Styrofoam debris as a source of hazardous additives for marine organisms

Abstract

There is growing concern over plastic debris and their fragments as a carrier forhazardous substances in marine ecosystem. The present study was conducted to provide fieldevidence for the transfer of plastic-associated chemicals to marine organisms.Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), brominated flame retardants, were recently detected inexpanded polystyrene (styrofoam) marine debris. We hypothesized that if styrofoam debrisacts as a source of the additives in the marine environment, organisms inhabiting suchdebris might be directly influenced by them. Here we investigated the characteristics ofHBCD accumulation by mussels inhabiting styrofoam. For comparison, mussels inhabitingdifferent substrates, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), metal, and rock, were alsostudied. The high HBCD levels up to 5160 ng/g lipid weight and the γ-HBCD dominatedisomeric profiles in mussels inhabiting styrofoam strongly supports the transfer of HBCDsfrom styrofoam substrate to mussels. Furthermore, microsized styrofoam particles wereidentified inside mussels, probably originating from their substrates. There are mainly twoexposure pathways by leaching to surrounding water and subsequent direct uptake with closeproximity to the EPS substrate, and by ingesting fragmented EPS particles. This studyprovides field evidence of the potential for additives in marine debris to be both a source andcarrier of toxicne organisms.Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), brominated flame retardants, were recently detected inexpanded polystyrene (styrofoam) marine debris. We hypothesized that if styrofoam debrisacts as a source of the additives in the marine environment, organisms inhabiting suchdebris might be directly influenced by them. Here we investigated the characteristics ofHBCD accumulation by mussels inhabiting styrofoam. For comparison, mussels inhabitingdifferent substrates, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), metal, and rock, were alsostudied. The high HBCD levels up to 5160 ng/g lipid weight and the γ-HBCD dominatedisomeric profiles in mussels inhabiting styrofoam strongly supports the transfer of HBCDsfrom styrofoam substrate to mussels. Furthermore, microsized styrofoam particles wereidentified inside mussels, probably originating from their substrates. There are mainly twoexposure pathways by leaching to surrounding water and subsequent direct uptake with closeproximity to the EPS substrate, and by ingesting fragmented EPS particles. This studyprovides field evidence of the potential for additives in marine debris to be both a source andcarrier of toxic