Rapid Production of Micro- and Nanoplastics by Fragmentation of Expanded Polystyrene Exposed to Sunlight
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Title
- Rapid Production of Micro- and Nanoplastics by Fragmentation of Expanded Polystyrene Exposed to Sunlight
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Author(s)
- Song, Young Kyoung; Hong, Sang Hee; Eo, Soeun; Han, Gi Myung; Shim, Won Joon
- KIOST Author(s)
- Hong, Sang Hee(홍상희); Eo, Soeun(어소은); Han, Gi Myung(한기명); Shim, Won Joon(심원준)
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Alternative Author(s)
- 송영경; 홍상희; 어소은; 한기명; 심원준
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Publication Year
- 2020-09-15
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Abstract
- Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a common plastic marine debris found in oceans worldwide. The unique "foamed" structure of EPS, which is composed of thin layers, is more vulnerable to fragmentation than bulk plastics. However, the production rate of micro- and nanoplastics by the fragmentation of EPS following sunlight exposure remains largely unknown. Here, we determined the fragmentation rate and weight loss of EPS in an outdoor weathering experiment that ran for 24 months. It took only 1 month for the weight of an EPS box to decline by 5% due to photodegradation, and approximately 6.7 x 10(7) micro- and nanoparticles/cm(2) could be produced at a latitude of 34 degrees N. These results indicate that macro EPS debris can continually produce a massive number of particles within a relatively short exposure duration. The findings provide useful information to inform policymakers how rapidly to remove "likely fragmented" plastic litter from the environment.
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ISSN
- 0013-936X
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URI
- https://sciwatch.kiost.ac.kr/handle/2020.kiost/37590
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DOI
- 10.1021/acs.est.0c02288
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Bibliographic Citation
- ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v.54, no.18, pp.11191 - 11200, 2020
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Publisher
- AMER CHEMICAL SOC
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Subject
- SURFACE WATERS; PLASTIC DEBRIS; MICROPLASTICS; DEGRADATION; IDENTIFICATION; PARTICLES; BEACHES
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Type
- Article
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Language
- English
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Document Type
- Article
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