Dibke, Christopher and Fischer, Marten and Scholz-Böttcher, Barbara M. (2021) Microplastics mass concentrations and distribution in German Bight waters by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/thermochemolysis reveal potential impact of marine coatings: do ships leave skid marks? Environmental science & technology, 55 (4). pp. 2285-2295. ISSN 0013-936X - 1520-5851

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Abstract

In this first mass-related survey of microplastics (MPs, <1 mm) in the German Bight (North Sea, 2.5 m water depth), spatial load, temporal variations, and potential sources were examined. Relevant plastic types were detected using pyrolysis−gas chromatography−mass spectrometry/thermochemolysis (Py-GC/MS). This suitable method provides qualitative and trace-level polymer or polymer cluster-specific mass quantitative MP data. Neither MP concentration (2−1396 μg m−3) nor type distribution was homogeneous. Concentrations appeared to be substantially influenced by meteorological and oceanographic conditions. The coastal MP-type composition showed an overprint indicating a packaging waste-related signal. Considerably different compositions were observed in central and estuarine areas. Here, a close relation to marine (antifouling) coating particles, i.e., abrased chlorinated rubber-, acryl-styrene-, and epoxide binder-containing particles are hypothesized as the main MP source, indicating ship “skid marks”. They represent a dominant, toxicologically relevant but underestimated marine-based MP share, inverting the widely cited 80% terrestrial- to 20% marine-based debris ratio for MPs. In consequence of the findings, polymer clusters attributed to the basic polymers polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl methacrylate), and polycarbonate are proposed for Py-GC/MS MPs mass determination based on specific thermal decomposition products linked to related polymer structural units.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	microplastic, Py-GC/MS, quantification, ocean water, marine coatings
Subjects:	Science and mathematics > Chemistry Science and mathematics > Earth sciences and geology
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Science > Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM)
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2022 12:10
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2022 12:10
URI:	https://oops.uni-oldenburg.de/id/eprint/5301
URN:	urn:nbn:de:gbv:715-oops-53823
DOI:	10.1021/acs.est.0c04522
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