Releasing of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) from expanded polystyrene (EPS) buoy in marine water: a field study

Abstract

Polystyrene is widely used as building insulation material, floating device and in packaging. It is also a major component of debris found to in-land and marine system. To prevent it’s burning, HBCD is frequently added as flame retardant. HBCD is an additive, not covalently bonded to the material, leading to the risk of migration out of the product during production, use or disposal. Due to its persistence and adverse biochemical effects, it has been added to the list of global elimination compounds under the Stockholm Convention in May 2013. However, the interesting point is the presence of HBCD in water, oyster and sediment collected from and nearby aquafarms i.e. non-industrial area. EPS buoy, a rich source of HBCD (~70-75 &micro g/g of EPS), is highly used in Korea for the culture of longline oyster (2 million buoys/year). It may be considered as a cause of HBCD contamination through leaching by sea water. In view of these observations, it is imperative to carry out a systematic field study on the leaching of HBCDs from EPS buoy exposed to the sea water.Studies in the field was designed in enclosed-rectangular-glass chambers (50x100x50cm ) and mesocosm. A monolayer of detached EPS spherules was dispersed on the surface of water. The leaching of HBCD was investigated by determining the residual HBCD in known amount of EPS collected at different interval of time. Results show that there is an exponential HBCD is an additive, not covalently bonded to the material, leading to the risk of migration out of the product during production, use or disposal. Due to its persistence and adverse biochemical effects, it has been added to the list of global elimination compounds under the Stockholm Convention in May 2013. However, the interesting point is the presence of HBCD in water, oyster and sediment collected from and nearby aquafarms i.e. non-industrial area. EPS buoy, a rich source of HBCD (~70-75 &micro g/g of EPS), is highly used in Korea for the culture of longline oyster (2 million buoys/year). It may be considered as a cause of HBCD contamination through leaching by sea water. In view of these observations, it is imperative to carry out a systematic field study on the leaching of HBCDs from EPS buoy exposed to the sea water.Studies in the field was designed in enclosed-rectangular-glass chambers (50x100x50cm ) and mesocosm. A monolayer of detached EPS spherules was dispersed on the surface of water. The leaching of HBCD was investigated by determining the residual HBCD in known amount of EPS collected at different interval of time. Results show that there is an exponential