a background study covering the entire coastline of Sri Lanka. The Wet Peroxide Oxidation (WPO) process was employed to separate microplastics, and observations of secondary MP quantities were recorded. Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis was carried out to identify functional groups of MPs. The variance in average values of secondary MPs at mean sea level (large MPs (i.e. size > 0. 5 mm) = 33 ± 56 items per 1 mm2 and total MPs (i.e. observed through microscope under 40× magnification) = 61 ± 66 items per 1 mm2) and the berm (large = 61 ± 154 items per 1 mm2 and total MPs = 106 ± 165 items per 1 mm2) suggested significant dispersal of large quantities of MPs to other areas in the Indian Ocean with oceanic currents. The baseline average value of secondary total MPs in other coastal areas of the country was approximately 53 ± 66 items per 1 mm2. The positive correlation between large and total secondary MPs and plastic pellets pollution index indicates that a considerable amount of plastic pellets were degraded into secondary MPs within 6 to 8 days after the accident, under the influence of nitric acid and heat/fire. These secondary MPs are mainly composed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), as identified by FTIR observations. Consequently, these lightweight polymers have the potential to spread across a wider region, posing a severe environmental threat on a global scale as a transoceanic marine pollutant.

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Spatio-temporal variation of plastic pellets dispersion in the coastline of Sri Lanka: An assessment of pellets originated from the X-Press Pearl incident during the Southwest monsoon in 2021

Cited by 16 publications

References 50 publications

Size-dependent response of the mussel collective behaviour to plastic leachates and predator cues

Size-dependent response of the mussel collective behaviour to plastic leachates and predator cues

Fire and Oil Led to Complex Mixtures of PAHs on Burnt and Unburnt Plastic during the M/V X-Press Pearl Disaster

Formation of secondary microplastics during degradation of plastics originating from the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster

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