Plastic debris as a mobile source of additive chemicals in marine environments: In-situ evidence

Plastic debris can act as a source of hazardous chemicals in the ocean, but the significance of its role in the environment is not yet known. To address this question, a comprehensive field study of highly contaminated and non-contaminated islands was conducted. Comparison of the plastic additive hexabromocyclododecanes and ubiquitous contaminants polychlorinated biphenyls in marine invertebrates showed that the load of stranded plastics plays a significant role in the bioaccumulation of plastic additives in the marine debris-contaminated island. Fugacity analysis indicates that net flow of hexabromocyclododecanes occurred from plastics to environmental reservoirs. Additionally, significantly higher levels of antioxidants, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and butylated hydroxytoluene, was found in the marine invertebrates inhabiting the marine debris-contaminated island than those inhabiting the marine debris-noncontaminated island, but ultraviolet stabilizers did not show the regional difference. This study provides the first field evidence that the move-ment of plastic debris in the ocean drives the dispersal of plastic additives to pristine waters.

Automated summary

Plastic debris can serve as a significant source of hazardous chemicals in the ocean, and its role in the environment is still not fully understood. A comprehensive field study comparing highly contaminated and non-contaminated islands revealed that stranded plastics play a crucial role in the bioaccumulation of plastic additives in marine debris-contaminated areas. This study provides the first field evidence that plastic debris movement in the ocean contributes to the dispersal of plastic additives to pristine waters.