Quantitative determination of sorbed and additive chemicals in microplastics from the Korean coastal waters

Abstract

Plastic debris and microplastics are complex mixtures of chemicals, including additives originally included in plastic products, and environmental contaminants sorbed from surrounding environments, which may impact the environments with which they come into contact. To evaluate the environmental risks of microplastics, the level of exposure and effects of not only the particles themselves but also their associated chemicals in the environment should be analyzed. However, limited field data is available on chemicals associated with microplastics, especially additive chemicals. This study investigated the levels and profiles of chemicals (both sorbed and additive chemicals) in various types of plastic particles (in size and shape) collected from the Korean coastal waters. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (DDTs, HCHs, and HCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame retardants (PBDE and HBCD), phthalates, UV stabilizers, antioxidants were widely detected in microplastic samples. Except for expanded polystyrene (EPS) samples, phthalates showed the highest concentrations in most of size classes (< 1mm, 1 to 5 mm, and > 5 cm) and shapes (fragments, fibers, and pellets), followed by HBCDs, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, PAHs, PBDEs, PCBs and DDTs. EPS samples contained relatively high concentration of HBCDs and PAHs compared to fragments, pellets, and fibers. Therehich they come into contact. To evaluate the environmental risks of microplastics, the level of exposure and effects of not only the particles themselves but also their associated chemicals in the environment should be analyzed. However, limited field data is available on chemicals associated with microplastics, especially additive chemicals. This study investigated the levels and profiles of chemicals (both sorbed and additive chemicals) in various types of plastic particles (in size and shape) collected from the Korean coastal waters. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (DDTs, HCHs, and HCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame retardants (PBDE and HBCD), phthalates, UV stabilizers, antioxidants were widely detected in microplastic samples. Except for expanded polystyrene (EPS) samples, phthalates showed the highest concentrations in most of size classes (< 1mm, 1 to 5 mm, and > 5 cm) and shapes (fragments, fibers, and pellets), followed by HBCDs, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, PAHs, PBDEs, PCBs and DDTs. EPS samples contained relatively high concentration of HBCDs and PAHs compared to fragments, pellets, and fibers. There