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Updated: Apr 8, 2026
Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Plastic Pellets and Plastic Type Analysis
Published on: July 1, 2017
A qualitative screening and quantitative measurement of organic contaminants on different types of marine plastic
Johanna Gauquie1, Lisa Devriese1, Johan Robbens1
1Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Animal Sciences Unit - Aquatic Environment and Quality, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium.
Abstract:
Chemical compounds present on plastic were characterised on different types of plastic litter and beached pellets, using a general GC-MS screening method. A variety of plastic related compounds, such as building blocks, antioxidants, additives and degradation products, were identified next to diverse environmental pollutants and biofilm compounds. A validated method for the analysis of PAHs and PCBs on beached pellets at the Belgian Coast, showed concentrations of ∑ 16 EPA-PAHs of 1076-3007 ng g(-1) plastic, while the concentrations of ∑ 7 OSPAR-PCBs ranged from 31 to 236 ng g(-1) plastic. The wide variety of plastic compounds retrieved in the general screening showed the importance of plastic as a potential source of contaminants and their degradation products.
