The potential of oceanic transport and onshore leaching of additive-derived lead by marine macro-plastic debris.
The long-distance transport potential of toxic lead (Pb) by plastic marine debris was examined by pure water leaching experiments using plastic fishery floats containing high level of additive-Pb such as 5100±74.3mgkg(-1). The leaching of Pb ended after sequential 480-h leaching experiments, and the total leaching amount is equivalent to approximately 0.1% of total Pb in a float. But it recovered when the float was scratched using sandpaper. We propose that a "low-Pb layer," in which Pb concentration is negligibly small, be generated on the float surface by the initial leaching process. Thickness of the layer is estimated at 2.5±1.2μm, much shallower than flaws on floats scratched by sandpaper and floats littering beaches. The result suggests that the low-Pb layer is broken by physical abrasion when floats are washed ashore, and that Pb inside the floats can thereafter leach into beaches.
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan. Electronic address: nakashima@kochi-u.ac.jp.
Etsuko
E
Nakashima
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan.
Atsuhiko
A
Isobe
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan.
Shin'ichiro
S
Kako
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan.
Takaaki
T
Itai
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan.
Shin
S
Takahashi
Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan.
Xinyu
X
Guo
D007854:Lead; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014867:Water; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D007854:Lead
Leaching experiment; Lead; Low-lead layer; Plastic additives