Record Details
Polystyrene plastic: a source and sink for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the marine environment
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Polystyrene plastic: a source and sink for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the marine environment |
| Names |
Rochman, Chelsea M.
(creator) Manzano, Carlos (creator) Hentschel, Brian T. (creator) Simonich, Staci L. Massey (creator) Hoh, Eunha (creator) |
| Date Issued | 2013-11-20 (iso8601) |
| Note | This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by the American Chemical Society and can be found at: http://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag. |
| Abstract | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on virgin polystyrene (PS) and PS marine debris led us to examine PS as a source and sink for PAHs in the marine environment. At two locations in San Diego Bay, we measured sorption of PAHs to PS pellets, sampling at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. We detected 25 PAHs using a new analytical method with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Several congeners were detected on samples before deployment. After deployment, some concentrations decreased (1,3-dimethylnaphthalene and 2,6-methylnaphthalene) while most increased (2-methylanthracene and all parent PAHs (PPAHs) except fluorene and fluoranthene), suggesting PS debris is a source and sink for PAHs. When comparing sorbed concentrations of PPAHs on PS to the five most common polymers (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP)), PS sorbed greater concentrations than PP, PET and PVC, similar to HDPE and LDPE. Most strikingly, at 0 months, PPAHs on PS ranged from 8-200 times greater than on PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, and PP. The combination of greater PAHs in virgin pellets and large sorption suggests that PS may pose a greater risk of exposure to PAHs upon ingestion. |
| Genre | Article |
| Identifier | Rochman, C. M., Manzano, C., Hentschel, B. T., Simonich, S. L. M., & Hoh, E. (2013). Polystyrene Plastic: A Source and Sink for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Marine Environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(24), 13976-13984. doi:10.1021/es403605f |
