Field observations in pebble beach habitats link plastiglomerate to pyroplastic via pebble clasts

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 174; p. 113187
• Main Authors: Ellrich, Julius A., Ehlers, Sonja M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Atlantic Ocean; Bathing Beaches; Beaches; Coastal plastic debris; Debris; Detritus; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy; Habitats; Intertidal habitats; New records; Pebbles; Plastic debris; Plastics; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Polypropylene; Waste Products - analysis; Atlantic Ocean; Coastal plastic debris; Environmental monitoring; Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy; Atlantic Ocean; Intertidal habitats
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113187

Plastiglomerate and pyroplastic are two novel plastic debris forms that were originally discovered on sandy beaches in Hawaii and the UK, respectively. While plastiglomerate consists of plastic melted together with rocks or pebbles, pyroplastic is melted plastic. Although both plastic debris forms were related to campfires, it is unclear whether they are related to each other. Also, plastiglomerate and pyroplastic records from other shore types are missing. Therefore, we surveyed pebble beach habitats in Madeira Island (Atlantic Ocean) for plastiglomerate and pyroplastic. We detected one plastiglomerate (PG1, including a pebble) and four pyroplastics (PP1–4). While PP2–4 consisted of polypropylene, PG1 and PP1 consisted of polyethylene and polypropylene. Furthermore, PG1 and PP1 included previously undescribed pebble shaped clasts that unequivocally linked plastiglomerate to pyroplastic. Thereby, our findings provide the first record of plastiglomerate and pyroplastic from pebble beach habitats worldwide and establish the link between these two novel plastic debris forms.
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•First plastiglomerate (PG) and pyroplastic (PP) record from pebble beach habitats•PG and PP consisted of both polyethylene and polypropylene.•First description of PG and PP pebble clasts•Pebble clasts linked PG to PP.•Pebble beaches are a promising model system for PG and PP research.