Polystyrene Plastic: A Source and Sink for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Marine Environment

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 47; no. 24; pp. 13976 - 13984
• Main Authors: Rochman, Chelsea M, Manzano, Carlos, Hentschel, Brian T, Simonich, Staci L. Massey, Hoh, Eunha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 17-12-2013
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography; Chromatography, Gas; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; High density polyethylenes; Low density polyethylenes; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Mass Spectrometry; Naphthalenes - analysis; Naphthoquinones - analysis; Natural water pollution; Plastics - chemistry; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polystyrene; Polystyrenes - chemistry; Polyvinyl chloride; Principal Component Analysis; Seawater - chemistry; Seawaters, estuaries; Sorption; Waste Products - analysis; Water Pollution - analysis; Water treatment and pollution; California; United States; North America; America; INE, USA, California, San Diego Bay; Hydrocarbon; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Mutagen; Source sink relationship; Coastal zone; Marine environment; Persistent organic pollutant; Carcinogen; Adsorption; Risk assessment; Environment impact; Solid waste; Styrene polymer; Water pollution; Bay; Debris; Plastics; Organic compounds; Seawater
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es403605f

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 that PS debris is a source and sink for PAHs. When sorbed concentrations of PPAHs on PS are compared 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 to 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.