The potential of oceanic transport and onshore leaching of additive-derived lead by marine macro-plastic debris

Nakashima, Etsuko; Isobe, Atsuhiko; Kako, Shin’ichiro; Itai, Takaaki; Takahashi, Shin; Guo, Xinyu

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.038

Cited by 44 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The authors speculated that the biofilm masked chemical cues on the plastic that stimulated feeding (e.g., plastic additives), the physical weathering removed these cues or altered the surface properties, or the biofilm itself contained feeding deterrents. Nakashima et al () also hypothesized that biofilms forming on plastic debris might reduce the leaching of metal and organic additives, which may serve as sensory cues encouraging or discouraging ingestion. Holmes et al () observed that weathered polyethylene pellets adsorbed greater amounts of trace metals than virgin pellets.…”

Section: Fate Of Microplastics In the Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plastics are widely used as containers for food and beverages, as well as in medical devices, and researchers have examined additive migration in those contexts (Hahladakis et al, ), but few have considered the toxicological potential of microplastic‐related additives on aquatic life. Lead, an additive in some polyvinyl chloride fishing floats, was shown to leach in lab experiments (Nakashima et al, ). Migration decreased over time as the lead near the float's surface was depleted.…”

Section: Microplastic Uptake and Consequences In Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Hale¹,

Seeley²,

Guardia³

et al. 2020

JGR Oceans

667

270

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Society has become increasingly reliant on plastics since commercial production began in about 1950. Their versatility, stability, light weight, and low production costs have fueled global demand. Most plastics are initially used and discarded on land. Nonetheless, the amount of microplastics in some oceanic compartments is predicted to double by 2030. To solve this global problem, we must understand plastic composition, physical forms, uses, transport, and fragmentation into microplastics (and nanoplastics). Plastic debris/microplastics arise from land disposal, wastewater treatment, tire wear, paint failure, textile washing, and at-sea losses. Riverine and atmospheric transport, storm water, and disasters facilitate releases. In surface waters plastics/microplastics weather, biofoul, aggregate, and sink, are ingested by organisms and redistributed by currents. Ocean sediments are likely the ultimate destination. Plastics release additives, concentrate environmental contaminants, and serve as substrates for biofilms, including exotic and pathogenic species. Microplastic abundance increases as fragment size decreases, as does the proportion of organisms capable of ingesting them. Particles <20 μm may penetrate cell membranes, exacerbating risks. Exposure can compromise feeding, metabolic processes, reproduction, and behavior. But more investigation is required to draw definitive conclusions. Human ingestion of contaminated seafood and water is a concern. Microplastics indoors present yet uncharacterized risks, magnified by the time we spend inside (>90%) and the abundance of polymeric products therein. Scientific challenges include improving microplastic sampling and characterization approaches, understanding long-term behavior, additive bioavailability, and organismal and ecosystem health risks. Solutions include improving globally based pollution prevention, developing degradable polymers and additives, and reducing consumption/expanding plastic reuse.

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Section: Fate Of Microplastics In the Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microplastic Uptake and Consequences In Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Hale¹,

Seeley²,

Guardia³

et al. 2020

JGR Oceans

667

270

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, first, a chemical may slowly leach into the surrounding aqueous medium while plastic is suspended in the water column, providing a general increase in its concentration and availability. Since additives, including pigments, are not designed to leach from plastics, this process is predicted to be slow and of limited importance in circulating water, even after the surface has become weathered and abraded (Nakashima et al, 2016). Secondly, and more significantly, small suspended plastics may be ingested by organisms mistaking items for food, with chemical accumulation occurring via partial but accelerated dissolution under the acidic or enzyme-rich conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (Massos and Turner, 2017).…”

Section: Potential Impacts Of Hazardous Elements On Wildlifementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of studies in this area have targeted persistent organic micropollutants, like polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, that are sorbed to the plastic surface (Frias et al, 2010;Rochman et al, 2013;Gauquie et al, 2015;Ziccardi et al, 2016;Hong et al, 2017). However, attention has recently been paid to the occurrence and impacts of chemical elements in litter, like metals, metalloids and halogens, that are either adsorbed to the plastic or incorporated into the polymer itself (Boucher et al, 2016;Brennecke et al, 2016;Nakashima et al, 2016;Turner, 2016;Turner and Solman, 2016). While recent empirical evidence and models suggest that the exposure and accumulation of adsorbed compounds or elements may have been overstated in the literature (Herzke et al, 2016), inorganic additives of the plastic matrix, including flame retardants, catalysts and heavy metal-based pigments, appear to represent a more significant source of contaminants to the foodchain (Rani et al, 2015;Massos and Turner, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observational Study Unveils the Extensive Presence of Hazardous Elements in Beached Plastics from Lake Geneva

Filella

Turner

2018

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Over 3,000 samples of plastic litter have been retrieved from 12 pebble beaches around the shores of Lake Geneva. The plastic stock consisted of identifiable objects of various size and color, including bottles, bottle tops, cotton buds, pens, toys, and straws, an heterogeneous assortment of fragments whose origin was either discernible or unknown, and pieces or blocks of expanded polymer (polystyrene or polyurethane foam). Analysis of 670 samples by portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry revealed high concentrations of hazardous elements or compounds among many plastics. These included Cd, Hg, and Pb (with maximum concentrations of 6,760, 810, and 23,500 ppm, respectively) as stabilizers in PVC-based materials and/or brightly-colored sulfide or chromate pigments in primary and secondary plastics, and Br (with a maximum concentration of 27,400 ppm) as a proxy for brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in both plastics and foams. The abundance of hazardous elements in beached plastics that have been restricted or banned reflect the age and residence time of the plastic stock in the lake, coupled with a relatively high length of shoreline to surface area of the system. The migratability of hazardous elements from the polymeric matrix is likely to determine their environmental impacts and is recommended as a future area of research.

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“…Cadmium, Cr, Pb and Sb release could be modelled using a pseudo-first-order diffusion equation with rate constants ranging from of 0.02 to 0.5 h -1 , while bioaccessibilities (as a percentage of total elemental content) ranged from < 1 for Cd in PE to > 20% for Pb in PVC. Nakashima et al (2016) have also shown that up to about 0.1% of Pb in PVC can leach into sea water, and that further leaching is possible should the surface become damaged by abrasion such as might happen when beached. While not all plastics tested in these studies were black, the more frequent occurrence of hazardous elements in black materials is of relevance in the context of the current synopsis.…”

Section: Marine Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Black plastics: Linear and circular economies, hazardous additives and marine pollution

Turner

2018

Environment International

138

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Black products constitute about 15% of the domestic plastic waste stream, of which the majority is single-use packaging and trays for food. This material is not, however, readily recycled owing to the low sensitivity of black pigments to near infrared radiation used in conventional plastic sorting facilities. Accordingly, there is mounting evidence that the demand for black plastics in consumer products is partly met by sourcing material from the plastic housings of end-of-life waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE). Inefficiently sorted WEEE plastic has the potential to introduce restricted and hazardous substances into the recyclate, including brominated flame retardants (BFRs), Sb, a flame retardant synergist, and the heavy metals, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb. The current paper examines the life cycles of single-use black food packaging and black plastic WEEE in the context of current international regulations and directives and best practices for sorting, disposal and recycling. The discussion is supported by published and unpublished measurements of restricted substances (including Br as a proxy for BFRs) in food packaging, EEE plastic goods and non-EEE plastic products. Specifically, measurements confirm the linear economy of plastic food packaging and demonstrate a complex quasi-circular economy for WEEE plastic that results in significant and widespread contamination of black consumer goods ranging from thermos cups and cutlery to tool handles and grips, and from toys and games to spectacle frames and jewellery. The environmental impacts and human exposure routes arising from WEEE plastic recycling and contamination of consumer goods are described, including those associated with marine pollution. Regarding the latter, a compilation of elemental data on black plastic litter collected from beaches of southwest England reveals a similar chemical signature to that of contaminated consumer goods and blended plastic WEEE recyclate, exemplifying the pervasiveness of the problem.

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The potential of oceanic transport and onshore leaching of additive-derived lead by marine macro-plastic debris

Cited by 44 publications

References 16 publications

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Observational Study Unveils the Extensive Presence of Hazardous Elements in Beached Plastics from Lake Geneva

Black plastics: Linear and circular economies, hazardous additives and marine pollution

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