Expanded polystyrene (EPS) debris as a source of toxic substance, hexabromocyclododecanes, in the marine environment

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution is a global issue caused by the massive production of plastic waste. Due to their formulation and/or processing, plastics contain additives and impurities which may leach out under conditions of use and accumulate in the environment. We found expanded polystyrene (EPS) debris collected from the Korean coasts contained toxic substances such as hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). HBCDs are currently the most widely used additive brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and one of toxic substances in Stockholm Convention on POPs. Unexpectedly, the strong enrichment of HBCDs was found in coastal sediments nearby aqauculture farms using EPS buoys, where the level was higher than that in sediment nearby sewage treatment plant outfall. We confirmed the existance of HBCDs in acuaculture buoys by analyzing new buoys from local markes, and stranded EPS buoys and its small fragments from beaches. It was also found that the toxic substances transferred to mainre species inhabiting EPS marine debris. EPS marine debris were colleted from various countries including USA, Canada, Singapore, Peru, Japn, Bangladash, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, etc. Interestingly, the samples from develped countries contained higher amount of HBCDs than those from developing countries. EPS products can gradually fragment into millions of spherules with a diameter 1-5 mm that float on the water’s surface or become stranded on the shoreln the environment. We found expanded polystyrene (EPS) debris collected from the Korean coasts contained toxic substances such as hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). HBCDs are currently the most widely used additive brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and one of toxic substances in Stockholm Convention on POPs. Unexpectedly, the strong enrichment of HBCDs was found in coastal sediments nearby aqauculture farms using EPS buoys, where the level was higher than that in sediment nearby sewage treatment plant outfall. We confirmed the existance of HBCDs in acuaculture buoys by analyzing new buoys from local markes, and stranded EPS buoys and its small fragments from beaches. It was also found that the toxic substances transferred to mainre species inhabiting EPS marine debris. EPS marine debris were colleted from various countries including USA, Canada, Singapore, Peru, Japn, Bangladash, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, etc. Interestingly, the samples from develped countries contained higher amount of HBCDs than those from developing countries. EPS products can gradually fragment into millions of spherules with a diameter 1-5 mm that float on the water’s surface or become stranded on the shorel